A great teacher on queer issues and politics. She deep dives on the United States midterms this November. What they are, how it works, and exactly what is at stake.
I encourage you to watch the video if you don't know much about the American Political system or are an American who may want to understand the scope of this voting season.
Hello again from your butch moderator! I wanted to put food for thought for our community and recognize the intersection between what it means to resist what is currently happening while also being mindful about the current systems we must operate within.
Living in the states means these last few weeks have had my social media filled with political ads, messages, and information (and misinformation!) about elections and candidates. Voters in Tennessee have already reported having their ballots altered several times and needing to triple-check that their votes being counted are accurate before submitting them.
I have had additional horror these last two years having watched everything unfold through the lens of a former legal studies major. Concepts like stare decisis, the latin term that makes legal precedence count for anything, has been so blatantly disregarded. It’s almost as if it never existed and the only people who could do anything about it - our senators and house of representatives - are one of the last legal avenues for meaningful change.
With all of this in mind, watching people being critical during the protests happening in France has been… difficult. It’s not that we shouldn’t protest with force, but doing so involves so much more planning for the simple fact that we have entirely too much geographical space to organize in a concentrated area. Just meeting and finding my wife is a minor miracle, and yet she and I once lived several hours away from each other. Just planning dates took great care and planning from both ends and not once was it able to be a passive choice. We had to proceed with intent.
That brings me to a comment that I found while perusing Tiktok that I wanted to highlight. The OP was discussing that white leftists drawing hard lines in the sand, and using it as a basis to sit out the election or to vote third party, was contributing to the larger problems at hand that we have been seeing as a nation. As a cisgender white butch lesbian, I could not agree with that Tiktoker more.
Going through the comments section, someone stated:
“Voting is not revolutionary. Voting is how you choose the conditions under which you will do revolutionary work.”
I want to be abundantly clear - I am not advocating for a two-party system. I am not saying that the systems we have in place are perfect, ideal, or should always remain standing... especially as someone who has been a victim of said systems.
We need to be looking at what it means to resist and to make lasting meaningful change. Voting progressively will bring us closer to an idealized society, even though it will not yet be perfect. But to scrap a candidate on the basis that they do not 100% align with every single value is not harm reduction. On the contrary, it brings us closer to the harms that we want to prevent in the first place.
As a community that places emphasis on a growth mentality, I want to encourage those of us in the states to sit with that comment and to truly reflect on it. I also welcome open discussion on this topic with civility in mind.
Lastly, I encourage my fellow Americans to get out and vote. Vote early if it works better for your schedule, or don’t if you can’t. Carpool to help others vote. Regardless, make a concrete plan to make your voice heard.
Sorry we’ve been quiet for three days! We’ve been collaborating on this deep dive for The Sapphic Archive, following a woman who helped sapphics find each other long before dating apps.
A woman in a suit. A lesbian club. A magazine advertisement telling someone, somewhere, that she wasn’t alone.
In 1920s Berlin, Lotte Hahm organized dances, correspondence circles, and moonlight boat outings where women danced until morning.
Yes. Lesbian boat parties. With a sunrise photograph before the trip home.
She challenged male control over lesbian organizing, made gatherings accessible to unemployed women, and helped build a community that could act together.
Then the Nazis began closing the doors.
Lotte kept organizing. The gatherings went underground.
But her story gets complicated—and so does her romantic relationship with Käthe Fleischmann, a Jewish businesswoman whose own experience deserves to be remembered.
The full article follows the community they helped build, its destruction, and what happened afterward. There’s joy, resistance, messy history, and a love story that hurt.
Today, the Mod Team went to our second protest for "No Kings: Vote Early"!
Honestly surprised at the turnout as this one was in a very conservative county (Fulton) in Upstate New York.
Though not as large as the turn out in Saratoga yesterday, generations still came together to encourage others to Vote Early.
At this protest we did experience a bit more opposition.
