Pinned
Michelle
@mpoltonsimon.bsky.social
· Oct 7
I’m catching up on @nogodsnomayors.com and I’m so glad @mattielubchansky.com mentioned the only tweet from or about New York that has ever mattered
Katie McDonough, voice of a municipality
Katie McDonough, voice of a municipality
Reposted by Michelle
The first bit of active, cruel homophobia directed at me came full years after I came out, when I was away in college. When I was old enough to handle it. I so desperately want to make a world like that for more kids.
February 10, 2026 at 3:24 AM
The first bit of active, cruel homophobia directed at me came full years after I came out, when I was away in college. When I was old enough to handle it. I so desperately want to make a world like that for more kids.
Reposted by Michelle
I genuinely thought that in a few years, every queer kid would grow up like I did, where maybe the worst reaction I braced for when coming out was people telling me I was trying to be trendy because I knew so many bi kids. Especially after Oberefell
February 10, 2026 at 3:04 AM
I genuinely thought that in a few years, every queer kid would grow up like I did, where maybe the worst reaction I braced for when coming out was people telling me I was trying to be trendy because I knew so many bi kids. Especially after Oberefell
Reposted by Michelle
So completely surrounded by a message that “love is what makes a family.” I knew trans grownups and later trans kids around my age. Growing up after the worst of AIDS, in a gay neighborhood, knowing so many people who survived to rebuild after losing friends and lovers and families.
February 10, 2026 at 3:04 AM
So completely surrounded by a message that “love is what makes a family.” I knew trans grownups and later trans kids around my age. Growing up after the worst of AIDS, in a gay neighborhood, knowing so many people who survived to rebuild after losing friends and lovers and families.
Reposted by Michelle
Often I think about how wildly lucky I was to grow up in the time and place I did as a queer kid. I came out in the early 2010s in New York as a teen. I had gay adults all around me. Neighbors. A teacher who got married in Massachusetts before it was legal in the state. Friends with two moms.
I get the spirit but I feel like anyone in public school at the time of "Born This Way" knows at least half a dozen guys who literally came out because of Lady Gaga. Living through the period of "Born This Way" (2011) -> Obergefell (2015) was a whirl wind in how public opinion can radically change.
People who think Bad Bunny did a lot for immigrants because of the super bowl are the same people who think Lady Gaga solved homophobia and transphobia because she said "no matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life" in her show in 2017
February 10, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Often I think about how wildly lucky I was to grow up in the time and place I did as a queer kid. I came out in the early 2010s in New York as a teen. I had gay adults all around me. Neighbors. A teacher who got married in Massachusetts before it was legal in the state. Friends with two moms.
Reposted by Michelle
People with gay parents were like people who were adopted or who had more than two siblings. Their homes just looked like a different illustration in the library book about families. Harder to imagine an apartment big enough for 4 kids. God I was so lucky. I wish every kid was as lucky as I was
February 10, 2026 at 3:21 AM
People with gay parents were like people who were adopted or who had more than two siblings. Their homes just looked like a different illustration in the library book about families. Harder to imagine an apartment big enough for 4 kids. God I was so lucky. I wish every kid was as lucky as I was
Reposted by Michelle
ICE officials, under a judge’s order to clean up overcrowded and squalid conditions inside holding cells at 26 Federal Plaza detained migrants on a separate floor where they decided the the ruling didn't apply. The revelation comes in a hearing today:
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
ICE Moved Detainees to Previously Undisclosed Floor of 26 Federal Plaza
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reduce overcrowding and squalid conditions at a Manhattan holding room. Months later, he finds ICE merely shifted floors.
www.thecity.nyc
February 10, 2026 at 1:25 AM
ICE officials, under a judge’s order to clean up overcrowded and squalid conditions inside holding cells at 26 Federal Plaza detained migrants on a separate floor where they decided the the ruling didn't apply. The revelation comes in a hearing today:
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
Often I think about how wildly lucky I was to grow up in the time and place I did as a queer kid. I came out in the early 2010s in New York as a teen. I had gay adults all around me. Neighbors. A teacher who got married in Massachusetts before it was legal in the state. Friends with two moms.
I get the spirit but I feel like anyone in public school at the time of "Born This Way" knows at least half a dozen guys who literally came out because of Lady Gaga. Living through the period of "Born This Way" (2011) -> Obergefell (2015) was a whirl wind in how public opinion can radically change.
People who think Bad Bunny did a lot for immigrants because of the super bowl are the same people who think Lady Gaga solved homophobia and transphobia because she said "no matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life" in her show in 2017
February 10, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Often I think about how wildly lucky I was to grow up in the time and place I did as a queer kid. I came out in the early 2010s in New York as a teen. I had gay adults all around me. Neighbors. A teacher who got married in Massachusetts before it was legal in the state. Friends with two moms.
Reposted by Michelle
I get the spirit but I feel like anyone in public school at the time of "Born This Way" knows at least half a dozen guys who literally came out because of Lady Gaga. Living through the period of "Born This Way" (2011) -> Obergefell (2015) was a whirl wind in how public opinion can radically change.
People who think Bad Bunny did a lot for immigrants because of the super bowl are the same people who think Lady Gaga solved homophobia and transphobia because she said "no matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life" in her show in 2017
February 10, 2026 at 2:16 AM
I get the spirit but I feel like anyone in public school at the time of "Born This Way" knows at least half a dozen guys who literally came out because of Lady Gaga. Living through the period of "Born This Way" (2011) -> Obergefell (2015) was a whirl wind in how public opinion can radically change.
