kitoconnell

@kitoconnell@kolektiva.social

They/them type middle-aged queerdo. GLAAD-award nominated journalist. Formerly Digital Editor at the Texas Observer. Disabled with #fibromyalgia.

Also follow https://federate.social/@oconnell

Pfp: a smiling white person against a dark bg with wavy brown hair, bushy eyebrows, a very light mustache and a big Irish nose and broad forehead. They are wearing a puffy white blouse, dark red and white scarf and green metal wayfarer glasses. Image by Ivan Flores.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

kitoconnell, (edited ) to random

I've been laid off at the @TexasObserver today. The publication no longer has a digital editor or social media manager (I was both), and has also fired its editor-in-chief and laid off another member of the editor team.

If you have leads please send them my way. And please consider joining my Patreon to support my continued writing. https://patreon.com/kitoconnell

kitoconnell, to journalism

Pay attention to what's happening in this case: the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals just essentially ruled that it's fully legal to jail journalists for reporting leaked information, or any information they obtain from government officials without going through "proper channels."

This is a serious issue for #journalism in #Texas, #Louisiana and #Mississppi and we should hope the Supreme Court sets things right quickly. https://www.texasobserver.org/priscilla-villarreal-journalist-la-gordiloca-fifth-circuit/ via @TexasObserver

#SCOTUS #PressFreedom #FirstAmendment #news #politics #USpol #CriminalJustice #media #law

kitoconnell, to security

Y'all know not to use #Temu right? Right???

Temu app contains ‘most dangerous’ #spyware in circulation: class action lawsuit | Fashion Dive
https://www.fashiondive.com/news/temu-class-action-lawsuit-data-collection/699328/

#security

kitoconnell, to internet

I won't go into details because they aren't mine to share, but a fash publication dropped dox (real name, location, years of internet history) on an antifascist member of the #fediverse today, based in large part on their activity on @kolektiva dot social and elsewhere on #Mastodon.

Just a reminder that the enemy is aware that we are gathered here and is watching us, and as we head into these dangerous times it's important to remember that. Think twice before posting anything here you wouldn't want linked to you in a court of law, for example. #SocialMedia #fascism #antifa #SecurityCulture #feditips

kitoconnell, to Massachusetts

A cop conducted a search of a classroom for the book #Genderqueer. It's always so bracing to be reminded that my #gender identity is considered potentially criminal.

Also, this happened in #Massachusetts, so y'all need to stop pretending this is a Southern problem. https://www.thedailybeast.com/cop-conducts-search-for-gender-queer-book-in-massachusetts-classroom

#LGBTQIA+ #gender #homophobia #transphobia #police #ACAB

kitoconnell, to nonbinary

My aesthetic.

Via #Nonbinary #Memes & More on Facebook

#LGBTQIA #gender

kitoconnell, to queer

Apparently the "#queer is a slur" discourse is back on social media and look, y'all, we settled this in the 1990s. Get with the century. We have a right to reclaim these words and we already have. Get the fuck over it, and accept my queer as fuck self or get into some therapy.

kitoconnell, (edited ) to fediverse

This is a long shot, but my spouse is looking for someone who can donate a 3D printer or a laser cutter to a group of artists and who used to experience chronic homelessness. It is an actual so you can get the tax write off. Please boost in case someone in the can help.

(Edit to add: in !)
(edit 2: It needs to be able to print ceramics.)

kitoconnell, to TaylorSwift

Just because the right-wing are anti-Taylor doesn't mean everyone on the left needs to start stanning a billionaire.

There are no good billionaires. If she was a good person, she wouldn't be one either. It's fine to enjoy her music but she's as harmful as every other billionaire for simply existing.

Do I think some billionaires are more actively harmful than others? Sure. But none of them should be billionaires. There are no good ones.

kitoconnell, to Health

“I was trying to prioritize my physical health because I couldn’t lift things; I couldn’t open things. I didn’t understand why I was getting weaker.”

Even a single infection can destroy the lives of young, healthy Texans, as my feature from @TexasObserver magazine, out today, reveals: https://www.texasobserver.org/long-covid-texas-clearing-the-air/

kitoconnell, to Texas

If #Texas wants to be a fascist theocracy, it's nice to see some religious interfaith groups push back on behalf of the #HumanRights of #LGBTQIA+ folks. Via @malachiskey at @TexasObserver https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-lgbtq-resource-centers-close/

#Houston #Texas #news #politics #Fascism #Republicans #TXlege

kitoconnell, to missouri

Y'all they have openly said they plan to do this nationwide if is reelected. Look up Project 2025.

A Republican has introduced a bill that would make it a felony for teachers to support and -nonconforming students’ transitioning socially and force those found guilty to register as sex offenders.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/03/gop-bill-would-require-teachers-to-register-as-sex-offenders-if-they-support-trans-students/

+

kitoconnell, to austin

Dolly Parton sends signed, bejeweled guitar to Austin #drag performer Brigitte Bandit | KXAN #Austin
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/dolly-parton-sends-signed-bejeweled-guitar-to-austin-drag-performer-brigitte-bandit/

(I wrote about Brigitte in my profile for @TexasObserver )

kitoconnell, to internet

I've decided I like the trolls who say "if you block me, it means I win." It makes me giggle to imagine them all alone in the dark, by themselves, just winning.

kitoconnell, (edited ) to Unions

Solidarity forever, comrades 🖖

(my meme but not my meme template) #unions #Union #WorkersRights #StarTrek

kitoconnell, (edited ) to Texas

A 19 old #Texas teacher was fired for attending #Houston #drag show at the historic Hamburger Mary's #LGBTQIA bar and posting about it on her personal social media
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-drag-show-teacher-texas-18262402.php via @Chron

#homophobia
(edit: corrected, 19 years teaching not 19 years old) 🤦🏼‍♀️

kitoconnell, to LGBTQ

“Taken individually, the seven pieces of legislation … will disrupt the lives of LGBTQ+ people of various ages and backgrounds. Put together, the bills are a systemic attack on the fundamental rights, dignities, and identities of #LGBTQ+ persons that opens the gates for discrimination by both public and private actors.”

