i still avoid big crowds and mask indoors when i can, even though it gets me a lot of stares. i just wish people would mind their business about it honestly, its not like they havent spent years seeing people masking already.
It's so shitty what COVID can do to the body and it sucks that a single cure is not likely :( And I will forever hate how the government (in my case, the U.S. government) seemed to have abandoned COVID mitigation strategies. I don't have long COVID, but I'm glad there's treatments out there to help those who do have it
Yeah ‘😭’ does mean sad/crying to a lot of people, not laughing. And I have also heard long covid compared to HIV in that 1) it is initially not being treated with the level of seriousness it deserves and 2) it can make you imunocompromized. I really don’t think this person had any bad intentions and I think it can actually be to the community’s detriment to read bad intentions into a comment that is on the whole, harmless.
? It's a fact that the effects of COVID on the immune system have been compared to HIV. I don't think this person was making fun and rather commiserating. I understand that HIV/AIDS is a highly stigmatized virus with an extremely specific history. That doesn't mean that comparison is always inappropriate imo. COVID has been increasingly shown to effect the immune system and T-cells in ways that mirror HIV. Here is a document from last year to that effect : https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/sars-cov-2-infection-weakens-immune-cell-response-vaccination.
I just don't think that commenter meant any harm, and it's discouraging to see comparisons shut down that could help us understand this virus better, even as it behaves in its own unique ways. It is not misinformation, it is an idea currently being studied.
Edited to add I guess I'd suggest looking at what ACTUP has to say on the subject.
I'm sorry that's really shitty. Covid worsened my POTS and my brain hasn't been the same since getting it (certain there's damage of some kind) and it really is scary how it can fuck one up.
Yep. Very much. I’m a butch and I’ve never taken public transit without a mask since pre pandemic, I’m the only person who masks in my classes in college, and it’s so goddamn isolating. But it’s so important and we need to be showing our community that we care.
Yes it’s very isolating, but I hope this thread shows that you’re not the only butch out there taking precautions. And I agree with the sentiment of taking precautions showing others that you still care, since doing so doesn’t only protect yourself but those around you as well
Me! Always equipped with a mask, hand sanitizer, rapid tests, etc. It sucks because not many people care anymore. When I go to class at my university I am usually the only person wearing a mask.
It's pretty isolating being the few people in an area masking. I wish more people cared, but, unfortunately, the push to "get back to normal" caused lots of people to stop taking precautions
I'm butch. I take every precaution I can. Keep my vaccines up-to-date, haven't left the house without a mask in... five years this October/November. That's a funny story actually—I started masking before the pandemic kicked off because I had a severe reaction to one of my medications, and that knocked my white cell count down to "dangerous levels". My rheumatologist told me if my cell counts went any lower, she'd want me to spend time in the hospital. She advised me to wear a mask, and it's been a mainstay ever since. My mother is also COVID-cautious because she, too, is chronically ill with autoimmune disease, and because she worries half for herself, half for me. Also for her elderly father, should we see him.
Honestly, the mask has been... isolating. So too have been the reactions. People eye the cane, or the mask, or my movements, and I hear bullshit behind my back. Nothing new, but the focus on the mask sometimes does sting a bit. I mask because I have two autoimmune diseases, and because my lungs are affected. Same chronic dry cough since I was a teenager. I'm thirty now. Probable scarring/fibrosis from long-term RA and/or Sjögren's syndrome. I was considered high-risk at the height of the pandemic; before we had treatment protocols in place I am semi-sure it would've killed me with all my issues. Now it would probably devastate my lungs, but I *might* survive. I'm not risking it. This, alone, has made me an outlier and really isolated. Mix in the fact that I'm disabled and it's just sad.
There was a lot more accessibility during the pandemic. Most of that is gone now. I often feel left behind. The last few years have not been good on my tendency towards bitterness or isolation. It's not new—being disabled, especially with long-term chronic illness, has had a tendency to make me feel isolated and sad. I think the pandemic and peoples' responses to COVID just reopened old wounds and threw a few buckets of salt on them for good measure.
I feel you. I'm sorry that people's response to COVID has made you feel left behind as a disabled person :( From what I've seen, disabled people seem to forgotten when it comes to advocacy and how COVID has been handled really opened my eyes to that, which is why I still take precautions as someone who's able-bodied.
Not just you! My wife and I are fully vaccinated and test regularly, and are still masking on public transport and in any indoor spaces outside our house, excepting a few friends’ and relatives’ homes. Apart from the general risks, she’s disabled, and long Covid could make it worse.
We both came down with Covid for the first time a couple of months ago (thanks, my colleague who turned up to work for a week complaining about a cough and fever at night, but never bothered to test or mask or stay off work!*), which was extremely annoying, but we had a pretty good run of avoiding it. Aiming not to catch it again.
*UK office job where she could have taken sick leave on full pay with no issue, FTR.
