There’s something happening here 

What it is is ABUNDANTLY clear. 

There’s an orange man with no clothes over there

He’s so gross, we can’t help but stare. 

Or something like that. 

¿Holy frijoles, Secular FAMilia, como estas? Did you know that right now, where I’m sitting comfortably in my air-conditioned home in the ‘Slope was once Mexico? That’s right! And before that, it was Native land. Specifically the Huhugam (Hohokam) Tribe. If you want to know what stolen land you’re currently inhabiting, you can check on this website. 

Also, Happy Juneteenth! Check out the Black Chamber and support a Black-owned business today!

If there’s one thing white Americans love, it’s taking ownership of things that don’t belong to them. Human beings, land, language, music, food, pop culture, ideas, hope, I could go on and on. 

So of course, a bunch of wypipo are big mad that some protestors fly the Mexican flag during protests. You know, because they all revere the American flag (and police) so much.

I wonder how MAGAts keep track of all the things they’re supposed to be outraged about. Oh, that’s right, it’s all carefully CULTivated and fed to them in a steady stream of clickbait rage. Rage is an important part of the MAGA diet, while critical thinking skills are treated like high Omega-6 seed oils (yes, this is really a thing) and avoided at all costs. Nope, these folks are on a strict diet of beef tallow and LOTS of tripe. 

Meanwhile, those of us who are capable of using a Google machine to find reliable sources probably feel like Lisa Simspon right now. 

Lisa is often the moral compass in the Simpsons, a show that provides an animated commentary of America. Right now, too many in this country embody the values of Monty Burns and his boot-licking lackey, Smithers. 

Like everyone else in America, I awoke Saturday to the news that two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were targeted by a far-right, white Christian nationalist. Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were assassinated in their own home, and MN State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette are still recovering in the hospital. The suspect is in custody, and in a turn of events no one could possibly predict 🙄, he is an evangelical extremist, MAGA cult member, and New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) hate preacher. You know, the types who are trying to start a holy war. 

I was in Bisbee for their Pride event when I heard the news of the shootings. The entire theme of Bisbee Pride this year was essentially “No Kings, Yaaaaassss QUEENS.” Throughout the morning, my group texts were flooded with pictures of No Kings protests from all over the state and country, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the murders in Minnesota. 

Y’all, I am so lucky to know so many elected officials here in Arizona. I have relationships with lawmakers across the state, from school board to statewide offices. I’ve broken bread with them, I’ve knocked doors for them, I’ve met their significant others, children, and grandchildren. They’re some of the hardest working people I know. 

In case you’re not aware, state legislators in Arizona are paid an annual salary of $24,000. They’re subjected to the whims of those in leadership, and their schedules can be unpredictable. Additionally, for those in the minority party, their voices are throttled and belittled. This means the constituents in these districts have almost no voice in our democracy, and less than 1% of the minority party’s bills even get a hearing. 

The cellular signal in Bisbee isn’t great, but I kept checking Bluesky for updates on both the suspect and the 2000ish protests happening all over. Almost immediately, propaganda peddlers on Xitter and conservative news media outlets accused “leftists” of causing political violence, including a local school board governing board member in Deer Valley (DVUSD), Kim Fisher. 

Her Xitter is a trash heap of hate, conspiracy theories, and a very bizarre obsession with DVUSD Superintendent, Curt Finch, and his wife. Hers is tame compared to her husband’s. You may remember that her husband Bill, has ties to white supremacist organizations and his social media is generally an endless stream of xenophobia, racism, bigotry, and misogyny. His Xitter has been deactivated, but trust and believe, SECULAR FAM! Yours Truly has receipts. 

But I digress…

The dangerous perpetuation of the myth of the “violent left” minimizes the actual violence committed by the religious right. Because fascists dehumanize anyone who doesn’t march in lockstep with their authoritarian aspirations, their words become even more dangerous. Especially when they’re spoken by elected officials. 

I ventured into XitterLand just to see what was happening there, and it’s not good. Trump’s ex, Elon Mush, makes sure that it’s an endless stream of propaganda, so the folks over there and their parents - who are likely planted in front of Newsmax and Fox - will almost assuredly never be confronted with facts. Elmo is even trying to control Xitter’s AI, Grok. AI already makes things suck a whole bunch, but if the broligarchs teach AI how to lie, we’re cooked. 

Remember when Speaker Johnson called for California Governor Gavin Newsom to be “tarred and feathered” or when TACOTUS referred to him as “Newscum?”

Words matter.

MAGA extremists have a vitriol problem, and few of them exhibit compassion when tragedy strikes. Some politicians prioritize civility over admonishment of violent rhetoric, and I’m sorry, but the days of “when they go low, we go high” are so totally over. It’s time to get loud when unidentified individuals are disappearing citizens in unmarked vehicles, journalists are being targeted by cops, and US Marines are terrorizing people in Southern California.

The way they otherize, infantilize, and marginalize anyone who doesn’t fit their description of “American” is alarming and completely devoid of humanity. It’s also hella fascist.

A fascist takeover is happening before our very eyes, America, and our silence and compliance helps to usher it in at a more rapid pace. 

So here’s my plea today: stop sugarcoating this shit and call it what it is: fascism.  

It seems pretty clear to me that not everyone got a good education about our nation’s history. They’re so comfortable in their ignorance they want to ensure that their children and grandchildren are also unquestioning dimwits who obey and comply with their authoritarian overlords. 

 I feel like I got a really good public school education, but I didn’t learn about the Tulsa Massacre until my undergrad. Even then, it was mentioned in passing, and referred to as the “Tulsa Riots.” That was in 2009 - seventeen years after my high school graduation. I’m guessing that most American students do not learn about the Tulsa Massacre or the segregation of soldiers throughout our nation’s history. And if MAGA has anything to say about it, they never will. 

The days of staying silent when extremist cult members pop off and spew propaganda are over. Full stop. 

Another blow happened this week when SCOTUS handed down its decision about trans youth and healthcare. The decision is clearly discriminatory since cisgender youth can still access gender-affirming healthcare, but since the majority of SCOTUS are bought and paid for and/or see themselves as soldiers in some imaginary holy war, our voice just doesn’t fucking matter to them. And before anyone on the right tries to say this was to “protect kids” just spare me, OK? 

The cruelty is the point. 

So do me a favor, Secular FAM. When you see injustice in your community, call it out. If you see someone promoting “separate but equal” policies for marginalized groups, tell them to knock it the hell off. If someone prioritizes property over humanity, shake them by the shoulders. When your local school board strips students of academic and social opportunities because of religious zealotry, call it what it is: Christofascism.

These folks are in a cult. Not just any cult, but one that disregards due process based on race, ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation. They celebrate the arbitrary abduction and incarceration of human beings. These individuals are the foot soldiers for authoritarianism, and nearly every policy they promote will strip their constituents of their autonomy and voice. 

If we stand for nothing, what will we fall for? 

There is One Way Out, Secular FAM, and it is us.  Please consider becoming a member today.