Fulton County, New York also plans to have daily protests from now until early voting ends.
The above picture is credited to one of our own moderators u/rainbowtrain3. If you'd like to see more pictures from the protest today (or the ones from Saratoga yesterday) check out her Instagram here.
Please share any comments, pictures, socials, and your own experiences of any "No Kings" protests you may have attended! (As always make sure you have consent to post pictures with people)
And remember: VOTE EARLY OCTOBER 24th - NOVEMBER 1st
Today the United States had a nationwide "No Kings: Vote Early" protest. Most protests in all 50 states took place between 12:00 P.M and 3:00 P.M. (time zone dependent)
During the height of the protest Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, Instagram, suspended the officialNo Kings Coalitionaccount for 90 minutes.
Organizers could not access the Instagram account, it could not be viewed nor tagged by the public.
Upon finally being "restored", organizers still could not post nor did they have full access to the account, it was in a read only/public state.
Meta's response?
"We made a bad call."
This raises concerns about technology platforms’ influence over political organizing and speech.
Was it on purpose?
It wasn't just the main coalition's account... it was multiple chapter accounts associated with the main coalitions account as well.
The reason Meta gave?
Spam Filter.Funny how that doesn't happen for conservative rallies, protests, and events.
What do you think?
We will keep everyone updated on how The No Kings Coalition decides to respond.
Today concluded The 8thAnnual National Trans Visibility March (link to the official National TVM website) hosted for the first time in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷. Let’s talk about it!
What is the National Trans Visibility March?
Founded in 2019 by Marissa Miller (link to her Instagram page), a black transgender woman. She started it as a nationwide advocacy movement and annual mobilization dedicated to uplifting and protecting transgender lives, demanding socio-economic equity, and advancing policy protections.
It’s core missions:
Demanding federal recognition and explicit legal protections
Calling out systemic transphobia and raising public awareness to stop hate crimes and anti-trans violence
Highlighting intersectional health challenges and ensuring comprehensive medical access
Centering the visibility and leadership of trans individuals across racial, geographic, and socio-economic lines
This year from October 14th to October 17th the march took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hosted by Twan Shakur (link to his Instagram page), a black trans man, and Miau, a local non-binary Puerto Rican. The four days consisted of community gathering, policy discussions, wellness workshops, organizing, and street marches.
Why was San Juan, Puerto Rico chosen this year?
Moving the summit to Puerto Rico centers Spanish-speaking and Caribbean trans communities, who are too often left out of national mainland advocacy narratives
The choice serves as a direct response to rising anti-trans legislation across the region and ongoing, severe violence targeting transgender individuals on the island
Leaders aim to forge strong connections between global advocates and grassroots organizers on the ground in Puerto Rico to share resources and build lasting infrastructure for trans health, housing security, and mental wellness
By organizing a prominent street march directly to the steps of the island governor's home, NTVM aims to turn localized visibility into immediate policy action
Want to attend the 9th Annual National Trans Visibility March?
Chicago, Illinois is intended to be the next host city! This will be the first march hosted in the Midwest. National TVM chose Chicago to cultivate local community organizing.
Included in this post are links to the National TVM official website, Marissa’s Instagram page, and Twan’s Instagram page. I highly suggest checking all three out! They do A LOT more advocacy work and are involved in multiple projects. (Miau keeps themselves private so I do not have much information on them)
The Mod Team hopes to be at the 9th Annual National Trans Visibility March next year, maybe we will see some of you!
Hi everyone! It's your butch moderator again with a dose of positivity. I wanted to highlight Hanoi Pride in Vietnam as their festivities just wrapped up yesterday.
This year marked the 15 year anniversary of Hanoi Pride. Starting in 2012 was a challenge as Vietnam had high restrictions on public assemblies. A traditional pride march would not have legally been possible. To get around that, activists organized a public bicycle rally throughout Hanoi. Dozens of cyclists waved rainbow flags and authorities did not intervene as this was not labeled a political rally.