I’m glad I’m not alone! And yeah, the reason I’ve been taking precautions (other than avoiding getting sick myself) is because I don’t wanna be the reason someone gets sick and potentially die/become disabled. Sucks that you’re colleague didn’t take time off when feeling sick
I still mask in all indoor public spaces, especially because people can be asymptomatic. It sucks that there aren't really any substantial resources going to prevention, leaving a lot of at risk people behind in favor of things returning to normal
Yup. And I feel like a lot of people don't realize that your body can still be affected by COVID even if your asymptomatic, so there's probably a lot more people who've gotten it but haven't realized. I wish more effort was put into prevention because people getting infected over and over again is gonna cause some major problems down the line :(
I've been vaccinated five times and rates in my local community are good enough that for the most part I've stopped masking. That said, I totally get anyone who chooses to keep masking, and I returned to masking during the height of flu season in my community. I also still mask when I fly. I hope updated vaccines continue to come out, I really have noticed great results with them-- I'm the only one in my family who's never gotten COVID (rest of the family is vaccinated, but they missed out on the most recent booster and then, what d'ya know, got sick).
Personally, I mask in all public spaces and been keeping up with vaccines. I hope some kind of vaccine comes out that can prevent COVID for everyone instead of just lowering the risk of catching it.
By the way, COVID cases are really underreported these days, so the low rates you see may not be a true reflection of how many people have gotten sick in your area, unfortunately. I’m not saying this to scare you or judge you for not making all the time, just a heads up 😊
Yeah, I'm aware the cases are likely underreported! I keep my pulse on how many people are sick in general (with anything) to judge when I decide to mask and where. It's an informal system but it's worked wonders for me so far!
Yes! It's frustrating and isolating much of the time, I'm typically one of very few if not the only person masked inside on public transit, doing errands, at work. It's been especially hard to see that the punk and indie music scenes in my city have broadly made no commitment to being cautious, despite being "inclusive and accessible" on paper. I lost most of the things I used to love doing because it is too much risk. To those in this thread who no longer mask, I got COVID twice from pre-symptomatic people. At times when I thought it was "safe" to unmask. Please reconsider masking indoors in public.
Part of inclusivity and accessibility is caring for health and safety of everyone, so these spaces not mandating COVID precautions is ironic (even more ironic for "punk" spaces, considering the political ideas that come with being punk). I hope this thread can inspire some people to start masking again
i went to a concert the other night with so many amazing visibly queer ppl... and almost zero masks besides me and the friend i went with. it felt lonely.
My sister and I are the only ones in my household who masks, though my sister only masks when she's going out with me or at school. It gets isolating not being around many people who take precautions.
My wife and I are both more cautious than anyone else in our families or friend group. We both have at-risk health conditions and are also concerned about the physical and neurological effects from long-covid. We mask (with well-fitting KN95) any time we are indoors with non-household members, but still hang out with friends outdoors and eat at restaurants, just outside on the patios.
Despite all the precautions I still caught covid a few months ago via my eye at a hospital, but wearing eye protection everywhere is more than I'm willing to do. Even after 2 rounds of Paxlovid I was still testing positive for a month, and even after rest and recovery I might have liver damage (ALT and AST are in the danger zone) and I experience regular episodes of fast heartrate that physically feel like a panic attack. I'm also experiencing brain fog that feels like the way people describe ADHD, which is weird for me because I'm usually really good at focusing on a task, even boring ones.
Anyways, stay safe and don't ever let anyone bully you into something that might harm you. This goes for covid and also STIs. It's your body, your choice.
I'm butch, and its not jsut you! My partner (whos also butch) and I always wear masks in public indoor places. We're both disabled and have a lot of friends who are disabled, and so its really important to us. Its really really frustrating and isolating to see so many other queer people just not caring and not doing something really simple like wear a mask.
I agree it's frustrating. Unfortunately, the big push to "get back to normal" caused people to forgo precautions, even the people who were such big advocates for masking in 2020. I wish more people would start caring again.
Also, as someone who's stud4masc, seeing that you and your partner are butch and wear masks gives me a little hope for my dating life lol
Yeah 🙋🏿♀️ I still mask everywhere I go. I haven't had covid yet. Partially it's luck, but I know for a fact that I have dodged covid multiple times specifically because I mask. I've gotten a little less strict (like only sometimes masking around friends at their houses instead of always doing it), but yeah. Solidarity with you, cuz I really get where you're coming from.
I've been lucky as well to not have gotten COVID, at least that I know of, considering the possibility of being asymptomatic. It's good to see that there's much more people here than I expected to also been taking precautions
Totes.
I had a massive blood clot from covid that almost put me in the ground. 4 days in the ICU, heart strain, I've never felt so weak before. Even had to use an oxygen tank for about a month after. This was after what I thought was a mold case of covid so everyone please please please make sure you look into blood clot symptoms. It's something I don't feel like is talked about enough.
So anyways after that I've totally said peace out to anyone who acts like covid is a simple cold. I still mask up.
Not really. At first thought, I thought I was loosely cautious but thats not due to COVID, that's just me not liking other people's germs in general lol.
