Matilda Bliss

@matildabliss

Trans femme anarchist. Criminalized for the act of journalism. Suing. More at @avlblade.bsky.social where I cover city hall, grab photos, design graphics, and write a little here and there. Bicycle rider, cat lover, and Star Wars and geology nerd

176 Following961 Followers838 Posts

Patreon PayPal PayPal YouTube Bluesky

Is this your profile?Claim it and matildabliss.dirty.social is yours.Claim profile

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Apr 28

Homelessness is up 9.1 percent since last year according to this count. #avlgov

A graph differentiates totals of homeless people by shelter, transitional housing, and unsheltered compared across 2024, 2025, and 2026 with an increase from 2025 to 2026 of total homeless people from 755 to 824, a 9.1 percent increase

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Feb 25

Via the capital projects presentation:

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Jan 12

I’ve known Lentil for years, and she’s been showing up that entire time. Now she needs our help paying for a surgery that will hopefully lay her glaucoma struggles to rest for a very long time. The nature of mutual aid is that we show up for each other.

Lentil is lay down on green sheets wearing a green and yellow patterned eye pillow.

At the top is a curving title in white print that reads, “Help Lentil Afford Glaucoma Surgery!”

Underneath and to the left is a dull green semi-transparent text box that contained white print that reads, “Lentil is a visually impaired artist, community member, and cat mom. For years, she’s advocated against gentrifying projects and shown up to assist mutual aid endeavors. She’s pitched in expecting nothing in return.”

A pair of eyes looking sideways graphic is visible behind the text box. Below is a similar green, but darker text box with white print that reads, “Now she needs our help paying for Xen Stent Implant Surgery on Jan 19th! This surgery will help Lentil reduce pain and avoid further vision loss.”

A white squiggly line graphic points up to the next text box in the sequence in the top right corner of the page. It’s a similar green but darker still and reads in white print: “She’s giving away five hand-woven eye pillows in a raffle! To enter,
venmo @LLentil42”

Below that is a semitransparent black text box that reads “GOAL: $7,000” And below that is white text that reads: “Please put “🧶😎💖” in the note”

And there is a tan heart graphic in the bottom right corner.

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 7

The battery, radiator, radiator hoses, all four tires, thermostat housing, ignition wires, starter, and front brakes were all replaced in the last three years. The water pump, drive belt, and AC belt were replaced in 2021.

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 7

Since I got it in 2019, the truck was running as well as it had run before its rebuilt transmission gave out. The following are still under warranty. Valve cover gasket, spark plugs, and passenger door handle system were replaced last month. Its rear differential was replaced in May.

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 7

All windows are still intact, but I cut the screen on the driver’s side so that I could let my cat go in and out via a carpet ladder. The screen on the passenger side is still intact. There is a clothes hanging bar that still works, and the window into the truck’s cab still opens.

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 7

Realistically, however, it’s probably for parts. It could also be a living/ storage space. Many years ago, I spent long periods of time living out of the back and using the tailgate as a table. The floor is mostly carpeted and is insulated with foam board. Though I’ve never done it…

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 7

2000 Chevy Silverado and camper top for sale for $700! To purchase the truck without the camper top, $500. Camper top without the truck, $300. This babe is at present inoperable. Coming in at over 290,000 miles, it will need a new transmission. This could be a project vehicle.

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 6

At least I still have them, and I will be closing this fundraiser. If you still want to donate, I will happily accept them on my paypal or venmo. And look for an orchiectomy procedure and healing fund, as that will almost certainly be needed come January.

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 6

I got my mechanic to check it out and I dug into the carfax report to confirm that yes, this was a heck of a deal and a solid purchase. I have a vehicle. While insurance, registration, and a few minor repairs are sure to eat into my limited savings for a bit…

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 6

We did it yall. With your support of this fundraiser and donations across both of my apps, I was able to buy a fuel efficient hatchback yesterday. While it’s at the upper limit as far as what I was looking for on the odometer, it’s of a make an model that’s known for its longevity.

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 3

Know of a decent vehicle that you or someone you know is trying to get rid of? I could probably give you a better price than a dealership these days. Here’s what I’m looking for.

