regarding the Brown crap

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth, written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hi all,

I wanted to share a few things with you.

I had a new personal essay go live this morning on Assigned Media. It’s a reflection on my time at Brown, as a closeted trans student … and the rage and sorrow I feel at my alma mater … I hope you’ll read it and share it. I’m very furious and heartbroken. (My back is threatening me, no shock …)

Just read it if you don’t know what I’m talking about:

So, keeping this brief — and then I’m going to go harvest kale and peas to freeze, probably … if not fall asleep in my hammock — here are a few more links for your Sunday:

A kind subscriber to this newsletter wrote me telling me about this doc. Based on the trailer, it indeed looks great:

(Thank you, to people who write me and share good things for my weekend content roundups. I encourage this and appreciate it.)

There are a lot of other newsletters out there. One I like is:

Another writer I admire is Rebecca Solnit, whose newsletter I also recommend:

I also suggest listening to her recent appearance How To Survive the End of the World (a pod I’ve loved for a long time, as I mentioned in my Eater essay).

And reading her latest, for the Guardian:

I encourage folks to subscribe to The Flytrap, which covers great topics in ways many other sites just don’t …

Don’t miss Miles Klee’s delicious roast of the bleak-sounding new fascist diner:

(The former server in me hated everything about this.)

My queen!!! 👑 💖 

I’ve mentioned this before but Mariah’s #1’s was my first CD. I got it in fourth grade and I listened to it on my Discman infinity times. I was a “tomboy” who pretty much only listened to “Weird” Al and musical soundtracks otherwise … (As ever: Unbelievable in my view it took everybody [including myself] so long to acknowledge I was queer.)

I posted about this on Bluesky but … I’ve got an exciting new project cooking and I’m looking for a few sorts of people and things …

The thread goes on there but basically:

1. If you’re an author or reader, you can recommend book ideas (your own or somebody else’s).

2. If you’re a book reviewer, you can pitch me a review (paid opportunity).

This project will be focused on books that were released by trans or queer authors and weren’t covered by the NYT’s book review under Pamela Paul, ones that ‘should have been’ (a nebulous standard my collaborators and I will … figure out). I’m working on this with an awesome publication and a few cool humans. (re: rates and such, I’ll discuss specifics more with those whose pitches interest us …)

Find all info on this page on my website. As it says there, for those interested in pitching writing a review, I’m asking you to email me (via my contact form), pitching whatever book you want to cover, a paragraph is fine, and ideally sending a prior clip or two (of a previously published book review).

I’d appreciate anybody willing helping to spread word sharing this call for books and book reviewers wherever … especially with any communities of writers or readers you’re connected with … especially any heavily queer/trans ones …

Thank you! I’ve gotten some great responses so far but we’re envisioning a pretty ambitious something-something, so, I’m wanting to cast a very wide net. (The specifics are exciting and you all will learn all … soon enough!)

Once again: Here’s my new essay on the Brown crap for Assigned Media.

I appreciate you reading it. Brown alumni especially, let’s PLEASE make some noise … Do whatever … write the university president’s office, write the admissions office. Post online. Tell others you’re upset and you care about trans rights and this isn’t okay.

Cis allies really speaking up on behalf of trans rights matters. Here’s my evergreen advice for cis allies, which gives concrete tips for cis allies (including those worried about ‘messing up’ or tempted to stay silent).

Here as well is my recent companion post for trans folks who feel despair …

Assigned Media, btw, is an awesome independent trans-run outlet you should consider supporting with your money, if not subscribing to/following at least. Here again was my latest Dear Sandy column, in which I recommended some (other) great ways to improve your media diet — read: consuming less transphobia and consuming more content that doesn’t exclude actual trans people in creating coverage of … us.

What’s Helping Today: I drove over to a trans neighbor friend’s house this morning and he helped do my T shot. (Something I can’t do on my own, four-and-a-half years on.) I’ve felt grateful these last several months for my local, trans and queer friends and community … As I’m often saying in various ways (and I keep realizing over and over again, living my life): We are who we have … We have to rely on each other.

Sending love,
Sandy

p.s. Just mentioning once more: I’m teaching an online writing workshop this fall. You can learn all about it here. Space is limited and I’m offering one half-scholarship. If you’re a nonfiction writer (journalist, essayist memoirist …), consider checking the listing our and signing up. And/or: Consider forwarding it to a perhaps-interested writer friend (??) or posting about it on social media (??!). Here’s my Bluesky post about the class from today, featuring this handsome graphic The Workroom folks made (which you’re welcome to share wherever):

p.p.s. Holy shit:

p.p.p.s. Here’s my new playlist for the new month, “that dream again.”

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today! If you were forwarded this message, you can subscribe here for free.

If you want to support my work with a few bucks, you can “tip me” via my Buy Me a Coffee page. Every little bit helps me continue doing what I do. Thank you!!!