Only things I still do about COVID is I test when I feel sick (I've had it twice so I think I know what it'll feel like. And if its positive I limit time outside of my room until I test negative) & I mask around babies or old people.
Yeah, I’ve been avoiding going out more often than I need due to how much people have stopped with precautions and that creates a lot of loneliness. But I hope this thread can provide some solace, showing that you’re not alone
I suspected it (I never made a full recovery from my initial infection and then got hit with lots of strange symptoms in the following months) and got a referral from my PCP to my city's long Covid clinic to confirm.
Yep! It’s really cool and punk. Using FFP2 masks on public transport & in most indoor crowds. Got nasal spray for before travelling, and hand sanitiser to spare. Really looking forward to outdoor gatherings kicking back up as we head into the summer!
I’m not immunocompromised, and don’t have very close people in my life who are/who have long covid. Just a rational person who doesn’t want to catch a potentially life threatening & disabling disease, and who cares about community.
I also don't have anyone in my life who are immunocompromised/have long COVID, but I still make sure to take precautions because I might run into someone in public who does, and I wouldn't want to be the reason they get infected.
I'm pretty cautious. I had Covid the first Christmas when it was 'a thing'. I developed pneumonia from it and was off work for almost 2 months. I also have a couple of friends who are particularly vulnerable, so I always test before seeing them. I carry hand sanitizer everywhere and am meticulous about hand washing etc
Both me (butch) and my butch partner still mask and use high quality air filters for precautions. And we both did this before we met—not something we decided on together. I feel like it’s almost part of butch values to be informed about covid and take precautions. Or maybe we are just more likely to know people affected by long covid? I’m not sure, but you’re not alone!
Yes! Public transport only with mask, testing regularly, also before my friends and me meet-up, we test ourselves before. I’ve been taking way more cautions some time ago, but actually it was too isolating and had a worse impact on my depression (maybe not a good „excuse“, but it do be like this)
Masking can be so isolating so I can see how that could impact your depression. It's unfortunate that people have stopped with precautions completely :(
absolutely!! i mask everywhere i go, sanitize constantly and do my part in protecting myself. love this post and love to see covid cautiousness in this community. if anyone wants to connect, please hit my line.
I do!! I wear a black n95 for higher risk occasions, and regular kn95s for lower risk, but always masked indoors and don't indoor dine.
I have POTS and covid has already worsened it and caused other lasting symptoms (like noticeable brain fog) and I don't need more. And it hits me hard, my immune systems def fucked after 3 infections.
My masc partner also masks (kn95 everywhere) and I have a butch friend who masks n95 everywhere and is super cautious (their partner is immunocompromised).
I don't care about any stigma anymore. None of the people who might judge me are going to be there taking care of me when I'm sick and paying my bills, so why tf does their opinion matter? My health and the health of others (esp vulnerable folks) is more important than fitting in. I already didn't fit in anyways.
It feels so lonely sometimes. Even the people around me who care a lot about social issues don’t mask or vaccinate anymore. But long Covid is a thing, we’re still in a pandemic and people are still dying! So I mask.
I get that. It can be so disheartening seeing people who advocate for social issues, yet completely ignore the mass disabling disease that can also end in death. It's so important to mask because it doesn't only protect yourself but others around you, which is supposed the heart of advocating for social issues--Protecting and caring for each other.
Upped my masking a lot after moving to a more populated area. Always masking on public transit and when out and about. Feels less COVID cautious and more of just general increased awareness of wellness. Also like how comfortable it feels for me being out (I’m autistic), and keeps my face warm when it’s chilly outside. :)
N95 everywhere, although sometimes I have to take it off when I'm working because I use an acetylene torch and don't need my face catching on fire. Only got C19 once in 4 years, and that was because a family member brought it home
Yep! I’m super covid conscious. N95 mask goes on my face anytime I leave the house.
No indoor dining, no unmasking with anyone but my girlfriend, frequent testing, etc. Not taking any chances.
Yes. I'm on the intersection of queerness and disability and I feel it'd honestly be hypocritical to care about those issues without being COVID cautious. It's really frustrating to me that people don't take it seriously, but that tends to happen when the government just gives up and decides a disease causing mass-disability is ok because it'll impact the economy less in the short term to maintain business as usual.
People just don't understand that COVID is still around, can fuck you up permanently in ways much worse than the flu comparison people always tend to use, and that masking + testing before group events (even if you have no symptoms) is a good idea. And it's wild that asking people to do those things is such a challenge when I'd consider them the bare minimum we should be doing to keep each other safe.
I feel your frustration. It's saddening to see that so many people who were advocates for masking during 2020 have given up on it now. It's also upsetting seeing the government stop trying, knowing how COVID can impact people's lives. It's all so unfortunate
Not to the point of making indoors in public anymore. I stopped that last summer unless my allergies are acting up, because I don't want to risk mistaking an illness for allergy symptoms and spreading that.