The image has a star border and at the top are two photographs. On the left is a maroon truck and on the right is a white trans woman who is smiling. The words “The old vehicle is dead. The new vehicle struggles to be born.” Below is text that reads “Help Matilda find a new set of wheels.” Below that is text “Budget: $3.5k now up to $6k in 3 wks.” Below that is text that takes us to the bottom of the page. “Type: 1st choice: hatchback 2nd choice: sedan.” To the right is text, “Model: 2000 or younger (line break) Transmission: automatic (line break) Mileage: Under 230k miles (line break) Condition: Good (line break) Gas Mileage: > 20 MPG in town.”

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 2

And as things currently stand this would of course empty my savings. Please keep donating to my gofundme and my apps! (Second slide) I’m counting on at least a few donations to come in to pay for registration, insurance, etc. Please don’t stop supporting this effort. Your support has been crucial 💖

The graphic includes a portrait of a white trans woman with text on the left side saying “Support Matilda in Securing Safe Transportation” text below reads “Gofundme https://gofundme.me/8ad6ce51e” Then Venmo: @Matilda-Bliss” and finally “Paypal: paypal.me/MatildaBliss”. To the right on the bottom of graphic is text “Goal: $5,000”

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Oct 14

Examples of who gets to be loud and drunk in downtown Asheville #avlgov

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Jul 22

Trans women are not responsible for the trauma inflicted by men in your life. Read that again.

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Jan 28

Here's what #avlgov has been talking about for the last bit. Essentially city hall speak for its "affordable housing" plan over the next few months. The concept of affordable housing that city hall uses is more often than not just a shiny cover on its ruthless gentrification machine.

"Key Takeaways" in a city hall presentation on its affordable housing plan. "City staff are rebooting the Equitable and Affordable Housing and Stability strategy with an eye towards the
region’s overall recovery. Proposed revisions to the staff work plan maintain anti-displacement strategies,
funding programs, and zoning/regulatory tools to promote housing options across the community.
● Tropical Storm Helene reshaped staff’s timeline and approach to tasks on the work plan, but not all tasks were
delayed:
○ The programmatic strategies of rental assistance and home repair were prioritized in response to Helene,
and are well underway.
○ Staff has continued to work on previously approved Housing Trust Fund (HTF) projects and has made
significant progress toward multiple loan closings.

● Key differences between the original schedule of work (cited in the September 24th work session) and the
revised schedule include:
○ HTF cycle shifted back into accepting applications on a rolling basis, allowing more flexibility for
developers.
○ The zoning and regulatory strategies that require Council action were paused during emergency response.
○ Because we anticipate the need to respond quickly to new information during recovery, our revised
timeline looks at the next six months only.

● These efforts will feed into the larger recovery plan with input from City Council and the community, especially in
light of CDBG-DR planning and long-term recovery."

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Jan 28

Image of Chelsea Manning was grabbed from a google search late last decade. Same with the Samus Aran suit dancing with the Samus Aran person.

Shoes hanging from power lines in the evening make a butterfly and sun beams travel upwards. In the bottom left, a semitransparent photo of a pink flower is over top. An image of Chelsea Manning is on the right. Poetry over top:
“ Consequences much better than silence, and
Kira takes me to buy panties that I can wear
underneath until I am ready to fight the bastards

The ones who would jump me for painting eyes,
donning dress, clipping bra, for being me
hormones and all

-

And I am smiling, returned from time, and I know
I have an arrest to unchain

And with fire moving, telling
cops just who I am, what they need and needn’t do
for me - with their cameras rolling

portals opening and closing in the back of
the paddy, Chelsea Manning a frequent visitor
over weeks/ hours, as we extricate a way to stay present
amidst cacophony”

A white trans woman kneels, smiles and poses artistically. In the top right corner, a sad baby tiger stuffed animal looks on. In bottom left, the Samus Aran suit dances with the human. Poetry over top:
““Try to stay rooted in the space and time,”
says midwife just now

So much younger and holding so much
intuitively, fiercely, gently

I awaken at 16,
vindictive reply
from an early crush
I tried only to say I like her

I stop and write and talk about it, even if
it’s with my dad whose advice like snow
on a warm night I know won’t stick

And I think out questions and
draw in sharpie, and I call up sister
and I ask what she would do (as herself)
(a girl) had she received an email from a (girl)
that she liked. One like this”

A white trans woman jaunts forward on the right. A pink flower is in the top left corner, and sharpie art on drawing paper and many pens are on the floor of a porch in the bottom left corner. Poetry over top:
“ Sighed and said “okay” (very carefully,
searching my words) “I would ask her why she said that.”

