Hi, y’all.

As of this writing, I’m preparing to go to the Austin vigil for the lesbian couple who was shot in Portland, Texas. I’ve written about this before, and by the time you read this it’ll be mostly over, but these watercoolers are basically a dump of whatever is in my brain at the time I write them and it’s hard to think about much else (even though I’ll be getting drinks after with a good queer friend).

There’s no evidence yet to suggest this was a hate crime, but the speed with which the queer community has come together over this shooting shows how vulnerable we feel. Whatever eventually comes out about motive, we identify with these two young women, and see something of ourselves and the risks we face living out of the closet. And though the situation is tragic, this is one of those times when an activist can do direct, concrete good — by creating an outpouring of loving energy and offerings to families in need during the hardest of times.

And sadly, there’s violence every day that all too often hurts those of us who already have so little. I am an optimist and dream of a world where this kind of tragedy does not happen every day.

That’s what’s on my mind. I hope you have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend. I’ll be your editor this weekend, since I’m taking a couple days off next week, so I’ll see you all tomorrow.

Update: Check out my my Twitter feed for photos from tonight’s vigil.

In the meantime, what’s on your mind? This is tonight’s open thread.

https://www.facebook.com/events/244312185686387/