Jina Song Harris

I consciously avoid engaging in political discourse here. This decision is not because I lack strong convictions, but rather, I, like many others, have found myself utterly depleted by the intense vitriol and divisiveness that have dominated the political climate in recent years. Alarmingly, there is a resurgence of harmful anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, exploited as a tool by politicians to incite fear and deepen societal divides, which poses a serious threat to the safety and well-being of individuals within these communities. As an openly gay woman, I can thankfully say that the instances of homophobia I have personally encountered can be enumerated on both hands. Still, each of these instances carries a sharp sting and leaves an indelible imprint. There was the unsettling incident where a car full of men, in a secluded parking lot, showered us with hate-filled slurs as we made our way to dinner. Or the time when we, standing defiantly in front of the Supreme Court, were subjected to songs glorifying violence against us by members of the Westborough Baptist Church – a chilling memory, especially considering we were there fighting for our right to have our marriage legally recognized to alleviate the constant fear of separation. I time a strategically placed Bible verse, insinuating hatred, was left on our car. A bible sent anonymously to our home address with the words ‘repent’ inscribed. I've also experienced the discomfort of homophobic jests casually thrown around my workplace by colleagues who are unaware of my sexuality. And, of course, the ubiquitous, and relentless internet trolls. Yet, I acknowledge my privilege. My skin is white, and my appearance does not immediately reveal my sexual orientation, offering me a degree of protection. Additionally, I am fortunate to live in a part of the world where I can lead a relatively peaceful day-to-day life. However, I'm painfully aware that this is not the case for everyone. When I see news stories highlighting discrimination and hatred, my blood turns icy, knowing the possible wave of atrocities it could usher in. Consider the sobering statistics: 45% of LGBTQ+ youth have seriously contemplated suicide in the past year. 60% of LGBTQ+ youth who sought mental health care within the same period were unable to access the help they needed. These figures are a stark reminder that we, as a society, have a moral obligation to do better, to fight for change, and to create a safer, more accepting world for all. If you hold any concern for me, or for any LGBTQ+ individual in your life, I urge you to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. In all my encounters with people in our community, I've yet to meet anyone whose agenda extends beyond a simple, universal desire: to live their life free from fear. That includes me too.

Thank you Romain Crec’hriou and Gerard Thouzeau for a top European conférence at Roscoff on #scientificdiving #scientificfreediving @MiamiRosenstiel

1/ a thread.. about @mayaspiritsnft sharing my experience in #Calakmul @shiralazar @MelissaRowley @ReFiTulum @refidaoist @NHavarx @terecastagnino @TulumCryptoFest @tulumcryptoclub @TulumCoinDAO @rachelwilkinsb @ACHart_Art @FrancesIPN @metadocpeace @sheiladarcey @ndeyefanagueye

Meet Dr. Rob Williams, Chief Scientist of Oceans Initiative @oceansresearch. Rob will be discussing: ✅What do the Orca's need to recover? ✅Impact of Sound on Marine Habitats ✅Solving Bottlenecks for the Chinook Salmon Set reminder 👇🏽 #WaveWarriors xitter.cf/i/spaces/1RDxlavvBnRKL