To the 3500 feminists + LBGTQAIs on this list: I see you—navigating this Trump ramp-up era with big fear + heavy emotions, reaching for kindred spirits and chosen family while hiding from small talk (& Trump voters), feeling desperate to offer entirely new work into the world. Doubling down on inclusion + planet care. Napping. Lying low from news…

 

All while reporting to workplaces, holidays, and "communities" acting as if everything is fine.

 

 

1.Going forward: I am going to be even more local, mother nature, and progressive values-oriented when picking where I spend my money. (And even more vocal with those who don't--- to woo them forward.)

 

2. Relationships. Before, I called everyone "friend" and everything "community." Now, real solidarity is all I want. As in the quotation that circulated before the election: "If you can't understand why your trans friend is scared, you don't really have a trans friend; you know a trans person." Ditto.

 

3. I quit social media (until 2025). Instead, I've been deep with chosen family IRL + with kindred spirits on group chats. I re-joined Indivisible and my local free/swap worlds. I am learning Spanish + painting furniture pink. I've been co-conspiring with DEI consultant pals + queer/trans entrepreneurs - at dreamy hot tub dinner parties. + I secured a breathtaking (!) space on the SF Bay to host deeply nourishing in person queer/feminist events (coming soon). 

 

 

This is my adrienne maree brown “pleasure activism” era. Hence this newsletter's motto: "live big, make change."

 

a) Even though I worked my butt off for Kamala, I know the US presidency is not the answer to my progressive dreams. :) Organizing local people for our dignity + human rights and the health of the planet continues. 

 

b) While corporate DEI is under fire, I will always work to improve the world - especially for women/LGBTQIA+s. 

 

A hopeful sign: a startup founder client reassured me last week:

 

c) Queer/Jewish/Black communities continue to be my models for weaving together a life with both joy and justice work. (Without pleasure, activism quickly leads to burnout.)

 

And, fun feels yucky - when I haven't worked to make sure others also have access to food, safety, and opportunity. (In Judaism, we don't sit down to a dinner party until first donating to less “food secure” folks.) 🥕

 

d) I continue to keep strong and clear by strength-training, doing weekly 25 hour tech fasts & annual sabbaticals (This week, I'm in Mexico until the end of the calendar year; working some, not working some.) ✈️

 

In solidarity: aka I will always stand up for you + yours, 
-Femily