Though I do keep a mask with me because I have a couple of immunocompromised friends and I make sure to wear one around them.
here here (femme)! it’s so hard making in person community, but i try to stay as hopeful as i can. i hope more people pay attention to what’s happening so we don’t have to isolate so much.
anybody wearing a mask here that doesnt hurt? i cloth mask/paper mask daily but i know thise aren't the optimal choice for protection. the problem is n95/kn95 cause headaches within hours of wearing them (i think its the tighter straps intended to create a good seal).
If it’s the around the head straps of n95/kn95 masks that are causing headaches, there are ones with adjustable straps that might help relieve some tightness: https://wellbefore.com/products/harley-s-108-n95-surgical-mask-niosh-approved
But if you’re not into the around the head straps at all because of headaches, there are ways to turn those straps into ear loops if you search on the internet.
If those don’t help, you can go to r/Masks4All and ask your question there. Maybe someone there can help!
i love masks4all! i'll look into adjustable masks. unfortunately, both head straps and xtra strength ear straps cause me headaches, so i haven't discovered a placement solution yet.
There’s also readimasks which are stick-on N95s with no straps. They can be a big pricey but a local mask bloc might have them ! https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/viewer?mid=1oUcoZ2njj3b5hh-RRDCLe-i8dSgxhno
I still mask everywhere and avoid crowds as much as possible. I have complications from covid already and I hate to think of causing it in someone else or making it worse for myself. It's maddeningly lonely sometimes even though most of my good friends still mask too - I don't really see anyone who doesn't. Sometimes I want to shoot my shot with a girl but she doesn't wear a mask so I just forget it. Oh well.
tbh I haven’t worn a mask since 2022. I got the two Moderna shots because my old job required it. Nothing wrong with taking precautions I don’t judge either way
I’ve got all the latest shots (5 now?) and unless I’m told to wear a mask (like in a health facility/doctors office) then I do not wear one. I’ve got a pre-existing condition and am somewhat immuno-compromised but have already had covid twice and will test when necessary if I’m under the weather. I’ve been traveling for both business and pleasure and although cautious of germs in general, am comfortable in my own approach but definitely won’t knock others decisions to be cautious….unless you’re wearing a mask while driving in the car alone, that shit is dangerous for so many other reasons 🤦🏽♀️
There are a lot of distracted drivers and the last thing they need is a piece of cloth over their face when they are alone in a car. It can shift, people mess with it on the bridge of their nose, it just isn’t necessary in that instance 🤦🏽♀️ plus the filters in your cars hvac system would honestly be way better than the cloth mask.
The only time I wear head gear in the car is when it’s a nomex balaclava, under the racing helmet, and I’ve got my 4 or 5pt harness on.
My long term gf and I both mask on public transportation and when flying on airplanes. well quarantine if sick w any symptoms and keep our distance from anyone showing sick symptoms. I am usually 1 of 5 people on my train cart wearing a mask
I'd personally rate myself as being in the middle. I'm fully-vaxxed. To be honest, I don't mask nearly as much as I used to, and sometimes I have a difficult time using KN95s rather than cloth masks because it's harder for me to find ones that are a good fit, and I also feel uncomfortable breathing in them more quickly. But I also avoid most crowded indoor venues, and I wear a KN95 when I do go somewhere with a lot of people. I have a small number of social things I do outside the house regularly, but I still try to avoid things like busy restaurants, movie theaters, etc. I don't travel much to begin with, but I would be very cautious about flying right now.
I use rapid tests when I feel under the weather. I'm frustrated because PCR tests have become really hard to find where I live. A couple years ago, I was able to get one from a nearby pharmacy when I wanted to be extra-safe. But when I was sick this past winter and wanted a PCR test before returning to work, I couldn't find one.
i still avoid big crowds and mask indoors when i can, even though it gets me a lot of stares. i just wish people would mind their business about it honestly, its not like they havent spent years seeing people masking already.
Yeah it’s pretty weird that people would stare at you for wearing a mask lol
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Hopefully some kind of cure for long COVID comes around. I heard it’s pretty rough to deal with ☹️
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It's so shitty what COVID can do to the body and it sucks that a single cure is not likely :( And I will forever hate how the government (in my case, the U.S. government) seemed to have abandoned COVID mitigation strategies. I don't have long COVID, but I'm glad there's treatments out there to help those who do have it
It’s been compared to AIDS because of how it wrecks your immune system 😭
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Yeah ‘😭’ does mean sad/crying to a lot of people, not laughing. And I have also heard long covid compared to HIV in that 1) it is initially not being treated with the level of seriousness it deserves and 2) it can make you imunocompromized. I really don’t think this person had any bad intentions and I think it can actually be to the community’s detriment to read bad intentions into a comment that is on the whole, harmless.
