— [ ' listen up, let me tell you a story ' ] — She studies by the phone flashlight, neck aching after hours after hours of endless work. She has goals, ambitions, and dreams. She is smart, hard-working, and calm under pressure. Why would you tear her down? — [ ' a story that you think you've heard before ' ] — I was born a girl, raised a girl, and perceived as a girl. I feel the burden daily. I was raised by two Ivy league graduates. I was told that I can be anything I want in this world. They lied. As a girl I look at the internet to see potential salaries for career options. I'm in high school now, this matters. What do I see? I see that my baby brother will earn a dollar for my 82 cents. I see that he has a better chance at becoming a lawyer, my dream profession. Some may say I'm jealous, that I hate on his success. This is simply not true. I hate on the system that constantly oppresses me, a queer woman. 'Okay, let's take a break from the stats,' I think to myself. I go to band class and pull out my clarinet only to discover that the older white guy who never plays has somehow been given a better part and higher seat than me and my friend, a black woman. 'Chill out, you're imagining things,' They say with a laugh. Easy for you to say. — [ ' we know you know our names ' ] — I'm tired of this. I'm tired of going along with a tired oppressive society designed to benefit only old cishet white men. I'm tired of being laughed off in science class as not knowing anything because I'm a girl. I'm tired of having to rebound from every insult and sexist remark thrown my way because 'that's just how things are'. No. — [ ' and our fame and our faces ' ] — I'm sick of this, I'm sick of the oppression. But most of all I'm sick of the silence. I'm announcing that this will now be an activism account as well as a roleplay account. Ask me questions about my experiences as a queer woman and share your stories. This is a safe space, a space where we will make things right. — [ ' know all the glories and the disgraces ' ] —
