S T RO N G E R TO G E T H E R Credit: Kelly Nuttall.
at the continued attacks on reproductive rights. Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land since 1973, and yet conservatives continue to attack a woman’s right to choose. The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, and two provisions were rolled back in 2013. The LGBTQ movement won an incredible victory in 2015, when marriage became a right afforded to all couples across the United States, but the fight to protect our rights will never be over. Show up for people, reach out to other communities, and see how you can get involved. Don’t take over their movement, but see how you can be a part of it. That may mean donating money or participating in a community event. Be there to be there. Help. Don’t just go to collect your gold star. And meet people where they are, not where you are. Don’t just invite people to your events, invite them to the table. Listen! Just listen to people. Let them share their stories and perspectives, and take it all in. It is a privilege to be able to hear those stories and perspectives.
Don’t support companies with illiberal stances Put your money where your mouth is. Don’t support companies and organizations that don’t support you or the issues that you care about. Shop at places that support a living wage for their employees. Don’t use services from companies that support Trump and his agenda.
Be comfortable with being uncomfortable Call people in. We all need to be responsible for each other. If we hear someone say or do something offensive, pull them aside and talk to them about how it was inappropriate. Most people don’t respond to being called out in front of other people. They become defensive and don’t learn anything from the interaction. But by calling someone in, there is a stronger chance that they will make a shift in their actions.
Be here for our youth LGBTQ youth are vulnerable members of our community. Many children have come out within the last eight years, when LGBTQ rights were at a forefront, and we were making strides towards equality. LGBTQ youth only know leaders like President Obama and Vice President Biden opening the space for these victories. Now those same children, who once had an administration fighting for them, have one that is fighting against them. States are trying to pass legislation directed at LGBTQ youth. Washington state’s bill I-1552 is particularly heinous. The “too long didn’t read” (TLDR) version of this bill is that it restricts trans children from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender. This bill goes even further than most by allowing students and their families to sue public schools if a trans student is permitted to use the bathroom that they identify with. Yes, you read that right: if a student witnesses a trans student using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, their family can sue the public schools. This creates an unsafe environment for transgender youth. LGBTQ youth need our support. They need to know that we are here for them and fighting for everyone in the LGBTQ community.
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The road ahead Most of all, we need to remember to stick together. Work on building and rebuilding bridges, and prepare for a hard road ahead. Work on being a good ally to other communities. Work on accurate representation in your own organizations. Become actively anti-hate, and be here for the youth. Our opponents want us to fight within our own communities. That way we are distracted, separated, and unable to put forth a united effort to make a change. Together we are a force to be reckoned with. Megan Eimerman-Wallace has a background in advocacy for immigrants, people with disabilities, women, and the LGBTQ communities. She is Executive Producer of Logistics for Capital Pride Alliance.
