Remembering Fernande “fern” Galindo
We are grateful for your patience while our team processes the tragic loss of Fernándé "Fern" Galindo (he/they). Finding adequate words is never easy through grief. We know that whatever we write cannot fully do justice to the collective grief across our community as we reflect on the love, tenacity, and spirit that was Fern. The best way to honor his loss is by direct action, showing up for one another, and giving our time, money, and skills to direct mutual aid that gets resources most directly to the folks most historically and contemporarily marginalized and attacked by systems and people in power, especially Black, Brown & Indigenous folks, 2STGNC+ folks, and disabled folks.
In particular, you can continue to support the legacy of their organizing by supporting the efforts to build and feed community with Tulsa Intersectional Care Network. Additionally, Fern is survived by his three children. There is a community fundraiser to help them meet their needs in and beyond this period of grief and rage and uncertainty. You can learn more, here. Fern was also fundamental in collaboration with Foundation for Liberating Minds around programming on abolition through a 2SLGBTQ+ lens, and with starting a conversation with Black & Pink about how to support 2SLGBTQ+ folks incarcerated in Oklahoma. Both of these organizations can use your support to continue their work towards liberation.
We will of course share crisis hotline information, and we will note that hotlines do not suffice to fill the gaps for our community members who desperately need secure housing, access to affirming care, safe work environments, enough money to meet their needs, food security, and freedom from violence and discrimination, as enacted by individuals, systems, and the state.
There are 2SLGBTQ+ affirming mental health crisis support hotlines, such as Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860), the Trevor Project (call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678), SAGE Elder Hotline (877-360-5428), and the LGBT Hotline (888-843-4564). For families of 2STGNC+ youth seeking resources in response to the gender affirming care ban take effect in November, the Campaign for Southern Equality has low-barrier funds and resources available through their Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project at https://southernequality.org/okresources/. You can also join us monthly for virtual community groups listed monthly on our website event page.
We know that the void left by Fern cannot be filled, and that so many folks are feeling the loss. Not just of their organizing, but their generosity of spirit, the way they checked in on so many of us, the joy of sharing space with them, the way they challenged us all to learn and do better. As our community continues to make space to grieve their loss, celebrate their life, and honor their legacy, we will continue to lift up spaces, actions, and opportunities.
As we have seen the outpouring of love and support for Fern, it feels right to name the importance of checking in on your people and giving them their flowers in real time, especially those who check in on you, those on the front lines of organizing and community building, everyone who makes up your community, who gives you hope, who might need that check in. But also your support and your energy and your time. Let's hold one another through and beyond this loss, to build a future where all 2SLGBTQ+ folks have the safety to thrive.
While we would never deign to fundraise off of the loss of anyone, especially someone as righteously critical of the nonprofit industrial complex as Fern, we also know in this moment a lot of folks are looking for community, and for joy. We have a community fundraiser and skate party scheduled for this Saturday afternoon at 10/21 at Scissortail Skyrink. You can buy tickets here, and if the cost of tickets is an impediment to you, please reach out to us directly at info@freedomoklahoma.org with the subject line Community Skate Tickets.
We know that our community faces loss too regularly. Names and stories we cannot begin to know. We can't honor Fern without acknowledging that we didn't lose them in isolation–that every 2SLGBTQ+ person we lose deserves to be mourned and remembered and celebrated; each deserves a commitment to changing the conditions so we do better for 2SLGBTQ+ folks in and beyond the present.
Fern, we miss you. May your memory be a revolution.