*ID: “October” written out in scrapbook stencils surrounded by buttons and stickers from various campaigns and elections.*

Friends,

To exist in October of an election year is to be bombarded with election asks at every turn. My inbox, my mailbox, my text messages, my voicemails…no avenue is safe from outreach telling me about how some candidate is good or terrible or promises to fight for me or hate me or maybe remember that I exist if I can just spare $5. And it’s exhausting. Particularly when harm seems to amplify with each election cycle, but change and meaningful allyship and community investment come at a much slower pace. So, this isn’t another election e-mail. It’s a reminder of the world we’re fighting for, rooted in the long history of 2SLGBTQ+ folks acting up, taking on care work, and building the world we want one ballroom, one AIDS clinic, one art installation, one zine, one playlist, one movie night, one book club, one top surgery fundraiser, one organizing meeting, one act of kindness at a time. The reminders and asks about elections will continue, right up until the polls close on November 3. But what can you do to get us closer to liberation? What can you do today? Where can you start in building the future where we all have the safety, community, and resources to thrive, everywhere we call home?

Make A Care Menu

You might remember our solidarity sessions curriculum from 2025. But whether you’ve engaged with the Solidarity Sessions before, or this is your first go round, we ask you to (re)visit care as a practice that deserves intentional tending particularly outside of moments of crisis.

Start with what skills, resources, or capacities you can offer to people during times of crisis, grief, despair, healing, or need? When you’re at a crisis point, what are the things you need/can accept as help? Share both of those lists with folks in your life. Already have a care menu? Update it to match where you’re at in this season of life.

Make and Enjoy Art

If like me you have a Capricorn stellium, this advice may initially land as not meeting the urgency of this particular moment we’re in. But, when you think about our movement history, think about all of the art that stands out. Think about the lasting impact of Gran Fury, of the artists organizing among Act Up, of the Names Project Quilt, of the banners Marsha and Sylvia made and carried in the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade, in the looks and moves of the ballroom scene as captured in Paris Is Burning…art matters. And we’re lucky to be in communities where making art and viewing art is accessible. So go out and see the new murals at Plaza Walls,check out the course list at Trove or Craft Club Tulsa or Firehouse Arts Center or Four Mothers Collective, go to an art movie night at Oklahoma Film Exchange or Circle Cinema (and go support their independent cinema efforts year round), go to the monthly craft meet up at Culture Hub Collective, attend our zine workshop series, take out your pencils or markers or paint or the glue sticks and the pile of junk mail and make something.

Set An Intention for One Regular Act of Care

When my depression gets bad, when my life gets busy, self care is often the thing that falls off my to do list first. A few years ago, I had a therapist who asked me to choose one thing I could commit to doing regularly, ideally daily, for me. I set the bar low: washing my face. No matter how tired, how sad, how busy I am, years later, I still make time to wash my face every day. Sometimes it’s just a face wipe and not a full skincare routine, but it’s something for me. After year one, I added in daily Duolingo lessons. And over 2100 days later, I’m not sure how much my language skills have improved, but my brain appreciates the time to stretch a little each day. Three years ago I added in gym time at Empowerhouse. Three sessions a week is my baseline. Even in my busiest seasons, 3 hours each week to move with intention. And 500 classes later, I’m pretty consistently moving more than 3 times a week, especially in my busiest seasons. About 2.75 years ago, I started tracking daily goals with Finch. And while the reminders may seem silly (don’t forget your meds, floss, change your sheets, eat lunch away from the computer) it’s another bit of consistency that helps sustain me. You don’t have to solve for everything at once, but what is one consistent way you want to show up, that you can commit to, starting today?

An inbox full of election e-mails, asking a lot from us. But few asking what it is we need. So let’s shift that mindset. As we survive this election season and beyond. Let’s care for ourselves, and each other. So we can build that future where we all have the safety, resources, and community to thrive, everywhere we call home.

With Love,

Cole McAfee

October Updates

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October Updates 〰️

ID: A film poster for "What Will I Become?"

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a screening of What Will I Become? on Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience at Oklahoma Film Exchange. This film was recently brought to Oklahoma during the Dead Center Film Festival this summer, where it won best documentary feature! Join us on Nov 20 at 7pm to hear a message from the directors. Following the screening we will be heading over to OK Cider to craft in community and discuss the film. Register here!

ID: a collage with the words “allies zine 10.16” with picture of stapler and paper cutter

This month we have our second session in our allies zine series! Join us on Friday Oct 16 from 6pm - 8pm in OKC to break down the collaborations that ICE has been making with our local police agencies. We will also be distributing and folding more of our Allies zines. Address information and further details will be sent to registrants closer to the event date, so make sure to register, here.