Reposted by Michelle
A swish of old Hollywood glamour here with the exuberant costume that was designed by Travis Banton for Claudette Colbert in the 1934 film Cleopatra. Zesty satin in pleats and swags, Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
February 9, 2026 at 10:31 PM
A swish of old Hollywood glamour here with the exuberant costume that was designed by Travis Banton for Claudette Colbert in the 1934 film Cleopatra. Zesty satin in pleats and swags, Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Reposted by Michelle
if you see someone asking to be connected to other knitters to be against fascism and your response is “knitting won’t do anything” perhaps you should drop dead. being connected to real people around us is extremely important!!! unlike scolding people posting which is almost never important.
February 9, 2026 at 7:58 PM
if you see someone asking to be connected to other knitters to be against fascism and your response is “knitting won’t do anything” perhaps you should drop dead. being connected to real people around us is extremely important!!! unlike scolding people posting which is almost never important.
Reposted by Michelle
So much of what I think about as the culture of my home is deeply Puerto Rican. You can’t grow up here without experiencing it
February 9, 2026 at 11:37 AM
So much of what I think about as the culture of my home is deeply Puerto Rican. You can’t grow up here without experiencing it
Reposted by Michelle
I forgot that most places aren’t as steeped in Puerto Rican culture as New York City. Like I forgot that other people could look at that performance and see something ~other~ rather than being like “well yeah of course” at the iconography of the island
February 9, 2026 at 11:35 AM
I forgot that most places aren’t as steeped in Puerto Rican culture as New York City. Like I forgot that other people could look at that performance and see something ~other~ rather than being like “well yeah of course” at the iconography of the island
Reposted by Michelle
I forgot that most places aren’t as steeped in Puerto Rican culture as New York City. Like I forgot that other people could look at that performance and see something ~other~ rather than being like “well yeah of course” at the iconography of the island
February 9, 2026 at 11:35 AM
I forgot that most places aren’t as steeped in Puerto Rican culture as New York City. Like I forgot that other people could look at that performance and see something ~other~ rather than being like “well yeah of course” at the iconography of the island
Reposted by Michelle
He wasn’t wrong.
I come back to this open letter (from 2020) a lot, and I’ll give it the last word. amazonemployees4climatejustice.medium.com/amazon-emplo...
February 9, 2026 at 4:38 AM
He wasn’t wrong.
Reposted by Michelle
I’m sad posting again. I wish I could kiss his belly
February 8, 2026 at 7:47 PM
I’m sad posting again. I wish I could kiss his belly
There’s such a fine line of sad posting on the platforms where more of my friends and family are. Sad enough to properly express grief, not sad enough for them to wellness check me
February 8, 2026 at 8:25 PM
There’s such a fine line of sad posting on the platforms where more of my friends and family are. Sad enough to properly express grief, not sad enough for them to wellness check me
Reposted by Michelle
look at my son. look at his little claws 🦞
September 17, 2023 at 1:03 AM
look at my son. look at his little claws 🦞
I’m sad posting again. I wish I could kiss his belly
February 8, 2026 at 7:47 PM
I’m sad posting again. I wish I could kiss his belly
We’re watching college basketball and the Super Bowl pre-pregame. Come on!
It’s the Olympics and my coworkers are still making me watch golf 🙃
February 8, 2026 at 7:36 PM
We’re watching college basketball and the Super Bowl pre-pregame. Come on!
Reposted by Michelle
When you see unhoused people asking for money what you should see is a fracturing of the social contract where an issue (housing) that should be addressed on a municipal or statuary level is instead foisted on individuals in a way designed o put callouses on their souls
man I’m sorry to be all corny here but when I see a “the city is beautiful! There’s more to it than homeless people!” I gotta say you know who’s also beautiful? People who have no place to live & are trying to get by in a system that has turned its back on them & if you don’t see that that’s on you
February 8, 2026 at 5:29 AM
When you see unhoused people asking for money what you should see is a fracturing of the social contract where an issue (housing) that should be addressed on a municipal or statuary level is instead foisted on individuals in a way designed o put callouses on their souls
I’m listening to an extremely drunk guy talk to his friends about how we should appreciate the genius of artists and non-mainstream athletes like archers the way we appreciate scientists
And then he goes and says Chris Kyle from American sniper is also a genius
And then he goes and says Chris Kyle from American sniper is also a genius
February 8, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I’m listening to an extremely drunk guy talk to his friends about how we should appreciate the genius of artists and non-mainstream athletes like archers the way we appreciate scientists
And then he goes and says Chris Kyle from American sniper is also a genius
And then he goes and says Chris Kyle from American sniper is also a genius
Reposted by Michelle
looking through my discord DMs i see ppl i currently talk to, further down ppl i talked to in grad school, and in between trans women who will never be online again. they get bumped up because sometimes i message them that i miss them or that im sorry i couldn't protect them
I didn’t have to dig too deep when I wrote Kimmy tbh
February 8, 2026 at 12:24 AM
looking through my discord DMs i see ppl i currently talk to, further down ppl i talked to in grad school, and in between trans women who will never be online again. they get bumped up because sometimes i message them that i miss them or that im sorry i couldn't protect them
I think this weather is giving me a headache my migraine meds don’t fix. Good thing my job doesn’t involve bright lights and loud noises
February 8, 2026 at 12:25 AM
I think this weather is giving me a headache my migraine meds don’t fix. Good thing my job doesn’t involve bright lights and loud noises
He was so good to have around
He’s now holding his felt pumpkin in his teeth and yelling. I love him so much it’s unreal
My son is perfect. He’s making these little wet yells in between chomps
February 8, 2026 at 12:22 AM
He was so good to have around