I've a new article out today at @TexasObserver about a new letter to the #UnitedNations, demanding they pressure federal government over the state of #LGBTQIA+ rights in the Lone Star state.
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-anti-lgbtq-laws-united-nations-human-rights/

#news #politics #USpol #Texas #education #HumanRights #healthcare #schools #homophobia #transphobia

kitoconnell, to austin

Austin area organizers are launching a slate of events as a free, radical alternative to . Check out this blog post for more information, a calendar of and the full alt text for the below flyer:
https://austinautonomedia.noblogs.org/smashxsmashwest/


@ATX_Autonomedia

kitoconnell, to queer

I am so excited to finally share my @TexasObserver feature on the Queens of Austin and how they're defying the threat of legal crackdown and persecution in the streets, from the magazine. I spent months putting this together and I am so proud of how it came out... https://www.texasobserver.org/austin-drag-queens-defy-ban/

kitoconnell, to AirBNB

My spouse worked for a short-term rental company, an #AirBNB competitor, and wow did I hear an earful from them about the kinds of chaos these places can cause. One factor driving away the individual homeowner posting their extra 'crash space' online vs. the massive conglomerates is how little help the companies offer when something goes wrong (i.e. a renter sets off fireworks in your house while you're renting it out). Giant property owners can eat those kinds of losses and don't have sentimental attachment to their homes.

Excellent reporting here by Eva Ruth Moravec for @TexasObserver: https://www.texasobserver.org/short-term-rentals-airbnb-vrbo-neighborhoods/

#news #Texas #housing #inequality #cities

kitoconnell, (edited ) to Texas

Public meeting spaces at libraries in almost every major city in , and many smaller ones, saw 'Brave Books' events this weekend, which promoted this extremist publisher's storybooks under the guise of freedom of speech. The events were supported by Citizens Defending Freedom, aka 'Moms for Liberty in Suits' which is simultaneously seeking to ban 100s of books in .

More important reporting on from @stevanzetti at @TexasObserver: https://www.texasobserver.org/brave-books-texas-library-free-speech/

(Edit: Corrected unclear language that made it seem like libraries hosted these events)
+ @bookstodon

kitoconnell, to politics

I've a new story out today @TexasObserver based on a document leaked to me from the #Texas Department of #Agriculture.

Workers are now expected to dress "in a manner consistent with their biological gender" (whatever that means!) according to a memo released April 17. An employee told us they fear for #LGBTQIA+ coworkers: https://www.texasobserver.org/sid-miller-department-agriculture-dress-code-transgender/

#transphobia #LGBTQIA+ #trans #gender #queer #news #Workers #politics #HumanRights #transgender #Republicans

kitoconnell, to Texas

About 50 people just disrupted the Bari Weiss speech at the University of at for a free Palestine. Bari made transphobic and fatphobic jokes to the crowd in addition to accusing supporters of being a "death cult." After disrupting her speech with chanting the group is making noise directly outside now.

kitoconnell, to humanrights

Even though the @TexasObserver has tracked this for a while, today is the first time I've really dug into the Clinton Young case, personally. https://www.texasobserver.org/clinton-young-death-row-lawsuit-midland/

What a fucking travesty:

"Ralph Petty played multiple, conflicting roles in Clinton Young’s case: He was part of the legal team that prosecuted him for murder, and also later argued against Young’s subsequent writs and appeals. At the same time, he was paid to advise and draft opinions for the district judge who ruled on those same appeals."
...
Alexa Gervasi, Young’s lawyer in the civil suit, has argued that was an impermissible and illegal abuse of power. “No one has more power than a prosecutor to take away a person’s liberty, and to allow what happened here to go without accountability, whatever that looks like, but without a court saying, ‘You violated Clint’s constitutional rights and that’s wrong,’ …. it’s self-perpetuating injustice,” Gervasi said. “The brazenness of all of Midland County—it’s an entire county of government officials signing off on this constitutional violation year after year after year for decades. It’s mind-boggling.”

#HumanRights #CivllRights #Prison #DeathPenalty #news

kitoconnell, to Texas

I'm absolutely disgusted by how these young Black students are treated. This school district has a LOT to answer for. We need to stop treating these budding minds like prisoners instead of human beings.

From @josephinelee at the @TexasObserver:

Yesterday, attorneys with the advocacy organizations #Texas Appleseed, Texas Civil Rights Project, #Disability Rights Texas, and the National Center for Youth Law filed a civil rights complaint with the federal Department of Justice on behalf of Brilliant and C.J., another Bonham ISD student who separately faced discrimination both as a Black student and as a student with disabilities.

The complaint alleges Bonham ISD perpetuated a racially hostile environment in the case of both students and a hostile educational environment on the basis of disability in C.J.’s case.”

https://www.texasobserver.org/bonham-isd-racism-confederacy-civil-rights/

(CW: Extreme #racism on full display here, including racist language)

#news #politics #USpol #racism #education #PublicSchools #students #BlackLivesMatter #SouthTexas #children

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