I'm just constantly remembering those reports I saw out of tumblr back in 2016 suggesting a decent chunk of the online disinfo campaigns targeted leftists, with the specific goal of getting us at each others throats.

I'd say that's a good place to start. Basic volunteering is a great foundation, and you can build connections from there that help you do more.

I'm around in my queer community and focusing on my writing. Health makes it hard to do much, but it's where I'm effective while maintaining my well being.

Maybe you could start with engaging with your local community online? A local queer discord for example

Out of the fear that getting romantic feelings for someone or entering a relationship would do harm to herself and her friends, she pushes people away and 'defends' the people she loves from such things

And she learns the difference between toxic love, and supportive love, in a time of great crisis

In regards to the individual story I'm working on

There's a difference between 'love as care' and 'love as romance', in a sense. My protag goes through hard times, cares about, and leans on others.

But she has a complex about toxic romance, and that pushes her away from her healthy bonds at times.

From a writers perspective, I stand by a 'characters are people' viewpoint. Looking behind the text at the person the writing represents, and conveying them as best we can, builds bonds with the reader that can leave the biggest impact.

Loving our characters as people conveys the same to a reader.

A story is going to have plot, alongside other things like audience wish fulfillment, pushing back against a sincere depiction of its characters without objectifying them or exploiting their agency.

But loving characters as people, and letting that shine in your writing, can change readers lives.

I struggle with similar stuff. I'm trying to push through my fear and shut-in nature to do more activism, it's hard though ;;

Thank you aaa!! I'm gonna aim for 30k more in Feb but I'm really glad I got that done