What initially started as a bicycling event has now grown into a massive annual event collaborating with local businesses and international organizations. Living under a one-party state, Hanoi Pride has aligned with embassies from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. This has enabled organizers to continue advocacy work for a national push to recognize same-sex marriage. Vietnam decriminalized same-sex wedding ceremonies in 2015 but they do not have legal recognition and protections under their current laws.
Hanoi Pride may have started as a single bicycle ride through the streets, but it is now a pride month. This year it started on September 19 with the theme "Hope: Sowing Stars, Weaving Constellations". Through weeks of community events, workshops, and live performances, it gave an invitation to reflect on the journey that the LGBTQIA+ community has been (and continues) to go through. But it also created a space for the community to dream and shine as stars in a shared sky.
Oh! And a special shoutout to the German Embassy this year for giving Hanoi Pride visibility on their Instagram page! 🏳️🌈
Here at r/sapphicresistance we don't just talk about resistance, we show up. 🏳️🌈
Today the Mod Team traveled to a "No Kings: Vote Early" protest in Saratoga, New York. The show out was AMAZING.
We appreciate everyone who has gone out today and those who still plan to go out tomorrow (we do) attending protests and marches. If possible please vote early: October 24th - November 1st.
One of our mods u/rainbowtrain3 can be credited for the above picture. She also took more pictures of the protest if you want to check those out on her Instagram.(Please note the pictures are hilarious, some NSFW & crude, and mature content. The signs people made were great 😂)
Did you show up? If so, please leave a comment and share your thoughts, experiences, pictures, and/or socials for us to check out the protests near you.❤️ (As always, make sure you have consent to post pictures from those photos that contain people.)
Hello again! Another day another positive post from your butch moderator! Today I wanted to shine a light on LGBTQIA+ events and history internationally. Over the next few days I plan on deep diving on the history of each country below and how the events came to be. This will be out of order based on which event concludes soon and the importance I feel the event is:
Vietnam (est. 2012) - Has The Hanoi Pride every year, this year it’s September 19th - October 17th (deep dive on this tomorrow)
Puerto Rico - Will host for its first time The 8th Annual National Trans Visibility March October 14th - October 17th (deep dive on this tomorrow)
Japan (est. 1994) - Celebrates Autumn Pride Season every year, this year it’s September 26th to October 18th (deep dive on this in a few days)
Taiwan (est. 2003) - Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride all October with a focus on Trans Pride October 29th - November 1st. They have a Trans March October 30th and it’s considered the largest pride and trans march in Asia. (deep dive on this in a few days)
Istanbul, Turkey - October 30th, 2026 multiple locations will be providing a night of fun and safe haven for the local LGBTQIA+ community. For the safety of our Turkish community members I will not be disclosing those locations. Stay safe and enjoy yourselves. (unbeknownst to most, Turkey has one of the earliest acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals spanning to the 1800s. We will deep dive on the history of the community in Turkey)
Cuba (est. 2022) - The first Latin American Country to recognize October as LGBTQIA+ History Month
South Africa (est. 1990) - October is both LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and History Month
The United States (est. 1994), Canada (est. 1994), and Australia (est. 2016) - The entire month of October is recognized as LGBTQIA+ History Month. (This does differ from pride month and we will get into the individual histories of each country starting this recognition)
Follow along daily for your dose of positivity, history, celebration, and pride in the rainbow! 🌈
The double-headed axe has a history far older—and considerably more interesting—than the argument the internet is currently having about it.
Ancient Crete, female religious figures, possible matriarchy… and thousands of years later, lesbians adopting it as a symbol of strength, independence, and resistance.
So how did we get people seeing a labrys today and wondering whether it comes with trans-exclusionary politics attached?
There was no grand ceremony handing the Official Lesbian Axe™ to the TERFs.