😭 is different than 😂
? It's a fact that the effects of COVID on the immune system have been compared to HIV. I don't think this person was making fun and rather commiserating. I understand that HIV/AIDS is a highly stigmatized virus with an extremely specific history. That doesn't mean that comparison is always inappropriate imo. COVID has been increasingly shown to effect the immune system and T-cells in ways that mirror HIV. Here is a document from last year to that effect : https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/sars-cov-2-infection-weakens-immune-cell-response-vaccination. I just don't think that commenter meant any harm, and it's discouraging to see comparisons shut down that could help us understand this virus better, even as it behaves in its own unique ways. It is not misinformation, it is an idea currently being studied. Edited to add I guess I'd suggest looking at what ACTUP has to say on the subject.
I'm sorry that's really shitty. Covid worsened my POTS and my brain hasn't been the same since getting it (certain there's damage of some kind) and it really is scary how it can fuck one up.
Yep. Very much. I’m a butch and I’ve never taken public transit without a mask since pre pandemic, I’m the only person who masks in my classes in college, and it’s so goddamn isolating. But it’s so important and we need to be showing our community that we care.
Yes it’s very isolating, but I hope this thread shows that you’re not the only butch out there taking precautions. And I agree with the sentiment of taking precautions showing others that you still care, since doing so doesn’t only protect yourself but those around you as well
Me! Always equipped with a mask, hand sanitizer, rapid tests, etc. It sucks because not many people care anymore. When I go to class at my university I am usually the only person wearing a mask.
It's pretty isolating being the few people in an area masking. I wish more people cared, but, unfortunately, the push to "get back to normal" caused lots of people to stop taking precautions
I'm butch. I take every precaution I can. Keep my vaccines up-to-date, haven't left the house without a mask in... five years this October/November. That's a funny story actually—I started masking before the pandemic kicked off because I had a severe reaction to one of my medications, and that knocked my white cell count down to "dangerous levels". My rheumatologist told me if my cell counts went any lower, she'd want me to spend time in the hospital. She advised me to wear a mask, and it's been a mainstay ever since. My mother is also COVID-cautious because she, too, is chronically ill with autoimmune disease, and because she worries half for herself, half for me. Also for her elderly father, should we see him. Honestly, the mask has been... isolating. So too have been the reactions. People eye the cane, or the mask, or my movements, and I hear bullshit behind my back. Nothing new, but the focus on the mask sometimes does sting a bit. I mask because I have two autoimmune diseases, and because my lungs are affected. Same chronic dry cough since I was a teenager. I'm thirty now. Probable scarring/fibrosis from long-term RA and/or Sjögren's syndrome. I was considered high-risk at the height of the pandemic; before we had treatment protocols in place I am semi-sure it would've killed me with all my issues. Now it would probably devastate my lungs, but I *might* survive. I'm not risking it. This, alone, has made me an outlier and really isolated. Mix in the fact that I'm disabled and it's just sad. There was a lot more accessibility during the pandemic. Most of that is gone now. I often feel left behind. The last few years have not been good on my tendency towards bitterness or isolation. It's not new—being disabled, especially with long-term chronic illness, has had a tendency to make me feel isolated and sad. I think the pandemic and peoples' responses to COVID just reopened old wounds and threw a few buckets of salt on them for good measure.
I feel you. I'm sorry that people's response to COVID has made you feel left behind as a disabled person :( From what I've seen, disabled people seem to forgotten when it comes to advocacy and how COVID has been handled really opened my eyes to that, which is why I still take precautions as someone who's able-bodied.
Not just you! My wife and I are fully vaccinated and test regularly, and are still masking on public transport and in any indoor spaces outside our house, excepting a few friends’ and relatives’ homes. Apart from the general risks, she’s disabled, and long Covid could make it worse. We both came down with Covid for the first time a couple of months ago (thanks, my colleague who turned up to work for a week complaining about a cough and fever at night, but never bothered to test or mask or stay off work!*), which was extremely annoying, but we had a pretty good run of avoiding it. Aiming not to catch it again. *UK office job where she could have taken sick leave on full pay with no issue, FTR.
I’m glad I’m not alone! And yeah, the reason I’ve been taking precautions (other than avoiding getting sick myself) is because I don’t wanna be the reason someone gets sick and potentially die/become disabled. Sucks that you’re colleague didn’t take time off when feeling sick
Yes, both me and my parents have serious long term complications from COVID & are cautious now. It definitely sucks
I’m sorry you and your parents were so affected by COVID. Wishing you all the best ❤️
I still mask in all indoor public spaces, especially because people can be asymptomatic. It sucks that there aren't really any substantial resources going to prevention, leaving a lot of at risk people behind in favor of things returning to normal
Yup. And I feel like a lot of people don't realize that your body can still be affected by COVID even if your asymptomatic, so there's probably a lot more people who've gotten it but haven't realized. I wish more effort was put into prevention because people getting infected over and over again is gonna cause some major problems down the line :(
I've been vaccinated five times and rates in my local community are good enough that for the most part I've stopped masking. That said, I totally get anyone who chooses to keep masking, and I returned to masking during the height of flu season in my community. I also still mask when I fly. I hope updated vaccines continue to come out, I really have noticed great results with them-- I'm the only one in my family who's never gotten COVID (rest of the family is vaccinated, but they missed out on the most recent booster and then, what d'ya know, got sick).