And so I save eight years when I ask,
dodging sadness and fear frozen sharp
and shear, that I can never really trust
upon revealing to a crush, attraction

‘That they are bound to want to hurt me
(just like Whitney)’
shattered

“That was my mom who sent that email”
“That was my mom who sent that email”
time breaks

And stepping out, I ponder these threads that made
me doubt, shrink in silence’s cage, resenting the
absence of mindreading, oh that
amygdala limbic nightmare frenzy”

A white trans woman shows off her ass on the right. On the left is a magenta flower with graffiti that reads “Chaotic Dance” interposed over top. Poetry over all reads:
“Another day, and I follow these crumbs across time.
They feed a moment in which a hot confident tranny grows
equipped to fight, to survive these horrors

Not just way back, not just way forward,
but here, now

Failing that, scratch and claw like a banshee
on the way out, lessons learned from true masters

So we are, there we went, and
here we go

The bastards think they’re tough shit?
We’ll make them fucking show”

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Jan 28

Note about images: Photography is mostly my own. Selfies are recent & AVL based, and many of the others are either of my NE TN hometown or of Knoxville Tn, the locations of much of this trauma work. Mystique and Samus Aran images were grabbed off Google. Lion too, & traced into start of sharpie art

The Old Grey cemetery in Knoxville with semitransparent hometown graffiti “I love you do you love me” in bottom right corner.
Poetry over top:
“ And we take a month to wear it out
wear it down, and give it rest
bind it to its time

With acceptance that I will never shy away
from stating the obvious, Asheville’s mired
in abuse culture and I will find the community
that loves me as hard as I grip this survivor support

Conclusion that can never feel
all-the-way okay, but it is enough

And so am I amidst the discard tuff
of yesteryear”

Mystique from early 2000’s Xmen on the left and a selfie of a white trans woman showing off her first piercing on the right.
Poetry over top:
“Beyond time, reflecting upon intersections
Unencumbered bullying meets supports mangled
meets respect for cuties crushed meets
transmisogyny whispering, “They’ll never believe you.”

Rolled into one, bested, and into a small freedom
I now step, Mystique, sapphire blue, transforming,
adapting through this flood of tears so forever
blessed by my container faeries, hugs, massage
and hand holding

Learning to self tap through Helene
when the time port shut its doors
and racking up points, we claim wins
for a seven year old and a thirteen

Growing a confidence in identity
And capacity to love in spite of those
who would deceive”

A tracing of a lion in a suit and bow tie and monocle with a word bubble to the right that says, “Ahem. I am going to roar now…Please. Stand back.” There are colorful circles in sequence traveling up to the left corner with fire inside and flaring from.
Poetry over top:
“And the family, Thanksgiving at fifteen,
mom breaks down in tears from overwork,
and I throw down to help anyway I can
come hell or invitations to watch the game

This is who I am. Removing the guilt
like so many shards of glass from a foot
and thunderously, returning

-

The big one, diving in over weeks
the work: daily abuse endured in
eighth grade English

Unlearning silence and the striving for the
acceptance of people who don’t give a fuck
about me and never will

And the striving to keep this record,
grades, standing, praise
(but at what expense?)”

An iron staircase travels up to the sky on the left. On the right, an ethereal depiction of Samus Aran is simultaneously beautiful and powerful.
Poetry over top:
“Leaning on trans femme trainers
and supports shot through time like meteorites
to give a special thirteen year old

The love to keep going, to have confidence
and struggle through whatever it takes to

Be something more
than the butt of a joke, the ghost at the desk
the back of a head hit

The nothing to forget and discard
like the wad of paper AJ would toss
once his craving for violence was soothed

No, I turn this ship around and it's
fisticuffs in a time portal, yall

Fuck abuse

or I dare you, light this fuse”

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Jan 28

I write poetry and create image collages. Here’s my most recent about the fantastical therapy EMDR.

