Thread by @StephTaitWrites

When “progressive” orgs say “we’re just following CDC/public health” as an excuse for why they won’t take Covid precautions, yet loudly preach the need to fight against laws/societal norms for OTHER forms of marginalization?

They’re stating their values on who is expendable.

When organizations that loudly preach the importance of centering marginalized voices and working against the violence of the systems we are a part of say “be reasonable” to people asking for Covid precautions?

They say w/ their whole chest, “YOUR existence asks too much of us”

When orgs that preach 0 tolerance for misogyny, racism, queerphobia, etc say “we need to respect ppl have varying opinions on what risks they’re comfortable with” to excuse minimal/non-exist Covid precautions, they’re saying “YOUR rights are debatable though, a matter of opinion”

When orgs that have hard-line policies against acts of misogyny/racism/queerphobia say “masks are recommended at our event but it’s not reasonable to ask us to REQUIRE masks/enforce that policy ,” they’re saying “stopping violence against YOU is more a suggestion than a rule.”

When they state clear policies against misogyny/racism/queerphobia while ALSO acknowledging those acts of harm still happen so they have policies for how to deal w/ that, but say “if we can’t guarantee we could enforce masks 100% at our event, we just won’t have a mask rule?”

Pay attention to how they show their values. Name ONE other policy in which “some ppl might break this rule & harm other ppl” means “then we just won’t have the rule at all & will frame it as an optional recommendation” rather than “what’s the policy for when that happens?”

How an org deals w/their Covid policies is ALWAYS a reflection of their core values. Covid does not exist in a magic bubble separate from what you’re “really” about.

So when you make your Covid policy, you’re stating what - and WHO - you value.

And what/who you deem expendable