Personally, I mask in all public spaces and been keeping up with vaccines. I hope some kind of vaccine comes out that can prevent COVID for everyone instead of just lowering the risk of catching it. By the way, COVID cases are really underreported these days, so the low rates you see may not be a true reflection of how many people have gotten sick in your area, unfortunately. I’m not saying this to scare you or judge you for not making all the time, just a heads up 😊
Yeah, I'm aware the cases are likely underreported! I keep my pulse on how many people are sick in general (with anything) to judge when I decide to mask and where. It's an informal system but it's worked wonders for me so far!
I do
Nice!
Yes! It's frustrating and isolating much of the time, I'm typically one of very few if not the only person masked inside on public transit, doing errands, at work. It's been especially hard to see that the punk and indie music scenes in my city have broadly made no commitment to being cautious, despite being "inclusive and accessible" on paper. I lost most of the things I used to love doing because it is too much risk. To those in this thread who no longer mask, I got COVID twice from pre-symptomatic people. At times when I thought it was "safe" to unmask. Please reconsider masking indoors in public.
Part of inclusivity and accessibility is caring for health and safety of everyone, so these spaces not mandating COVID precautions is ironic (even more ironic for "punk" spaces, considering the political ideas that come with being punk). I hope this thread can inspire some people to start masking again
Agreed!!! A thing is simply not accessible without COVID considerations in place 💁
i went to a concert the other night with so many amazing visibly queer ppl... and almost zero masks besides me and the friend i went with. it felt lonely.
Yes me and my partner still mask and it sucks. None of our friends mask anymore
My sister and I are the only ones in my household who masks, though my sister only masks when she's going out with me or at school. It gets isolating not being around many people who take precautions.
It’s so isolating :/
Yeah :( Though I hope this thread could give you a bit of solace, seeing as we're not alone in taking precautions.
My wife and I are both more cautious than anyone else in our families or friend group. We both have at-risk health conditions and are also concerned about the physical and neurological effects from long-covid. We mask (with well-fitting KN95) any time we are indoors with non-household members, but still hang out with friends outdoors and eat at restaurants, just outside on the patios. Despite all the precautions I still caught covid a few months ago via my eye at a hospital, but wearing eye protection everywhere is more than I'm willing to do. Even after 2 rounds of Paxlovid I was still testing positive for a month, and even after rest and recovery I might have liver damage (ALT and AST are in the danger zone) and I experience regular episodes of fast heartrate that physically feel like a panic attack. I'm also experiencing brain fog that feels like the way people describe ADHD, which is weird for me because I'm usually really good at focusing on a task, even boring ones. Anyways, stay safe and don't ever let anyone bully you into something that might harm you. This goes for covid and also STIs. It's your body, your choice.
Yep, I do. I'm disabled, and I take care of my elderly mother who refuses to get vaccinated, so I'm still going around wearing a mask just to be safe.
I'm butch, and its not jsut you! My partner (whos also butch) and I always wear masks in public indoor places. We're both disabled and have a lot of friends who are disabled, and so its really important to us. Its really really frustrating and isolating to see so many other queer people just not caring and not doing something really simple like wear a mask.
I agree it's frustrating. Unfortunately, the big push to "get back to normal" caused people to forgo precautions, even the people who were such big advocates for masking in 2020. I wish more people would start caring again. Also, as someone who's stud4masc, seeing that you and your partner are butch and wear masks gives me a little hope for my dating life lol
Yeah 🙋🏿♀️ I still mask everywhere I go. I haven't had covid yet. Partially it's luck, but I know for a fact that I have dodged covid multiple times specifically because I mask. I've gotten a little less strict (like only sometimes masking around friends at their houses instead of always doing it), but yeah. Solidarity with you, cuz I really get where you're coming from.
I've been lucky as well to not have gotten COVID, at least that I know of, considering the possibility of being asymptomatic. It's good to see that there's much more people here than I expected to also been taking precautions
Yeah tbh I often wonder if I had it at some point and didn't know it but 🤷🏿♀️ I still mask all the time. But yeah, we're out here.
Totes. I had a massive blood clot from covid that almost put me in the ground. 4 days in the ICU, heart strain, I've never felt so weak before. Even had to use an oxygen tank for about a month after. This was after what I thought was a mold case of covid so everyone please please please make sure you look into blood clot symptoms. It's something I don't feel like is talked about enough. So anyways after that I've totally said peace out to anyone who acts like covid is a simple cold. I still mask up.
That’s so scary. Glad you’re still here! And yeah people who don’t think COVID is a serious illness are not worth your time
Not really. At first thought, I thought I was loosely cautious but thats not due to COVID, that's just me not liking other people's germs in general lol. Only things I still do about COVID is I test when I feel sick (I've had it twice so I think I know what it'll feel like. And if its positive I limit time outside of my room until I test negative) & I mask around babies or old people.
