Adri Pérez speaking at Queerbomb 2022 photo by Jana Birchum
If all the legislators under the pink dome had a pinkie’s worth of Texas Freedom Network Organizing Director Adri Pérez’s courage, maybe this ol’ Lone Star State wouldn’t be failing its people so often. Stacks of expertly crafted testimony delivered to the often antagonistic reps and senators prove Pérez’s shining sword, cutting BS bills to ribbons. Their relentless advocacy – teaching oppressed folks across Texas how to represent themselves at the Capitol – makes that sword an open-source weapon. Even overeager DPS officers, whose rough treatment of LGBTQ protesters at the Capitol included tackling Pérez to the ground, haven’t blunted the activist’s spirit. They remain as sharp as ever in the fight for queer Texans’ futures.
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Every city should be so lucky to have their own Julio Gonzalez Altamirano. A dedicated civic volunteer, Altamirano closely studies the data presented by local government officials to justify policy decisions. Sometimes that data can be obfuscating, intentionally or otherwise, but on Twitter and in blog posts, Altamirano brings much-needed clarity to wonky policy discussions. Whether he's scrutinizing the questionable statistical methodology used by the Austin Police Department to justify more policing or tracking down the inputs used to estimate ridership for Project Connect, his work is an invaluable service to the community, and we're thankful for it.
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via Twitter
via Facebook
Seven or eight local reporters covered the Daniel Perry murder trial but KXAN's Jala Washington stood out from the rest. The weekend morning anchor and weekday reporter moved through the courtroom with a lawyerly self-assurance, speaking in earnest tones to the families of the victim and the shooter, comparing notes with her fellow reporters, and then setting up outside the courtroom to deliver live updates at 5pm. In these, Washington underlined the trial's most interesting elements. Notably, she was the first reporter to highlight the importance of Perry's violent social media posts – the evidence that legal observers say eventually led to Perry's guilty verdict.
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After Game of Thrones fans rioted on the socials over the perceived dark picture quality of season 8 episode “The Long Night,” Film School Rejects founder Neil Miller politely explained the real problem: You. You’re the problem. Well, more to the point, it’s that you’ve probably still got your TV on factory settings, which isn’t going to do you any favors with GoT or follow-up House of the Dragon. Luckily Miller – a film blogger, podcaster, and former Best Buy employee – has the winning formula to get your inky blacks and gloomy grays looking picture-perfect. (Just Google “Neil Miller TV settings” for the magic combo.) And ffs turn off the motion smoothing, people. We’re not animals.
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photo by John Anderson / design by Zeke Barbaro
Courtesy of Queer Black Women Alliance
Everyone deserves a room of their own, and in that spirit, Arijah Rashid and her team at Queer Black Women Alliance have created a much-needed room to accommodate Austin’s Black queer community. Where other organizations strive for all-encompassing inclusivity, the exclusivity with which QBWA approaches their events allows for a historically underserved group to flourish under such loving attention. From dedicating an entire week to Black queer mental health activities and setting up queer Black entrepreneurs with grants to organizing bowling league nights and pool hall hangouts, this nonprofit doesn’t just demand room for its community. QBWA makes the room: walls, floor, and door entire.
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Austin is barreling toward an expansion of I-35 through Downtown that will destroy homes and businesses and lead to massive increases in carbon emissions, while doing nothing to reduce traffic congestion. Yet groups like Rethink35 and Reconnect Austin continue to fight and offer better alternatives to freeway widening, reminding the people of Austin that the health of our climate depends on less car dependency and more sustainable modes of transportation. We appreciate their commitment and hope local and state leaders implement some of their plans to make a bad idea a little better.
rethink35.com, reconnectaustin.com
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photo by Jana Birchum
Courtesy of Fresh Knight
Aaron “Fresh” Knight, one half of Austin's top hip-hop radio show The Breaks on KUTX, composes a comprehensive playlist featuring music from local MCs. His log, titled “New Fresh City,” works less like a constantly changing curatorial selection and more like an extensive look into the city's scene over the last two years; his current update – available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal – contains over 13 hours' worth of tracks. Looking for even more? The Eastside native has expanded his media reach even further with a brand-new music video talk show program on Austin Music TV also titled New Fresh City.
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With Austin animal shelters historically overcrowded, we have a lot of dogs stuck in the stay position for months and even years. To relieve the stress from shelter life and help long-stay pups stay socialized, animal advocate Amanda Jo treats them to overnight Airbnb stays full of cuddles and TLC. Her commitment doesn’t stop there: By featuring these looked-over rescues on her social feeds, she’s encouraging prospective pet owners to take a closer look, and helping these deserving dogs find their forever homes.
instagram.com/thelongstayproject
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courtesy of The Long Stay Project
Cate Graziani peaks during an Overdose Awareness Day press conference on August 31, 2021 photo by John Anderson
As the overdose crisis continues with no signs of slowing down, it demands a communitywide response. But one particular organization has been instrumental in galvanizing elected officials to leverage tangible resources to combat overdose, and that's the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance. THRA's town hall last May directly led to the county's crisis declaration and investment of $350,000 in harm reduction strategies, and their advocacy at the Legislature this session helped popularize fentanyl test strip legalization efforts, despite the Lege's ultimate failure on that front. As Cate Graziani, THRA's policy director for the last four years, steps down, she and her organization made up largely of advocates with lived experience deserve recognition for their dogged persistence in getting politicians to listen and to act.
Texas Harm Reduction Alliance
1803 E. Cesar Chavez
harmreductiontx.org
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Teachers usually avoid politics. But that’s not so easy these days as Republicans refuse to address gun violence, encourage discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, and promote book bans. Austin literature teacher Frank Strong has responded with unabashed political activism in the form of his "The Book-Loving Texan's Guide to the May 2023 School Board Elections," a self-described mobilization tool. The online primer does the homework on right-wing kooks running in school districts around the state. “As long as politicians perceive that bullying trans kids, protecting white innocence, or accusing teachers of ‘grooming’ is a winning political issue, they will continue to do it,” Strong cautions. “So adopt a race and see how you can help.”
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courtesy of Frank Strong
If we're being honest, this award technically goes to Twitch streamer and content creator raysfire, who's best known for his Super Mario Maker and Mario Kart skills. The evening streams and YouTube videos range from endurance tests to battles against his viewers and AI as they control opposing players who are pitted against the host, who'll sometimes raise the difficulty level by playing blindfolded. Despite those skills, his greatest achievement might be adopting The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! one-off character General Washingtoad as his unofficial mascot, an image of whom often sits perched in a corner of his streams. With the popularity of the Mario franchise, it's clear the mushroom people are the best, and General Washingtoad is the best of the best. We salute you!
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This small rescue organization is dedicated to Saving Animals From Euthanasia with efforts hyperfocused on small rural shelters outside of Austin with high kill rates. These earth angels take in dogs and cats who have nearly reached the end of the road and offer them a second chance at life and love through their coordinated efforts providing rehabilitation, spay and neuter services, and transports. Their 100% foster-based care system works with skilled trainers and vets to help heal “unadoptable” medical cases and behavioral issues so that all the fur babies can find a home and a new leash on life.
saferefugeofcentraltexas.weebly.com
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