QueerWarriors bring you a celebration in the month of June. Pride month! Appearances from all our books may appear, so come and enjoy it!
Special appearances and interviews with the admins are here too!
[cover by solstice]
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Gaystripe skids onto the stage, his fur all spiky and rumpled from the recently-concluded party of the previous day. Seeing cats already beginning to gather, he hurriedly brings out the quickly emptying tube of gel and aggressively slicks his hair back. He peers down at the stage, wondering whether he could use the shiny wood as a mirror to see how he looks, but is startled by a meow.
Random Stagehand: GAYSTRIPE! What're you doing? You can admire yourself later!
Gaystripe: Ah, but I always look so good with this fur gel...
The stagehand gives him a look, quickly shutting the tom up. With a deep breath, Gaystripe pulls himself to his full height, and yowls as loudly as he can.
Gaystripe: HEL-LO EVERYONE! WELCOME TO DAY EIGHT OF PRIDE! Popcorn's over there and party's over here, so get ready for another day of celebration, baby!
The crowd snaps to attention and roars.
Gaystripe: Get hype! Now, can anyone tell me what pride day it is today?
Audience: *slightly confused murmuring*
Gaystripe: No need to worry! We're all here to learn. Pull that graphic, aw, YEAH!
A large banner with the demisexual flag colours is moved onto the stage by alert workers.
Gaystripe: Day Eight is DEMISEXUALITY! Demisexuality is when a cat only feels sexual attraction once a strong emotional bond has been formed. Even so, sexual attraction still may not be present after the emotional connection has been established.
The crowd nods in understanding.
Gaystripe: Demisexuality is actually also under the grey- umbrella, which we will explore tomorrow! It's also sometimes confused with or thought of as asexuality, but they're quite different!
Cat in the audience: But doesn't sexual attraction usually form when a cat is already in an invested relationship with their partner(s) anyway? So what's the difference?
Gaystripe ponders the question for a few heartbeats. He seems to think of something, and bounces up again.
Gaystripe: Well, that seems like quite a good question. I don't feel like I'm qualified enough to answer, so I've decided to call our guest speaker for today in early! May we welcome FLAGSWAG OF QUEERCLAN!
The gathered cats cheer enthusiastically as an elderly she-cat with ever-changing pelt colours strides onto stage. Oohs and aahs can be heard as the crowd watches the she-cat's pelt colour change.
The she-cat eventually settles on the demisexual flag colours and does a little curtsey, much to the delight of the audience.
Audience: GO, FLAGSWAG! Yas queen! Slay!
Gaystripe: Flagswag, if you please, I think you would be the best cat to answer this question.
Flagswag: Thank you for inviting me, Gaystripe! Well, I guess it could be explained like this. I'm sure some cats in the audience have experienced this before - you're walking, and then you notice a very attractive stranger. Some may feel sexual attraction to them in this case, despite never having known them, no?
The audience has murmurs of agreement.
Flagswag: Sometimes, the same goes for relationships in which the parties have not known each other for very long too! The thing about demisexuality is this - think of the emotional component of it as a key, and sexual attraction as a door. You can only unlock this door with this specific key.
Flagswag: Many demisexuals go many years before experiencing sexual attraction. Some also identify as demigreysexual. The degree of emotional intimacy also varies, so there is no definitive rule!
Flagswag: Also, an interesting fact! It doesn't have to be romantic love that triggers the attraction! Sometimes, it may even be platonic love! I hope that makes things clearer!
A ripple of understanding passes through the audience. The cat who asked the question yells their thanks.
Gaystripe: Thanks for the very thorough explanation, Flagswag! I hope everyone has learned something new today! Let's have three cheers for Flagswag, and for all the demiseuxals and demiromantics out there!
Crowd: Hip, hip, hooray! HIP, HIP HOORAY! HIP, HIP, HOORAY!!!
Gaystripe: Oh, oh, I love the energy! I bet everyone's emotions are very high right now...
Gaystripe pauses, hoping to get a laugh. The audience stares back at him.
A single cat boos.
Gaystripe: Aw, you don't like my puns? It's okay! Let's get back to celebrating! WOOH! HIT IT!
Emotion by Carly Rae Jepsen plays in the background as cats begin to dance. Flagswag returns to rapidly changing her pelt colour in celebration of Pride. And Gaystripe leaps off the stage into the welcome crowd, ready for another night of partying.
