Here's what swayed my vote in this matchup: "I'm living as a gay trans man in Trump’s America now. The kingdom of heaven is within me, or it’s nowhere."

Some of the best writing in the @marchxness.bsky.social tournament this year is in the bios. Today's highlights include "butts and sadness" (put it on my grave) from Jendi Reiter and this from Andrew Schumacher Bethke: "There doesn't seem to be much else to say autobiographically beyond fuck ICE[.]"

In other news, I'm wondering how this JFK Jr./Carolyn Bessette show would hold up without its relentless playlist (to be clear, I will be watching the whole thing to assess).

I have apparently cast all my votes for this round (per my browser), but this was yesterday and I have NO IDEA how I voted because these are all great. Really.

Another tough one. Two wonderful essays and two bands I love. I will throw hands for Hootie (don’t try me), but LA writing is my kryptonite. What to do!

Damn. That Liz Phair essay by Chris Daley was incredible (and “Divorce Song” is in my DNA).

The songs? The essays? IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE.

It was my bad! Should’ve tagged you earlier. 🙂

That’s it for the Boys. We had fun! Congrats to Tom Waits and to @paleoctopi.bsky.social on his winning essay. Onward!

It was a music essay competition, but the voting period is over now. I wrote about BSB and totally should’ve asked earlier!

@bsbfangirls.com @bsbfan24.bsky.social @bsbfangirls.bsky.social

The essay on Backstreet Boys is SO funny and smart, especially for all us TRL girlies. I think it will earn your vote for it & @doritoshangover.bsky.social to pull off the comeback victory! Half an hour left in voting!

Bless you.

How do I summon the #bsbhive on here? We need your votes! #teambsb #backstreetboys #sos

The Boys need your help! Vote by 11 AM ET tomorrow! #backstreetboys #bsb #marchxness

❤️❤️❤️

Likewise!

We were the coolest.

I could not be happier. Thank you!

I had to choose Backstreet Boys here- didn't listen specifically to them at any point, but couldn't escape them either and this essay captured me now and them across time. Read the essay and vote for BSB in March Sadness! @marchxness.bsky.social

I should cite my sources here and thank @harvilla.bsky.social for his “I Want It That Way” episode (and every episode, really) of 60 Songs That Explain the ‘90s. Cannot recommend it enough.

What I’m learning reading these essays is that we were ALL in band, and so I have to propose that we one day tackle March Marchness, wherein the catalog of John Philip Sousa would simply eat itself.

I remember “Kiss the Rain” vividly and see myself SO CLEARLY in Allison’s essay, but my vote may be swayed by Kate Braverman (with whom I was lucky enough to correspond when we published her work in TriQuarterly a lifetime or two ago). Decisions!

I went SJ, NMH, Bush, and ‘flowers, but all these essays were wonderful. Great kickoff day.

🚨 THIS IS NOT A DRILL 🚨
You’ve got 24 hours to vote BSB.
🕺🕺🕺🕺🕺

Tomorrow! 🤘

I think we all know what the right choice is here. TOMORROW.

It’s on. Vote vote vote! (My BSB essay is up tomorrow. Set your alarms now.)

March 2. Mark your calendar. 🕺
#bsb #backstreetboys #teamkevin

Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon on a motorcycle in the movie Harold and Maude

Farewell to Bud Cort. I’m sad about James Van Der Beek too, but Harold was my Dawson. 🖤