Mx. Kit O'Connell πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆβ­πŸ‘

Newsletter Writer & Contributor at Big & Bright from The Barbed Wire. Former Digital Editor at the Texas Observer. GLAAD Media Award and National Magazine Award-nominated editor and journalist. Friend to cats.

This is my serious work account. Follow my personal account @kitoconnell

On Sunday I'll be covering The Big #Queer Wedding Party for The Barbed Wire ... you should come on out if you're going to be in #Austin and looking for a dose of ✨queer joy✨. πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ

It's free, but you can RSVP here: https://bigqueerwedding.com/

#LGBTQIA #LGBTQ #Texas #CentralTexas #events #culture

December 05, 2025

"Increasingly, we’re watching the language of 'inclusivity' get twisted into a justification for excluding LGBTQ+ peopleβ€”and the so-called 'big tent' shrink to accommodate only those who believe #transgender rights belong outside it." https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/dem-senator-gallegos-leaked-texts

#LGBTQIA #democrats #politics #USpol #news #trans

December 04, 2025

"Under a recent national-security directive from the White House β€” NSPM‑7 β€” 'domestic terrorism' is being broadly defined to include not only violent extremists but also protesters, anti-immigration activists, and groups critical of government policy." https://thetonymichaels.substack.com/p/brennan-center-warns-ice-is-preparing

#surveillance #tech #privacy #ICE #immigration #FreeSpeech #politics #USpol #news

December 04, 2025

When I'm interviewing someone and they say "sorry for rambling," 99 times out of 100 I'm on the other side of the microphone thinking, "keep talking, you're giving me the good quotes."

#journalism

December 03, 2025

My new favorite human interest story is the tale of Marijuana Pepsi Jackson.
https://archive.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/40874017.html/

#journalism

December 03, 2025

Texas desperately needs a place where we can tell our stories, where we can be ourselves, mourn our losses, and celebrate our victories.

My introduction to Big & Bright πŸŒˆβ­πŸ‘ is trending on The Barbed Wire's website, so I'll use that excuse to share again! I'm honored to be their new LGBTQ+ correspondent. https://thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/25/transgender-journalist-living-in-texas/

#journalism #LGBTQIA #Austin #Texas #media #trans #nonbinary #queer

December 01, 2025

On World AIDS day, I'm grateful to all the elders, living and dead, who showed us how to loudly, proudly, mournfully, even joyfully Act Up! for our rights and for our lives, in the face of a state determined to let us suffer and die.

Let's unleash our power, for each other and for our communities.

(CC SA licensed image from Macmillan / Wikimedia Commons.)

#WorldAIDSDay #LGBTQIA #history #activism #healthcare

December 01, 2025