A few days ago - the NYC Dyke March put out a very strong statement saying that in response to proposed mask bans - and in solidarity with the disability community - the march would be fully masked.

I was thrilled to see it as I think these types of statements will help dissuade governments from banning medical masks.

Imagine my surprise when the march happened with a small “masked” section! Everyone else was unmasked.

The great irony here is that kind of segregation is exactly what’s going to happen as more mask ban bills pass. Masking will only be permitted for a very narrow number of “exempt” people while everyone else will go without.

If you’re able to mask up - please do it now. The more people masking the more we can normalize it as a medical tool to protect health!

Very grateful to the people who were masking - but concerned for all those high risk people who showed up expecting a fully masked event.

#CovidIsAirborne #CovidCautious #CovidIsNotOver #MaskBan #BoycottNC #CleanAir #WearaMask #Disability #LongCovid #Ableism #Denial #CleanAir #Pandemic #PublicHealth #InfectionControl #Eugenics #SafeHealthcare #N95 #Respirators #MasksWork #MaskUp #Spoonie #Discrimination #NorthCarolina #NewYork #UglyLaws

North Carolina just made medical masks illegal - the Republicans overrode the Governor’s veto. Protecting your health & the health of others is now a crime & people can demand you unmask in public.

The “exemption” is vague & problematic. This will lead to arrests & infections. It further isolates disabled people from society. It will disproportionately harm marginalized individuals and people of colour.

Also can we stop calling people in masks “sheep” yet? They’ve been in the overwhelming minority for years - and now they will literally be committing a crime while trying to protect their health. Masking has become an act of resistance - it’s simply laughable to lambast people as “sheep” for wearing a mask in 2024.

https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/republican-led-nc-house-overrides-gubernatorial-vetoes/

#CovidIsAirborne #CovidCautious #CovidIsNotOver #MaskBan #BoycottNC #CleanAir #WearaMask #Disability #LongCovid #Ableism #Denial #CleanAir #Pandemic #PublicHealth #InfectionControl #Eugenics #SafeHealthcare #N95 #Respirators #MasksWork #MaskUp #Spoonie #Discrimination #NorthCarolina #NewYork #UglyLaws

Republican-led NC House overrides three gubernatorial vetoes • NC Newsline

Republicans in the North Carolina House made short work of three of Governor Roy Cooper's vetoes on Wednesday afternoon.

^{NC Newsline}

Mask bans tell disabled people they don’t matter. That since we aren’t willingly “just staying home forever” you’re going to FORCE us by making it illegal for us to protect ourselves.

For what? So you don’t have to see a visual reminder that we’re still IN A PANDEMIC. So that you don’t have to question if perhaps YOU should be masking (you should be).

You’re supporting eugenics & ableist policies that are inching closer & closer to fascism while claiming to be all about “freedom”. Please see the absurdity of this and help us fight these dangerous & discriminatory bans.

#CovidIsAirborne #CovidCautious #CovidIsNotOver #MaskBan #BoycottNC #CleanAir #WearaMask #Disability #LongCovid #Ableism #Denial #CleanAir #Pandemic #PublicHealth #InfectionControl #Eugenics #SafeHealthcare #N95 #Respirators #MasksWork #MaskUp #Spoonie #Discrimination #NorthCarolina #NewYork #UglyLaws

Grateful to Act Up New York for speaking out against mask bans. For highlighting the importance of protests for social change.

They were instrumental in turning the tides of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Reagan’s government was completely ignoring the disease and promoting rampant homophobia and discrimination.

Their direct actions - often in the form of protests - got people to pay attention. Got the definition of AIDS changed to include women & heterosexuals. Got access to drugs and treatments. Helped push back against homophobia and misinformation. They did (and do!) incredible work.

It’s harder to organize and protest for better Covid policies because it’s an airborne virus - but people are still doing it. Banning medical masks and respirators will make it impossible for high risk individuals to be safely out in public. It’s ableist, discriminatory and will cost lives.

Their thread contains needed information on who to contact to push back against the proposed ban in New York.

https://t.co/H8OhXII3Gp

#CovidIsAirborne #CovidCautious #CovidIsNotOver #MaskBan #BoycottNC #CleanAir #WearaMask #Disability #LongCovid #Ableism #Denial #CleanAir #Pandemic #PublicHealth #InfectionControl #Eugenics #SafeHealthcare #N95 #Respirators #MasksWork #MaskUp #Spoonie #Discrimination #NorthCarolina #NewYork #UglyLaws

Note on #Rahimi:

#ClarenceThomas wrote the majority in NYSRPA v. #Bruen & was the sole dissent in today’s decision.

Bruen’s ruled a #NewYork #law was unconstitutional & that carrying a gun in public was a constitutional right guaranteed by #2A.

#SCOTUS said states are allowed to enforce "#ShallIssue" permitting, where #ConcealedCarry applicants must satisfy criteria, like #BackgroundChecks, but "#MayIssue" systems using "arbitrary" evaluations by local authorities are unconstitutional.

#law

Via Kyle Griffin:

A #NewYork appeals court has restored to November's election ballot a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would bar discrimination based on "gender identity" and "pregnancy outcomes."