To say that it's been a pretty scary week is a true understatement. Between Russia's attack on Ukraine, the continued worldwide pandemic, and new legislation that threatens the safety and livelihoods of trans kids and their families, it really does feel like we're starring in never-ending exploitation movie with no end credits (nor hardened heroines) in sight. 

Maybe you're reading this a week late, having taken a much-needed break from social media while grieving the effect one of (or a combo) these things has had or will have on you or a loved one. Perhaps you came here for a brief recess, wanting to immerse yourself in a different kind of darkness before having to crawl back into the light. Or maybe you're just completely numb, clicking on this in between emails you don't really feel like sending, or Zoom calls you barely feel composed enough to show up for.

I just want to take this moment to say that it's okay to be scared, even terrified, right now. It's also okay to need an escape, carving out some time—minutes, hours, even seconds if that's all you have—to distract yourself from the real-life horror show before going back into survival mode again. Because the truth is, our lives are not movies, and we can't just press stop and walk away when the ghosts, ghouls and other evil entities become too much to bear. We have to keep going, keeping an eye out for whatever lies ahead. 

I hope this week's newsletter brings you some relief in the midst of continued chaos. Yes, we are technically in the business of fear, but as any good horror fan knows, there's a huge difference between choosing to get scared for your own enjoyment and inciting fear in others for your own gain. And we have no interest in the latter.