Products

Zine published by Microcosm Mutual aid has received more attention as a radical tactic lately, especially in the wake of the uprisings and protest movements that took the world by storm in 2020. But what does it look like in practice, and what can it mean for neurodivergent folks—who often have different ways of navigating social relationships than neurotypical people do? Featuring contributions from series regulars Eliot Daughtry, Partly Robot, and Microcosm's own Joe Biel, this latest Neurodivergent Pride zine explores how to communicate with and support each other to build the kind of world we'd really like to be a part of. As Joe writes, "it’s not about repairing every misstep so much as it is about the process of transforming ourselves to proceed in a more informed manner moving forward." Let's proceed together, with this zine's help!

For neurodiverse folks, it's a rare thing to have only one diagnosis (or misdiagnosis) at a time—and if we do, it means our doctors are probably missing something. We have a lot of layers, and so many conditions and hurts go hand-in-hand, compounding and leading to each other. Our brain wiring doesn't exist in a vacuum. As Eliot Daughtry writes in his excellently clarifying contribution, "Basic research into statistics on how often the autistic population is affected by conditions like anxiety, sensory processing issues, and learning differences, started to yield some surprising numbers." He includes illustrated charts of common groupings, aka "comorbidities"—including conditions that can be categorized as neurological, psychological, physiological, learning differences, genetics. Also in this issue, Joe Biel talks about getting neurofeedback and navigating the healthcare system, as well as strangers assuming he is homeless.

By Leah Jo Carnine and Fizz Percale, 2020, Zine

Zine / pamphlet. Published by Microcosm! Queer Attachment: An Anti-Oppression Toolkit for Relational Healing Weaves together mainstream attachment theory with study of trauma and the nervous system, with a focus on bringing in the knowledge of the queer and PoC practitioners in this field. This zine offers a guide to healing that is rooted in social justice, considerate of diverse identities, and deeply aware of how mental health is tied to systems of oppression.

Zine / pamphlet. Published by Microcosm! This male/male high-heat erotic short story centers around a werewolf & witch couple fighting back against the oppressive government and corporations of Toronto. Using the calling card “Queer Werewolves Destroy Capitalism,” the pack tears through downtown Toronto to protest the cruel treatment of werewolves and rage against the corporations that oppose living wages and humane treatment of workers. But there’s always time for a bit of stress relief with your partner.

Paperback book. Published by Microcosm! Sexy, capitalism-defying adventures take you around the galaxy in this debut collection of five high-heat erotic short stories by MJ Lyons. A pack of werewolves tear through downtown Toronto to protest cruel treatment of workers, led by a werewolf & witch couple who are equally passionate about the cause and each other. From charnel landscapes to queer utopias, from the crepuscular cruising grounds of 19th century Paris to the urban werewolf hunting grounds of 21st century Toronto, from the tender to the consentacled, these tales of unapologetically queer, unabashedly smutty speculative fiction will thrill, titillate, and delight. A male/male erotic short story collection from Microcosm’s Queering Consent series.

How do you tell someone you want to do stuff with them? How do you ask if they want to do stuff with you? How do you know what stuff you want to do with each other? Enter: Sargeant Yes Means Yes from the Consent Cavalry, a beacon of clarity in a fuzzy minefield of questions. Sarge drops in on a diverse range of folks deciding whether to engage in sexual activity in this short and fun comic guide to communicating what you want, don't want, and how you want it! With wit and charm, Sarge also includes tips on what affirmative consent looks like, advocating for what you want, and setting boundaries that honor your comfort and safety. The result is a positive resource illustrating how easy it really is to respect each other’s bodies and desires. Easy to follow in black and white graphic novel format!

A fun comic to teach people about what queerness means and what the full spectrum of sexual identities and genders looks like. Told from the perspective of a pet snail, it's easy for anyone to understand.

Paperback. "Disabled people have sex!" begins this excellent nonfiction graphic novel by a queer, disabled, sex-positive cartoonist who wants you to have exactly the kind of stupendous, consensual sexytimes you most desire. Contains tips, skills, and encouragement knowing and communicating what you want, self-care, overcoming hang-ups, logistics, using lube, toys, and assistive devices, and talking with your partner(s) about what you want after sex. Every adult human could benefit from reading this.

Zine / pamphlet. Published by Microcosm! Sex Tools: Getting Your Groove on Safely, Pleasurably, and Satisfyingly Sex tools! Also known as sex toys or sexual aids, these essential tools for the good life include such devices as dildos, vibrators, butt plugs, scarves, ticklers, needles, and whatever your awesomely dirty mind can devise for the enhancing of sexual pleasure. By bestselling author Dr. Faith.

Zine / pamphlet. Published by Microcosm! How much of your sex life is informed by gender norms that you may not even be conscious of? Eli Sachse's zine is all about learning to explore your sexuality in a healthier way, with great boundaries and consent, whether by yourself, with strangers, or with trusted others. This zine is a thoughtful friend with good. advice, helpful phrases ("No, thank you," is a favorite), and a nonjudgmental perspective of having been there and done all those things. The zine is especially written for people who are exploring their gender identity or beginning to transition, and is also valuable reading for anyone who wants to be a better sexual partner to themselves and others.

Zine / pamphlet. Published by Microcosm! Microcosm publishing bestseller dr. Faith takes on the fabulous topic of... Masturbation! In her usual style of combining hilariousness with science, she breaks down the history of societal shame around self-pleasure, and offers practical and straightforward whys and hows of exploring your sexuality on your own time. From the benefits of learning all the ins and outs of your own sexual response to a candid guide to shopping for and using sex toys, she addresses the needs of CIS and trans folks, busts some myths, and gives some guidelines for talking to your kids about masturbation. She even includes book recommendations! There's a lot to this little zine, whether you're an experienced masturbator or a recent escapee from a fundamentalist cult.

Zine / pamphlet. Published by Microcosm! STI FAQ: Keep Calm and Learn Real Facts About Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Got an STI (sexually transmitted infection)? Or just worried you'll get one? In this informative and crass zine, two sex therapists and a doctor cut through the mysteries and misinformation around STIs and tell you what you actually need to know about herpes, HPV, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS. This zine covers the medical aspects: How do you know if you have one? How do they test? How are they treated? Then there are the potentially even more important questions: How do you deal when you do have one? Who do you tell and what do you say and when (yes, there's a script)? How do you avoid passing it along in the future? How do you forgive everyone involved and get on with your sex life? 

By:  Adam Eli (Author), Ashley Lukashevsky (Illustrator), 2020, Paperback, Pocket Change Collective

Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. In this installment, The New Queer Conscience, Voices4 Founder and LGBTQIA+ activist Adam Eli offers a candid and compassionate introduction to queer responsibility. Eli calls on his Jewish faith to underline how kindness and support within the queer community can lead to a stronger global consciousness. More importantly, he reassures us that we're not alone. In fact, we never were. Because if you mess with one queer, you mess with us all.

By Tiffany Jewell, 2021 Paperback

Within these pages, there is space to learn and grow through more than 50 activities centered around identity, history, disruption, self-care, privilege, art, expression, and much more. Write, draw, color, and create to understand how you are growing into your anti-racist self and dive further into the work.

Zine / pamphlet. Published by Microcosm! What does consent mean? Where does this idea come from, and why is it being talked about in a different way now than it was 20 years ago? More importantly, what does it have to do with any of us? How do we make sure we have the informed consent of everyone we interact with for the stuff we do that affects them? How do we make sure other people know what is and isn't okay with us? How do we navigate life in the post-#metoo era with dignity, respect, and confidence?