Welcome to Sex and the State, a newsletter about power. I’m a writer working on decriminalizing and destigmatizing all things sex. I synthesize empirical evidence, stories, and personal experience to interrogate existing power structures to propose new, hopefully better, ways of relating.
Jan 29, 2022·edited Jan 29, 2022Liked by Cathy Reisenwitz
OMG. What an amazing post. It’s def one I’ll save and revisit. Congratulations and Good luck I guess. I don’t know what Alabama BBQ is (Carolina - Lexington style is my weakness) but I love to try it. All the best wishes!! 💜
I am from a small city in south Louisiana. I left for 10 years, including 3 in NYC and 4 in Europe before returning.
I sympathize with all this - the hopes and worries, and the feeling of inexorable loneliness and alienation from the culture whence you come and have returned. Bless you.
Welcome back to Alabama! I think you'll find there are some pockets of progressivism and sex positivity here.
Plus, where best to fight conservative policies than in the belly of the beast? This state will never get any better if all our best and brightest don't stay and fight for a better future.
Good luck on this new adventure. I'm both sad that you felt you needed to leave a place you obviously love, but happy that you will be able to live a more comfortable life -albeit with less access to the comforts of California.
Loved reading this. Finding myself moving (back) to LA after 10 years living in SF; I'm excited and sad. I resonate so much with your commentary about San Francisco, it feels like someone's read my mind and articulated the messy results.
San Francisco's loss and Alabama's gain. I look forward to hearing your perspective on things there. I have been exploring my rural conservative roots more lately as well, but I own a home here already so don't have the added incentive that you have.
Thanks for writing this! I'm at a different life phase (AARP- rather than middle-age bound) but will likely move from Austin to Wyoming for family reasons in about a year.
I was raised on the Front Range but spent tons of time as a child in NOLA with relatives, and now regularly visit Mobile since my brother and SOL work there. I really like Alabama, and the South in general, and I think a ton about race-related stuff when I'm there.
The most dicey but firmly-believed opinion I have on the subject is that integrated conservative spaces are > than liberal/progressive segregated spaces when it comes to race. Austin is not nearly as racist as is sometimes portrayed, but far too much residential and public space is almost entirely white, and I think that's really messed up. When I visit Mobile I'm like, "oh wow this is what it's like when Black people aren't pushed to the margins". I doubt many people there, Black or white, would share my politics and I still occasionally find people trying to gauge if they can be super-racist around me, and yet on net I believe it's a better place when it comes to race. Deeds matter more than words!
A few years ago I was there watching local TV on Christmas Eve. I saw a church service out of Pensacola and at a certain point I realized, "Oh my God this is the gayest church services I've ever seen". Black female minister, multiracial congregation and fully devoted to acceptance and joy, at least as far as I could tell. Some good eggs down there!
I wish you well Cathy. I have made some life changing moves over the years. Your concept of self changes in every new city, but the essence of self does not. New opportunities to grow for sure. You will have real life southern observations to expand your writing. I can't wait to read about it😍
What a brilliant post. I will be keeping you in my thoughts as you make the move (and most other times). You'll get through the culture shock and start adjusting your surroundings to you. ♥️
OMG. What an amazing post. It’s def one I’ll save and revisit. Congratulations and Good luck I guess. I don’t know what Alabama BBQ is (Carolina - Lexington style is my weakness) but I love to try it. All the best wishes!! 💜
I am from a small city in south Louisiana. I left for 10 years, including 3 in NYC and 4 in Europe before returning.
I sympathize with all this - the hopes and worries, and the feeling of inexorable loneliness and alienation from the culture whence you come and have returned. Bless you.
Welcome back to Alabama! I think you'll find there are some pockets of progressivism and sex positivity here.
Plus, where best to fight conservative policies than in the belly of the beast? This state will never get any better if all our best and brightest don't stay and fight for a better future.
I am so glad you have self awareness and a strategic view for your future. You will do well.
Good luck on this new adventure. I'm both sad that you felt you needed to leave a place you obviously love, but happy that you will be able to live a more comfortable life -albeit with less access to the comforts of California.
Loved reading this. Finding myself moving (back) to LA after 10 years living in SF; I'm excited and sad. I resonate so much with your commentary about San Francisco, it feels like someone's read my mind and articulated the messy results.
Wishing you all the best on the move to Alabama!
San Francisco's loss and Alabama's gain. I look forward to hearing your perspective on things there. I have been exploring my rural conservative roots more lately as well, but I own a home here already so don't have the added incentive that you have.
Good luck Cathy! Here's hoping for the best!
Thanks for writing this! I'm at a different life phase (AARP- rather than middle-age bound) but will likely move from Austin to Wyoming for family reasons in about a year.
I was raised on the Front Range but spent tons of time as a child in NOLA with relatives, and now regularly visit Mobile since my brother and SOL work there. I really like Alabama, and the South in general, and I think a ton about race-related stuff when I'm there.
The most dicey but firmly-believed opinion I have on the subject is that integrated conservative spaces are > than liberal/progressive segregated spaces when it comes to race. Austin is not nearly as racist as is sometimes portrayed, but far too much residential and public space is almost entirely white, and I think that's really messed up. When I visit Mobile I'm like, "oh wow this is what it's like when Black people aren't pushed to the margins". I doubt many people there, Black or white, would share my politics and I still occasionally find people trying to gauge if they can be super-racist around me, and yet on net I believe it's a better place when it comes to race. Deeds matter more than words!
A few years ago I was there watching local TV on Christmas Eve. I saw a church service out of Pensacola and at a certain point I realized, "Oh my God this is the gayest church services I've ever seen". Black female minister, multiracial congregation and fully devoted to acceptance and joy, at least as far as I could tell. Some good eggs down there!
Best wishes, I bet you will do quite well.
P.S. say hi to Alan Sealls for me
I wish you well Cathy. I have made some life changing moves over the years. Your concept of self changes in every new city, but the essence of self does not. New opportunities to grow for sure. You will have real life southern observations to expand your writing. I can't wait to read about it😍
What good news! Wishing you all the very best.
What a brilliant post. I will be keeping you in my thoughts as you make the move (and most other times). You'll get through the culture shock and start adjusting your surroundings to you. ♥️