💕 🤟 After a successful launch with an introductory class, Soft Animal is also now offering both ASL 101 and 102.
🤟 ASL 101 is for beginners. You'll learn basics, like the alphabet, numbers, and basic conversational vocab.
🤟ASL 102 is also a 10-week course, and it's for anyone who already knows ASL basics and wants to build on their skills.
🤟 Both courses are on Saturdays from May 7-July 9.
🤟 Jamey, above, who taught our first ASL 101 class is teaching that again!
🤟 Chattanooga Deaf couple Somer and Hunter Tirey will teach the course and limited use of a voice interpreter will allow students to improve their skills quickly.
🤟 Both classes will be via Zoom.
🤟 Sign up soon! Classes will fill up! Sign up links here: https://linktr.ee/softanimal
Safe spaces - Portland vs Chattanooga
Same as previous video but with captions!
“Why do you need a safe space?”
Since launching Soft Animal — which creates mobile safe spaces for marginalized humans — we’ve gotten a repeat question: What’s happened to you to make you feel unsafe? Why do you need safe spaces?
And the assumption or implication is that — as a queer person who wants safe spaces — I must have experienced some direct and significant hate crime or discrimination.
Now, do not get me wrong — I’ve experienced prejudice.
But what I experience most often is subtle, nuanced and difficult to perceive unless it actually affects you.
My current trip to Portland, Oregon has helped me articulate my thoughts on this more, and that’s what I talk about in this video, which I hope you’ll watch. 🙂
The Portland neighborhood shown in the video had pride flags everywhere, especially on local businesses. And there were BLM signs everywhere. There were signs about love and acceptance in windows and yard signs. The message was clear — you are safe and accepted here.
I realized I was experiencing a safe space in a way that I rarely — if ever — experience in Chattanooga.
And what people who ask about the need for safe spaces might not fully understand or want to admit is that — especially in the South — there are people who don’t like queer people to varying degrees and for varying reasons.
This in itself is enough to make someone feel a little unsafe, and that’s on the gentle end of the spectrum.
You might not understand that need if you have never felt the sometimes subtle, unwelcoming glances of bigotry.
It’s difficult to realize the need for a safe space, when most spaces are — by design — for you.
Many spaces are designed with straight, white, cisgender, able-bodied people in mind. That’s privilege.
It’s privilege to feel like spaces are inherently safe.
To be an ally is to realize this and to state outright that you are a safe person or space. We need allies' support on this.
I didn’t fully realize how good an explicitly
Deaf-taught ASL classes available
Attention, softies! If you want to learn American Sign Language, we have a great opportunity for you! We are offering a Deaf-taught ASL class in February. Jamey Painter, from the Chattanooga Deaf community, will be teaching it. He's the best, and y'all will love him.
🤟 Saturdays in February
🤟 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Edney Innovation Center, 1100 Market St.
🤟 $100
🤟Sign up at the link in our bio.
🤟 We will be socially distanced and taking COVID precautions.
Intentional event curation for marginalized folks.
