[Image: David Byrne and company perform at Coachella 2018. Photo CC BY 2.0, Raph_PH.]
Today on Medium, I write about David Byrne’s set last night at the Coachella festival, and my love for Talking Heads.
Here’s a link to bypass the paywall:
All posts by Pax Ahimsa Gethen
On War and Enemies
[Image: Detail from Medact poster against nuclear weapons. Licensed CC BY 4.0, Wellcome Trust.]
Today on Medium, I respond to Donald Trump’s threat to wipe out Iranian civilization.
Here’s a link to bypass the paywall:
https://funcrunch.medium.com/on-war-and-enemies-b5a01b217594?sk=5ea46129261bf40f703d19b09c61d1c3
Angelica Ross Is Using Her Powers For Good
Image: Left: Angelica Ross profile, 2017, Miss Ross, Inc., CC BY 3.0. Right: Ross (center, holding microphone) leads a trans takeover of the stage at the closing plenary of the 2023 Creating Change Conference. Stage photo by Pax Ahimsa Gethen, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Today in Assigned Media, I interview Black trans actress, activist, and TransTech Social founder Angelica Ross, who recently became communications director for Butch Ware, Green Party candidate for governor of California.
https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/angelica-ross-power-for-good
Finding Joy and Family in Ballroom Culture
[Image: Ballroom culture panel moderator Breonna McCree with panelists SoHo Tisci, Ashlee Banks, and Jahnell Chanel.]
Today in Assigned Media, I report on a Black History Month celebration of ballroom culture, held by The Transgender District at the San Francisco Public Library.
https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/joy-and-family-ballroom-culture
Responding to Racism
[Image: San Francisco protest of Donald Trump’s first inauguration, January 2017.]
In my latest post for Medium, I share how I’m coping as a Black trans person in the US, in light of Donald Trump’s recent display of blatant racism.
Here’s a link to bypass the paywall:
https://funcrunch.medium.com/responding-to-racism-df538790007f?sk=3f7dd91ee85696dff94aea24b4010314
(Note: This post would have gone up sooner, but the Medium publication I submitted it to – which has published my work several times in the past – didn’t respond for several days. So I pulled it and published it on my own.)
My year of trans journalism on Assigned Media
This year, I began contributing articles to the trans news website Assigned Media. I contributed 14 stories in 2025. Here are links to all of my stories on the site:
https://funcrunch.org/blog/tag/assignedmedia
Thanks to Evan Urquhart and Billie Jean Sweeney for bringing me onboard Assigned Media this year. Become a member to support independent trans journalism:
https://www.assignedmedia.org/newsletter
To support me specifically, please sponsor me on Patreon, where I post links to all my work, including stories on Assigned Media and (paywall-free) Medium:
https://www.patreon.com/funcrunch
I also post links to all my stories here on my own website at https://funcrunch.org/blog. Pop it into your RSS reader if you like.
Thanks to all who supported me this year on Patreon and elsewhere. Here’s to a peaceful New Year.
What Mama Major Taught Us
[Image: Community members celebrate the legacy of “Mama Major” at Glide Memorial Church.]
Today in Assigned Media, I report on the recent memorial for Miss Major Griffin-Gracy in San Francisco, and share reflections from community members on her legacy and the quest for Black trans liberation.
https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/miss-major-memorial-black-trans-liberation
On Trading Truth for Transphobia
[Image: Side by side headshots of Pax on their 1990 Northwestern student ID and their 2024 US passport.]
Today in Assigned Media, I share my perspective on Northwestern University’s recent capitulation to the Trump administration, as a Black trans alum of that school.
https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/trading-truth-transphobia-northwestern-university
Anjali Rimi on Supporting Transgender Immigrants
[Image: Anjali Rimi speaks on the steps of San Francisco City Hall on Transgender Immigrants Day, November 18, 2025.]
In today’s article for Assigned Media, I interview Anjali Rimi, co-founder and president of Parivar Bay Area, about supporting transgender immigrants in San Francisco.
https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/anjali-rimi-supporting-transgender-immigrants
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Preserving the data of LGBTQ+ history
[Photo by Olga from Pictrip]
In today’s article for Assigned Media, I interview Dr. Clair Kronk, a trans scholar working to collect and preserve LGBTQ+ data.
https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/preserving-data-history-clair-kronk