Tobias Days

For those of you that chose to lead by creation, including those of you who are straight allies, I know the difficulty to dress in white in prison, especially on death row.

I ask that you join the family by enjoying one day out of the year when we all dress in all white. Shoes, socks, T-shirts, hats, shorts, or any garment that is white. In the event that is not possible, I urge that you allow for your natural skin to be viewed; underwear and socks are not required.

Come alone, come as partners, come in groups. This White Party Day will be for us, a day to display unity, love and respect toward each other, and a moment to share food, snacks, songs, poetic readings, and quality time with each other. This is also a day to choose someone to forgive in your heart. Even if you choose silence, your pre and to be visible is required. As we honor our LGBTQ ancestors, acts of violence and arguments are forbidden. And the youngest of you must be lead organizers of activities for the day. The eldest of you must be allowed to issue the closing address of encouragement.

And we all said, love deeper! These celebrations of each other can be done alone with knowing that somewhere others count you as family. Ad-Seq and high security units require more creativity.

Seasonal celebrations allows for our youth to be creative, especially in the summer when table games, hobby craftworks, and arts can be displayed and shared. As this is not a day to buy, sell or trade anything, the displays of works and talents is the gift. Especially for those of you that prepare the open spread. Also, from donated items and gifts from the community, it's all in with food items, snacks, and drinks.

It is forbidden that any one person walks away from this day unfed and uncared for by our finest groomers and cosmetic specialist. They'll fill the air with scents, fragrances, and aromatic combinations to teach and share, to care for hygiene and health.

My personal favorite is the winter season and rainy cold days where music, food, and warm company of others provide intimate opportunities to hear and experience each other through sensual dialogue, spoken words, sining slow jams and soothing raps, or reading of poetic asides. And although we promote greetings and farewells with hugs and a kiss, be aware of prison policy where you are.

I encourage all of you to invite someone to the function and deny nobody. Unless an intent to disrupt the peace is obvious, and even in that case, a gift snack must be prepared and offered to said adversary under direct approval of the eldest and youngest amongst you who must agree. In the event that the eldest and youngest don't agree, no gift to the adversary will be offered, but they can be invited to the next celebration.

All invites must be in careful awareness of all other prison subcultural group constitutions for their members and associates who may have adverse constitutions that are antithetical to LGBTQ community values and dispositions, for we understand that peace is best served with respect. In the event that your invite is subject to his or her own subcultural groups constitutions about discipline, it is required that we as a group continue to provide a solid open door for anyone to participate in our most peaceful celebration, and it will always be the eldest and youngest agreement that maintains that open door, as denial must never be deployed from the side of love, care and moments of peace through the example of forgiveness in real time.