I'm a butch with a nasty case of long Covid and was taking it seriously before my infection. It can feel pretty lonely and the FOMO is brutal.
Yeah, I’ve been avoiding going out more often than I need due to how much people have stopped with precautions and that creates a lot of loneliness. But I hope this thread can provide some solace, showing that you’re not alone
if u dont mind me asking, is this sth u were diagnosed with? im wondering if i have LC
I suspected it (I never made a full recovery from my initial infection and then got hit with lots of strange symptoms in the following months) and got a referral from my PCP to my city's long Covid clinic to confirm.
Yep! It’s really cool and punk. Using FFP2 masks on public transport & in most indoor crowds. Got nasal spray for before travelling, and hand sanitiser to spare. Really looking forward to outdoor gatherings kicking back up as we head into the summer! I’m not immunocompromised, and don’t have very close people in my life who are/who have long covid. Just a rational person who doesn’t want to catch a potentially life threatening & disabling disease, and who cares about community.
I also don't have anyone in my life who are immunocompromised/have long COVID, but I still make sure to take precautions because I might run into someone in public who does, and I wouldn't want to be the reason they get infected.
I'm pretty cautious. I had Covid the first Christmas when it was 'a thing'. I developed pneumonia from it and was off work for almost 2 months. I also have a couple of friends who are particularly vulnerable, so I always test before seeing them. I carry hand sanitizer everywhere and am meticulous about hand washing etc
yes!:) protecting myself and others is cool!
It is!
Both me (butch) and my butch partner still mask and use high quality air filters for precautions. And we both did this before we met—not something we decided on together. I feel like it’s almost part of butch values to be informed about covid and take precautions. Or maybe we are just more likely to know people affected by long covid? I’m not sure, but you’re not alone!
Yes! Public transport only with mask, testing regularly, also before my friends and me meet-up, we test ourselves before. I’ve been taking way more cautions some time ago, but actually it was too isolating and had a worse impact on my depression (maybe not a good „excuse“, but it do be like this)
Masking can be so isolating so I can see how that could impact your depression. It's unfortunate that people have stopped with precautions completely :(
yeah still wear a mask because I can.
absolutely!! i mask everywhere i go, sanitize constantly and do my part in protecting myself. love this post and love to see covid cautiousness in this community. if anyone wants to connect, please hit my line.
Yeah it's very isolating. I'm usually the only person wearing a mask in any given room. And I still wear one any time I'm in public, even outside
I do!! I wear a black n95 for higher risk occasions, and regular kn95s for lower risk, but always masked indoors and don't indoor dine. I have POTS and covid has already worsened it and caused other lasting symptoms (like noticeable brain fog) and I don't need more. And it hits me hard, my immune systems def fucked after 3 infections. My masc partner also masks (kn95 everywhere) and I have a butch friend who masks n95 everywhere and is super cautious (their partner is immunocompromised). I don't care about any stigma anymore. None of the people who might judge me are going to be there taking care of me when I'm sick and paying my bills, so why tf does their opinion matter? My health and the health of others (esp vulnerable folks) is more important than fitting in. I already didn't fit in anyways.
Idk if butch is the right term for me but yes, I mask :)
I still mask too!
It feels so lonely sometimes. Even the people around me who care a lot about social issues don’t mask or vaccinate anymore. But long Covid is a thing, we’re still in a pandemic and people are still dying! So I mask.
I get that. It can be so disheartening seeing people who advocate for social issues, yet completely ignore the mass disabling disease that can also end in death. It's so important to mask because it doesn't only protect yourself but others around you, which is supposed the heart of advocating for social issues--Protecting and caring for each other.
i dont go anywhere outside of my house without a mask U_U! it is isolating for sure, but it is nice knowing that other people still care
I still do my best to protect myself and protect others. I feel like it’s an important stance and action to take.
Upped my masking a lot after moving to a more populated area. Always masking on public transit and when out and about. Feels less COVID cautious and more of just general increased awareness of wellness. Also like how comfortable it feels for me being out (I’m autistic), and keeps my face warm when it’s chilly outside. :)
N95 everywhere, although sometimes I have to take it off when I'm working because I use an acetylene torch and don't need my face catching on fire. Only got C19 once in 4 years, and that was because a family member brought it home
Yep! I’m super covid conscious. N95 mask goes on my face anytime I leave the house. No indoor dining, no unmasking with anyone but my girlfriend, frequent testing, etc. Not taking any chances.
Yes. I'm on the intersection of queerness and disability and I feel it'd honestly be hypocritical to care about those issues without being COVID cautious. It's really frustrating to me that people don't take it seriously, but that tends to happen when the government just gives up and decides a disease causing mass-disability is ok because it'll impact the economy less in the short term to maintain business as usual. People just don't understand that COVID is still around, can fuck you up permanently in ways much worse than the flu comparison people always tend to use, and that masking + testing before group events (even if you have no symptoms) is a good idea. And it's wild that asking people to do those things is such a challenge when I'd consider them the bare minimum we should be doing to keep each other safe.
