@RussSharek

Haha. It's just been a frustrating couple of weeks on there. It started off gradual around June 3rd or 4th but it's happening more and more. And Twitter says they "don't know" but it's been WEEKS of this.

@PlanetaryKnight That's horrible. The irony of course is that the term "queer" is being more typically used by the more civil end of the discussion.

@RussSharek Well I mean yeah definitely and it's been used since the 80's at least to represent the educational side of things like Queer&Gender Studies/etc so it's all just... Bizarre. Only word I can think of for it all. Between that and them doing zip about harassment the past several years. Twitter is more trouble than it's worth to me at this point.

@PlanetaryKnight

I'm sorry that's been your experience. Mine's been largely benign, but then my social media is largely for promotion of my circus work.

As a sometimes traveling performer it is something (like facebook) that has become a defacto part of our mobile industry.

Drives me nuts, to be honest.

@RussSharek Really my Twitter experience has been a mixed bag. I work with LGBT+ teens and we've had so much good support from social media at our youth center, our centers library flooded last year and peope send over 500 YA books, it was amazing.

There's just been so much harassment from too many random people too though. Facebook has been quicker for awhile about resolving it, with Twitter I worry about it escalating further from people&that's the problem.

@PlanetaryKnight

I've worked with at-risk kids and teens and it was an incrediblly rewarding experience. What sort of work are you doing with the teens?

I suspect Twitter's ability to remain anonymous factors into people being harsher than they are in real life. It's part of the reason I try to make a commitment to being "me" online as much as possible.

@RussSharek We have a drop-in center! We're located in southern Illinois which has like ZERO resources for LGBT+ youth. It doesn't sound like a lot but we're in a rural area and consistently see 35+ kids come in every time we're open and it's amazing. It's literally just a space for them to have mentors and support. We do HIV Testing and give away clothes and provide food as well. My dream is eventually we can afford to be an actual LGBT+ youth homeless shelter.

@PlanetaryKnight

That's amazing! I'm so glad you're out there helping. Community is incredibly important.

In ye-olde days, I believe things like religion (not advocating) had a huge hand in bringing communities together.

In the absence such accepting social structures, you have to make them for yourself.

I founded a variety show in Dallas that ran for five years. It acted as an ad hoc community for local weirdos. I know it saved me and countless others.

@RussSharek Ah! Amusingly wrt olden days we were initially founded by two churches who wanted to support LGBT+ youth somehow and give them a place to be safe if their family wasn't supportive, anf this was about 17 years ago, kind of amazing really.

And that is amazing too! Community is definitely important, finding those spaces where you belong and fit, that's an amazing space. It does so much for so many people.

@RussSharek Also obviously 17 years ago isn't olden days but when you hear 13 year olds talk, it's ancient 😂😂😂

Nothing makes you feel older than "I love listening to like SUPER old music. Like from the 90's."

@PlanetaryKnight

"Did you know Paul McCartney used to be in a band before Wings?"

"What's Wings?"

Yeah, I know from old. :)

@PlanetaryKnight

Nice to see some social progress out in the sticks. ;)

Most of my work has been either educational or performative in nature. Improv workshops build confidence, theater games remind people to play and trust each other.

@RussSharek Haha that's exactly how I felt when I found out about it about 4 years ago! WOULD/DO you do one night improv class type things/travel? (Website?) We have some kids interested in improv and they love having guests so I'm thinking some things haha

@PlanetaryKnight

I absolutely do travel to teach and perform. Last year I did a national tour where I worked with local circuses and theater companies across the US. We did a few smaller stops as well, and they were incredible experiences for everyone.

Our troupe website is http://circusfreaks.org/

All of the contact information goes directly to me. Pick up the phone and give me a call. Would love to chat at length about it.

@PlanetaryKnight

Let's make this happen so we get to brag that kvetching about queer visibility on mastodon led to a helpful creative project. :)

@RussSharek Will give a call probably tomorrow if that works for you? Have some errands to run this evening and would like to block some time out haha

@PlanetaryKnight

I'm available in the afternoon. Performing that night, so any time between noon and 4pm is ideal.

@RussSharek Alright will call around 1:30ish, are you in central time?

@PlanetaryKnight
Thank you for doing this!
It is so important to meet real other LGBT* people, especially during your coming out.

@Trill 💖 I'm happy to help out however I can, I wish I would have had better resources when I was a kid.

@PlanetaryKnight
So do I, which is part of why I am so happy you are helping ☺

@PlanetaryKnight I'm now in a debate between posting a test on Twitter myself and simply continuing my casual move to more open social media.

I realize on some levels that's the social cooling effect in action there, and it outrages me. Mind you, my @RussSharek on Twitter is really there for fans of my performance work more than anything else.

I suspect my identity may get a little fractured online as I sort it out.