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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

I'm out, and it feels way better than being in the closet. Still, being out isn't just about me. It's about being the example I wish I'd had earlier in my life.

It's always been a scary time to be queer, but every one of us who's out make it a little less so. (8/8)

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

(A brief aside: YEAH teenage Luther, most teen boys DEFINITELY cried themselves to sleep because they couldn't wear a dress to prom. Nice job. Incredible reasoning. Collect your prize at the door.)

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

For several in my circle, knowing me has given them freedom to examine themselves more closely. Many queer kids spend their early years telling themselves "everyone feels like this... right? I don't need to make a big deal about it."

For them, queerness is something that happens elsewhere. (7/?)

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

Being more public with my transition has been fascinating, because for many people in my life I'm the first openly trans person they've known personally. I can watch my existence become mundane to them in real time. My aunt and I both take Estradiol. (6/?)

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

What's happened afterwards has been what matters. I no longer have an excuse to hide.

I can just say what's been going on with me. I can make jokes with my 70 year old Dad about how much time we both spend getting our blood drawn. I can wear makeup and do my hair before we go somewhere nice. (5/?)

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

I did come out. I cried a bunch. It was awkward and uncomfortable, but it was the right thing. I love my family and being untruthful to them hurts. They're accepting but admittedly concerned and confused. Honestly, not sure if it's fully sunk in yet with them, but it has to start somewhere. (4/?)

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

And it IS hiding. Being selective in my story telling, fidgeting uncomfortably in Upper Middle-Class New England Boy cosplay every winter, trying to not get too emotional around certain political topics for fear of inviting questions. Some do it for safety, but for me, it was mostly fear. (3/?)

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

I told myself that coming out wasn't important or relevant. Really, I was just scared and lying to myself. I was 37 and my folks didn't even know I was bi or dated men in the past, much less my gender. All that hiding every time I came around for Christmas or other big event takes a toll. (2/?)

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 5h

#NationalComingOutDay has me thinking about how there's really no beginning or ending to 'coming out'. I'd been living as Non-Binary for years before I came out to my family only a few months ago, and that was mostly triggered by being on HRT for over a year. (1/?)

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Reposted by Luther Patenge

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 2d

there’s this weird idea a lot of people seem to have about how all of us writers and artists must secretly want to use AI and are merely resisting temptation for ethical reasons, and like, no, it’s not hard for me to resist drinking the bowl of Piss With Glass In It actually

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 1d

Most players don’t know this, but games with save points are designed to sense when you’re sneaking in a quick play session. When that triggers the game drops in many important cutscenes and puts the next save point an unreachable distance away.

This is to punish you for your indolence.

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 1d

@astragoblin.bsky.social

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Reposted by Luther Patenge

spooky mental haunted house @jesseltaylor.bsky.social · 2d

donning the armor of god to face the forces of hell

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Reposted by Luther Patenge

Chiitan🌈ちぃたん☆ @chiitan.love · 2d

Chiitan has a dream.
I hope that one day the term LGBT will become a thing of the past.
I will continue to spread my message until we live in a world where everyone can love freely and is free from persecution and discrimination.
Until then, let's all support each other🤍

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 2d

I want to be clear that in this scenario, he is never seen without his fursuit. Nobody even knows what he looks like, and anyone who tries to ‘unmask’ him gets absolutely stomped out by his fans.

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 2d

Bigots love using furries as an ad absurdum argument against trans people’.

They NEVER do that when they talk about trans people in sports. That’s because we all know that if there was a guy dressed as a jaguar, tornado kicking his way to the UFC championships we’d elect him president.

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Reposted by Luther Patenge

🌿 Swamp hag 🦎 @scaleesi.bsky.social · 2d

Ok but can we talk about how well this coord matches the interior of the cathedral? How can I go back to crusty mirror selfies now?

Headdress:
Blouse and jabot: Moitie
Jsk: AatP
Bloomers: SummerTales Boutique
Shoes: Dr. Martens

#egl #eglfashion #elegantgothiclolita #lolitafashion #jfashion #aatp

Photo of a classic gothic lolita coord with the interior of the Cologne cathedral. Wearing a black headdress with bows on the sides. Long natural red hair frames the face. A mocha coloured satin Motie blouse with matching jabot with black laces which covers the neckline of a black Alice and the Pirates jsk. The skirt has a beige/brown windowed print, picturing scenes from Romeo and Juliet. Frilly black bloomers are visible from underneath the skirt. Holding a black purse in the right hand, and black otk socks and pointed toe Dr. Marten lace up shoes are also worn.

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Luther Patenge @ironwhale.bsky.social · 2d

I will forever beat the drum that Shakespeare only feels unintelligible to most people because their only interaction with it was when their high school English teacher made their bored, borderline illiterate classmates read it out loud in class.

Performance matters. It matters a LOT.

chira 🎋 @artofchira.bsky.social · Jun 1

whenever i encounter people who say they can't understand shakespeare verses I always send them this clip from the 2019 Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing

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Reposted by Luther Patenge

merritt @merrittk.com · 3d

i wrote an instruction manual for a fictional CD-i game where you play as an executive at a company that produces RC cars in the 90s 1900hotdog.com/2025/10/nerd...

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Reposted by Luther Patenge

John Rogers @johnrogers.bsky.social · 2d

ME: Now Mom, just remember, there's a lot of disinformation and AI in your social feed and your friends' Facebook.
MOM: I know! My friend sent me this crazy post where someone used AI to make an image of a giant frog fighting Army troops!
ME: ... okay, no, that one's ... goddamit, Portland.