COVID-19 is real.

Covid-19 affects us all, whether we acknowledge it or not; however, it is particularly impactful on disabled people and other marginalized groups. We acknowledge that disabled individuals are inherently valuable and deserve access to public spaces, joy, and community. Here are some resources re: COVID, precautions, and why masking is paramount to community care.

Zines

TITLE: Sour Queer Press: Pride and Rage Edition

SUMMARY: A collection of writings confronting neoliberal ideologies in queer spaces such as ableism, eugenics, and genocide denial.

TITLE: Mask Up! We Need You: Palestinian Solidarity, COVID-19, and the Struggle for Liberation

AUTHOR: Rimona Eskayo & Sheyam Ghieth (illustrator)

SUMMARY: Discusses the connections between the struggle for liberation and masking, such as the history of colonizers using disease as a weapon of war and genocide. Purchase of this zine directly supports Palestinian families!

TITLE: masking through blackness: mask fitting, self expression & community care

AUTHOR: sabrina sims

SUMMARY: An extensive resource about masking as a Black person, reviewing mask fits, hair styles to wear while masking, and discussions on community care.

TITLE: What’s Up with COVID and How to Protect Yourself 2024 Edition

AUTHOR: Hazel Newlevant

SUMMARY: A zine including COVID statistics from research studies and precautions you can (and should!) take to keep yourself and your community safe.

TITLE: The Sick Times Special Edition Zine

AUTHOR: The Sick Times (organization - multiple writers) & Katie Drackert (artist)

SUMMARY: Features resources about COVID-19 policy and advocacy updates; showcases art & essays by folks living with long COVID; and educates about mask blocs and clean air organizations.

TITLE: Why We Mask: It’s Not “Just a Cold”

AUTHOR: Laurel Lynn Leake

SUMMARY: Reviews the scientific basics of COVID-19: what is it, how does transmission work, what do symptoms look like including long COVID, and how can we keep each other safe.

Links

How to talk to your love ones about COVID

How to start a Mask Bloc

My COVID+ Plan | An organized guide to walk you through protocol/steps if you test positive for COVID.

You Have to Live Your Life | Generates links to news + journal articles in response to common COVID-minimizing statements such as “you have to live your life,” “COVID is mild,” or “masks don’t work".”

Masking in public can feel isolating, especially when you are met with hostility from strangers. 

Laughter is a nervous system regulating activity than can ease the experience of anxiety in the body. Here are some clapbacks for when people ask you why you are masking.