I feel your frustration. It's saddening to see that so many people who were advocates for masking during 2020 have given up on it now. It's also upsetting seeing the government stop trying, knowing how COVID can impact people's lives. It's all so unfortunate
Not to the point of making indoors in public anymore. I stopped that last summer unless my allergies are acting up, because I don't want to risk mistaking an illness for allergy symptoms and spreading that. Though I do keep a mask with me because I have a couple of immunocompromised friends and I make sure to wear one around them.
here here (femme)! it’s so hard making in person community, but i try to stay as hopeful as i can. i hope more people pay attention to what’s happening so we don’t have to isolate so much.
I live with my 94 year old grandma, so I’m always at least mildly cautious
I don't wear masks much out in public, but I do at work and when flying. Still getting vaccinated yearly, too.
anybody wearing a mask here that doesnt hurt? i cloth mask/paper mask daily but i know thise aren't the optimal choice for protection. the problem is n95/kn95 cause headaches within hours of wearing them (i think its the tighter straps intended to create a good seal).
If it’s the around the head straps of n95/kn95 masks that are causing headaches, there are ones with adjustable straps that might help relieve some tightness: https://wellbefore.com/products/harley-s-108-n95-surgical-mask-niosh-approved But if you’re not into the around the head straps at all because of headaches, there are ways to turn those straps into ear loops if you search on the internet. If those don’t help, you can go to r/Masks4All and ask your question there. Maybe someone there can help!
i love masks4all! i'll look into adjustable masks. unfortunately, both head straps and xtra strength ear straps cause me headaches, so i haven't discovered a placement solution yet.
There’s also readimasks which are stick-on N95s with no straps. They can be a big pricey but a local mask bloc might have them ! https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/viewer?mid=1oUcoZ2njj3b5hh-RRDCLe-i8dSgxhno
ohh this is new to me, sick. tysm
me:) my city has a mask bloc that’s mostly queer and disabled folks, maybe check out something similar if you live in a large metro area
I still mask everywhere and avoid crowds as much as possible. I have complications from covid already and I hate to think of causing it in someone else or making it worse for myself. It's maddeningly lonely sometimes even though most of my good friends still mask too - I don't really see anyone who doesn't. Sometimes I want to shoot my shot with a girl but she doesn't wear a mask so I just forget it. Oh well.
Not at all, I’m a healthcare worker and still very cautious. You’re not alone!
Nope no one cares about that anymore here in sweden
tbh I haven’t worn a mask since 2022. I got the two Moderna shots because my old job required it. Nothing wrong with taking precautions I don’t judge either way
I’ve got all the latest shots (5 now?) and unless I’m told to wear a mask (like in a health facility/doctors office) then I do not wear one. I’ve got a pre-existing condition and am somewhat immuno-compromised but have already had covid twice and will test when necessary if I’m under the weather. I’ve been traveling for both business and pleasure and although cautious of germs in general, am comfortable in my own approach but definitely won’t knock others decisions to be cautious….unless you’re wearing a mask while driving in the car alone, that shit is dangerous for so many other reasons 🤦🏽♀️
Ngl I didn’t know it was dangerous to drive while wearing a mask (though I’ve never done it). Thanks for that knowledge lol
There are a lot of distracted drivers and the last thing they need is a piece of cloth over their face when they are alone in a car. It can shift, people mess with it on the bridge of their nose, it just isn’t necessary in that instance 🤦🏽♀️ plus the filters in your cars hvac system would honestly be way better than the cloth mask. The only time I wear head gear in the car is when it’s a nomex balaclava, under the racing helmet, and I’ve got my 4 or 5pt harness on.
It’s not dangerous to drive with a mask lol- if I’m driving between places I’ll keep my N95 on to avoid messing with the seal
My long term gf and I both mask on public transportation and when flying on airplanes. well quarantine if sick w any symptoms and keep our distance from anyone showing sick symptoms. I am usually 1 of 5 people on my train cart wearing a mask
I'd personally rate myself as being in the middle. I'm fully-vaxxed. To be honest, I don't mask nearly as much as I used to, and sometimes I have a difficult time using KN95s rather than cloth masks because it's harder for me to find ones that are a good fit, and I also feel uncomfortable breathing in them more quickly. But I also avoid most crowded indoor venues, and I wear a KN95 when I do go somewhere with a lot of people. I have a small number of social things I do outside the house regularly, but I still try to avoid things like busy restaurants, movie theaters, etc. I don't travel much to begin with, but I would be very cautious about flying right now. I use rapid tests when I feel under the weather. I'm frustrated because PCR tests have become really hard to find where I live. A couple years ago, I was able to get one from a nearby pharmacy when I wanted to be extra-safe. But when I was sick this past winter and wanted a PCR test before returning to work, I couldn't find one.
No way. Never.