Willow Defebaugh

You know, something else that I loved is how many queer love stories were also subtly introversial.

And there's something healing in a way that I don't even know that I really knew I was needed.

In just...

seeing queer love letters throughout history and i'm not saying it's you know it's obviously not the biggest part of the book but it's there and it's this quiet reminder that queer people have always been throughout history exactly is there one one you know relationship or love story or or or letter or something that you might want to share

Something remarkable is also happening this year, which is that the Marginalian is turning 20.

For anyone who's not familiar, this is a platform, a monumental record of humanity's search for meaning.

Sure.

But so monumental that it is a part of the digital archive of the Library of Congress as being hugely relevant to culture.

Hmm.

And I'm wondering if you can share a little bit about what this project means to you.

I mean, back when it was brain pickings to now, evolution over two decades.

Hating poetry.

Which, by the way, does also have so many parallels to environmentalism, right?

For so long, the approach has just been like, don't destroy the planet.

And how well does that work?

As opposed to, one, refocusing our attention on, you know, what needs to change, what systemic reform needs to happen, but also maybe helping people fall in love with the wonder of the world.

And millions of people have followed along with your journey.

And also, when you say one woman, you mean one woman, because it's all you.

You have written that humanity is here to make meaning out of matter.

Do you think that's a gift or a burden?