For no particular reason at all, let's take a moment to talk about the concept of toxic positivity.

(Thread 1/12)

"Toxic positivity" does not refer to all positivity being bad. Instead, it refers to the prioritization of positivity that ignores and invalidates reality.

This mindset is harmful internally AND externally. (2/12)

Internally, toxic positivity can result in suppressing your emotions when you personally deem them "not positive enough". Or in shame when you are unable to feel positive. Or living an inauthentic life, which in turn will isolate you from personal relationships. (3/12)

Externally, forcing others to conform to your unrealistic standard of positivity is a form of gaslighting. It tells others to feel their emotions by how you judge them, and expelling them if they're "not positive enough" ("I refuse to perpetuate any negativity or anger") (4/12)

Everyone buckle up for the surprise of the century: This is a form of oppression, rooted in white supremacy.

It perpetuates the idea that people who are suffering (OFTEN AT THE HANDS OF BIGOTRY) need to feel and react positively in order to be heard. (5/12)

The keen ear may have picked this up from the town hall last night:

"I've done my best to foster a space that I think, I try to harvest no negativity within the space. I know I personally have done everything I could to make sure there is no negativity in there. (6/12)

"I'm sorry if you have not seen it, but I really have tried to make sure that if a white queen is acting inappropriately in the space that I say something to them or I react to them appropriately to make sure that everyone is in a pleasant, healthy mindset. (7/12)

Because I want positivity at the shows, always, hands-down."

-Aloe Vera, Philly Town Hall, 25:16 (8/12)

Not all suffering is created equal. As a queer trans person, I face suffering cis/het peers can't imagine. But as a white person, I cannot ever imagine or experience the suffering of POC, especially BIPOC.

To ignore that in exchange for "good vibes only" is oppression. (9/12)

I am within the drag community just enough to see how toxic positivity and the ignorance of "drama" (read: often the truth of oppression being addressed) only provides positivity for those in power. This applies to communities I am more a part of as well. (10/12)

We (I address fellow white people here) cannot tell others how to feel or act just because it makes us uncomfortable. We ESPECIALLY should not do so to POC, and ESPECIALLY when we are the ones that caused - and cause - harm. It is abusive, dangerous, and oppressive. (11/12)

To conclude, here's a reference sheet of common phrases that contribute to toxic positivity. We can do better, and most importantly we must. (12/12)