A white trans woman kneeling and smiling in front of a wall. Poetry in front

“ Fisticuffs in a Time Warp

Birthed from the fires of summer
these time machines

At first, surprise at how much
I didn’t want to feel

What is it to travel a
list of traumas like
“seven letter words that start with ‘T’”

Maddening. This trip is poetry, therapy

Traumas for this EMDR midwife
so many years younger
to hold, rope on a cliff

We descend, buzzers rattle in sequence

I didn’t want to reach this center of gravity into
emotional turbulence, swirling winds around
spaghetti and muted small talk of grownups”

A circular hole in and old fence covered in lichen. Poetry over top:
“ Dinner table, two and a half decades reversed

Bully at school, bad advice given,
and I stay with this
feel these gusts that threaten to sweep me away
forever into abyss of twelve years old

Holding on

And take this leave, chair this creaks,
flee and bawl into middle school covers
the cries of a girl alone
in front of firing line I’ve been told to ignore

Christopher from seven years future, this
first queer mentor pulled through space, time
before pacifying rush of a gameboy pocket
could reach the title screen

Consciousness, still tethered”

A green and orange bottle made a terrarium in the wild. A semi transparent image white trans woman over top in bottom left corner. A semitransparent white flower over top in bottom right corner.
Poetry over all:
“Wise, witty Southern drag Dolly,
the shoulder, the tears, collecting and
scheming resistance and release.
Permission granted

Learn that when traveling, troublesome
energies, feelings, thoughts with
otherworldly power aren’t waste to flush
into septic’s abyss, unforgiving

-

Leaning into 25, unlearning responses to
crush’s absence, buzzed up to a door
open, disorder, the room is the message

no Sarah

Honing, and after too much summer and winter,
silences, and omens crowing,
“You’ve been warned”

I walk away. That rose strewn path
a treadmill - now I walk free, save three years,
at least. Your move, sweetie”

A bricked up entrance to the left and an alleyway to the right.
Poetry over top:
“ And just as in these hour longs time opens
Tucks away the now, so this past tucks the now
within its hell I didn’t want to
couldn’t stand to feel again

All the moving parts of community’s abandonment,
the close friends and their networks
because I showed up in principle, in truth.
Not so distant past.

Here and in so many lucid reminders, now

Leaving the work in garden’s container, beauty,
but the door it never fully shuts, what is left inside
growls “Let me out,” through the night,
and I worry I’ve challenged too powerful a demon

A beast loose feasting on serenity
clinching the neck of this day to day

This seven letter word that starts with ’T’
and ends with ‘Y.’ This wolf, this harpie”

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Jan 18

Bb’s first d-cup ftw 🫶😻

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Jan 15

"Scope of services" about what you'd expect. Claims the ambassadors "will not function as security" and not carry weapons "of any kind." Claims of antiracism, de-escalation, and harm reduction training. But the chamber is going to be in charge, and they're terrified of visible poverty #avlgov

Scope of services slide in Asheville government presentation on BID contract introducing stated parameters of the contract https://drive.google.com/file/d/19uNBAaPSNN_lOBgLmI4N_fKF50KqlQhV/view

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Dec 10

If you ever want to find more money in the #avlgov budget, look no further than the $35 million police budget. Handing coverage over to @davidforbes.bsky.social for the next part of the meeting. Thanks for supporting the Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Dec 9

I’ve always used Tin der but without much luck regarding my needs and it’s FAR pricier than last time I subscribed. So disappointing! Anyway, much appreciation, loveys 😘💜💜💖

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Dec 9

Covid conscious folks: I need to know what dating sites you are using because A) you’re probably adorable, but mostly B) because I need to know where to wisely put a modest amount of change (step above free methinks) in order to satisfy this lusty, romantic, sun in Virgo, Venus in Libra self 🧶

Matilda Bliss@matildabliss· Nov 8

Hey yall, as a nonbinary trans woman, going to sleep to disastrous election results and then waking up to confirmation that Trump was getting a second term was one thing. Waking up that same morning to nearly $1,000 in unexpected taxes and accountant fees was something else entirely. I need help 🧵