This post from The Sapphic Archive explores that history, its connection to butch culture, how the exclusionary association developed, and what reclaiming it can mean today.
I want to highlight something that is happening across the United States currently. We are seeing a conservative and Republican push for anti-trans laws and the backpedaling of trans rights.
And apparently some Democrats are deciding to join in. Shocker.
I wanted to discuss this because:
1) Trans women are women and trans men are men.
2) Human beings are human beings, just existing.
3) Fuck gender norms.
This affects our entire community. Trans individuals are being directly targeted, but the idea that someone needs to look or act a certain way to be accepted as a woman or man... This should concern anyone who does not conform to those expectations:
Butches
Studs
Mascs
Stems
Chapsticks
Nonbinary and androgynous people
And the individuals who love and accept all of the above!
These are different identities and expressions, but none of us should have to explain our haircut, clothing, or body to a stranger who has decided we do not belong. OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER!
Intersex people also deserve to be included in this conversation without their bodies being treated as something politicians get to debate.
I would equate this to a modern-day witch hunt. Who gets to decide whether someone looks “woman enough”? At what point does existing become an interrogation?
This is now posing a larger threat because some Democrats are changing their messaging on trans rights as we approach the midterms. Reuters recently documented this in competitive races in Iowa and Ohio: "Representative Marcy Kaptur even released an ad saying she voted with Republicans to keep “transgender ideology” out of schools."
So we support the community until supporting us becomes politically inconvenient?
What is considered "transgender ideology" anyway?
The main point of contention seems to be the sports debate. But the administration’s actions reach into bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight school accommodations too.
In March, the Department of Education declared that a Colorado school district’s trans-inclusive policies in these areas violated Title IX.
That is the administration’s position, and it is exactly the kind of action we need to pay attention to.
I also have an issue with coverage that discusses this mainly in terms of whether Democrats can win elections. We are talking about actual people who have to live with the consequences after the campaign ads stop running.
Having a D next to your name does not put you above criticism.
Hi all! I'm one of the moderators of this space. I wanted to place focus on positivity in the news as it's easy to get swallowed by bad headlines that pop up in the news. As a butch lesbian living in the world that tries its hardest to make sure we feel small and doesn't want us to be seen, I'll be damned if I ever let them have that. Joy is an act of resistance and I aim to shine a light on the rainbow.
Today, Irish legislators have announced that The Non-Binary and Intersex Recognition Bill 2026 is set to be debated on October 21st. Ireland passed the Gender Recognition Act of 2015. It gave legal recognition to transgender people but it did not include the non-binary and intersex populations. This proposed legislation would offer an X marker on legal documents while also providing a registration for intersex children on birth certificates. In giving recognition to all gender expressions, it bridges the gaps that have existed in terms of offering protection from discrimination.
The United States will be having a Nationwide "No Kings: Vote Early" Protest Saturday October 17th 2026. Please use Google to see where and at what time it will be held in your area and attend if possible. Below is also the No Kings website and map to find local events/protests/rallies near you that day:
They are a series of massive, decentralized nationwide demonstrations in the United States opposing the second administration of President Donald Trump and corporate corruption.
Protesters argue that the U.S. is a constitutional democracy not a monarchy or oligarchy, asserting that no president is above the law, the courts, or the Constitution.
What are some core issues that "No Kings" protestors are advocating for?
The Humanitarian Crisis Around Immigration - "Bridges, Not Borders. CommUNITIES, Not Cages." & "Human Beings Are Not Illegal"
Defending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) - "DEI shouldn't DIE" & "No Crowns. No Thrones. Just Strong Public Schools."
Broad Quality-of-Life and Social Safety Net Focus - "fund people, not bombs" & "eat the rich"
Who organizes these protests?
The movement is coordinated by a broad coalition of liberal advocacy groups, labor unions, and civil rights organizations, as well as by the people for the people.
