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Jo Rothman
Not Your Average Jonah
My name is Jo, my pronouns are they/them, and I have no idea what I'm doing.
Welcome! My name is Jonah "Jo" Rothman, but I'm not your average Jonah. This is where I write about queer and disability issues, social justice, and whatever else comes to mind. I also offer training and education!

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What Now?
Today is Wednesday, November 6th, 2024. It feels like the end of the world. A lot of us are scared - for ourselves, for others, for the...
jorothman1
Nov 7, 20242 min read
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It Shouldn't Be This Hard
In July of 2022, I was at camp – the same one I went to as a kid, the same one I had come back to as staff nine years later in 2021. That...
jorothman1
Apr 17, 20245 min read
84 views
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Breaking My Silence on Israel
The best way to take away Israel's power as an oppressive government is to give Jews other places where we can be safe.
jorothman1
Oct 14, 20238 min read
316 views
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Yeeterus Part 3: Recovery
CW surgery, gross body things We're now three months past my gender-affirming hysterectomy; I previously detailed the preparations for,...
jorothman1
Aug 2, 20236 min read
63 views
0 comments


Men Are Capable of More
Yeah, I know, your hackles are immediately up. But wait. Stop. Sit with the feeling. This post is not an attack. It is not a callout. It...
jorothman1
Jul 11, 20237 min read
59 views
0 comments


Yeeterus Part 2: Surgery
CW: surgery, gross body things Two weeks ago, I underwent my first (and hopefully only!) major surgery, a gender-affirming hysterectomy....
jorothman1
May 5, 20236 min read
88 views
0 comments

Yeeterus Part 1: Prep
CONTENT WARNING: surgery, mention of pregnancy and childbirth Among many other exciting happenings this year - getting a dog, having my...
jorothman1
Apr 19, 20239 min read
277 views
0 comments


Everything No One Told You About Being A Good Guest
A fun fact that even I didn't know about myself until fairly recently: I love hosting. Having people over, feeding them, entertaining...
jorothman1
Mar 20, 20238 min read
123 views
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Eugenics Is Not Theoretical
Yep, I've been gone for a while and now I'm gonna dive right into some heavy shit. Life updates (of which there are several) will happen...
jorothman1
Mar 9, 20234 min read
57 views
0 comments


To Work Hard at Work Worth Doing
Readers, I know it's been a long time since I posted; a lot has been happening! When I last posted, at the end of July, I was working at...
jorothman1
Oct 25, 20223 min read
40 views
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Universal Accessibility Is A Myth
One of the unique aspects of the URJ Kutz Camp (z"l) was its gibush (G as in good, gee-boosh) program, a parallel program for...
jorothman1
Jul 27, 20223 min read
11 views
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Disability Is Not A Bad Word
I am disabled. It's not a value judgment; it's a neutral fact. The ways in which my brain and body work, or don't work, make my life more...
jorothman1
Jul 13, 20222 min read
32 views
0 comments


Tell Your Kids Their Diagnoses and What They Mean
Happy disability pride month! (And you thought I was gonna stop soapboxing...) A fun fact about me: I've known I had depression and...
jorothman1
Jul 6, 20224 min read
25 views
0 comments

Gender Machine Broke: Understanding Nonbinary Identities
The number-one thing any out nonbinary person knows is that most binary people - cis and trans - have no concept of what "nonbinary"...
jorothman1
Jun 30, 20225 min read
50 views
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How Do We Cope?
Seven years ago this Sunday, I gathered with the campers and staff at the URJ Kutz Camp (z"l) to hear that Obergefell v. Hodges had been...
jorothman1
Jun 24, 20223 min read
15 views
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Unpacking the Pronoun Struggle
In 2018, I was working at a camp and met a lawyer with some white man name - Jeffrey, Jeremy, who knows, let's call him Jeffremy - who...
jorothman1
Jun 22, 20225 min read
38 views
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Allyship Part 3: Allyship Is Determined By the Oppressed
It happens all the time: someone will drop a [homophobic/transphobic/racist/ableist/etc.] comment, and when they're called out, they'll...
jorothman1
Jun 15, 20226 min read
15 views
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Allyship Part 2: Allies Take a Seat
Four years ago, I reposted a text post on Facebook: "Remove the word 'preferred' from your language when talking about transgender...
jorothman1
Jun 8, 20228 min read
46 views
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Allyship Part 1: Corporations Are Not Allies
It's June 1, babes! Pride month is here, and that means two things: hot enby summer has officially begun, and corporations are trying to...
jorothman1
Jun 1, 20223 min read
21 views
0 comments


The Pride Guide: How to Go to Pride Events
It's coming, y'all - pride month starts in a week. And every year, I see a lot of pride event questions, so let's talk about safety,...
jorothman1
May 25, 20224 min read
17 views
0 comments
Contact Me
If you're interested in hiring me to do consulting or training, or if you just want to chat, feel free to reach out to me!
508-330-5992

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