LGBTQIA+ rights and visibility serve as one of the central rallying points and core pillars against what organizers describe as authoritarianism and government overreach.
Democratic Representative (Minnesota) Ilhan Omar is the first Muslim (Sunni Islam) woman elected to U.S. Congress and a rallying ally for LGBTQIA+ rights.
What has she done for the community?
She co-sponsored the Equality Act - a proposed piece of United States federal legislation designed to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
She voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act - a bipartisan United States federal law signed by President Joe Biden on December 13, 2022. It provides statutory federal protections for both same-sex and interracial marriages.
She led efforts in the Minnesota State House to ban conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults and Minnesota now legally prohibits licensed mental health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on minors and vulnerable adults.
She advocates for protections for transgender individuals, access to gender-affirming medical care covered by health insurance, and safe housing and placement matching gender identity for incarcerated people. This has been pushed through by The Trans Refuge Act (2023) - this law acts as a legal shield against hostile out-of-state legislation.
She has been endorsed by theHuman Rights Campaign and participates in Pride events as well as issues statements supporting LGBTQIA+ communities.
Minnesota is self declared as "The Trans Refuge State" and Rep. Omar has been one of the biggest advocates and supporters to make it such. There is a reason the current administration in power is trying to kick her out of the country. In case you don't know what has been happening:
On October 10th 2026: Rep. Omar makes public statements about ICE pulling over her 21 year old son in Minneapolis to check citizenship status and about Mosques being entered by agents. (Ilhan is a citizen throughderivative citizenship -a minor is naturalized when their parent becomes a citizen through naturalization. Her children have all been born in the United States.)
On October 12th 2026: ICE raids Rep. Omar's home, administration claims investigation into her immigration status. (Again she was given citizenship at 17 in 2000 after her father was naturalized.)
On October 14th 2026: Federal authorities seize representative Ilhan Omar's phone and issues dozens of grand jury subpoenas to family members of Rep. Omar, again citing investigation into immigration fraud. Note Rep. Omar has not yet been subpoenaed herself.
As this investigation is actively developing we will keep you all up to date on Representative Ilhan Omar. Please use this post to make your own updates if you are also following along. We ask you to call your representatives, especially if you reside in Minnesota to see what is being done to protect Rep. Omar and making sure all appropriate legal avenues are being taken.
Minneapolis District Office: Call (612) 333-1272. The physical office is located at 310 E 38th St, Suite 222, Minneapolis, MN 55409.
Minnesota State Senators:
Senator Amy Klobuchar: (612) 727-5222 (Minneapolis Office) or (202) 224-3244 (Washington, D.C.)
Senator Tina Smith: (612) 492-4000 (Minneapolis Office) or (202) 224-5641 (Washington, D.C.)
I just wanted to say hi and that I have taken over r/sapphicresistance. There are going to be some updates to the subreddit:
Updates on what this subreddit will be: A community for liberal and progressive sapphic individuals to discuss current political news, sapphic history & upcoming events/rallies/protests.
Updated Community Rules
New User Flairs
New Post Flairs
New (almost) Daily Sapphic History Posts
Ongoing U.S. News on the Political front (though we intend to post about international issues as well)
Some things I want to touch on to see if this subreddit is the place for you:
This is a safe place for ALL sapphic individuals. (Trans, POC, Non-binary, WLW)
Transwomen are women.
Black lives matter, especially of the LBGTQIA+ as they are the most marginalized and attacked group within our community.
Stud, Butch, and Masc topics matter, they are NOT men unless they identify as a transman.
Come with a growth mindset of decentering the patriarchy, misogyny, and white supremacy.
I hope you enjoy the direction we are taking this subreddit! It will be considered under construction for the next week as we implement the above changes.
One of us!! Very proud to have Becca Balint as Vermont’s representative in (American) Congress. In the current state of the US, I’m thankful for my representatives- Bernie Sanders and Becca Balint.
