On June 26, 2015, a little less than two months after Rich and I wed in Chicago, our marriage, along with hundreds of thousands of others, became legal nationwide. While I rejoiced over the newfound legal recognition of our union, a nagging worry also entered my mind: How long would it last?
Fueling this worry was the recent announcement that a former reality star and businessperson with repeated failures to his name was throwing his hat into the ring for the 2016 presidential election. During our wedding week, I remember having a conversation with Rich expressing my concerns about the possibility of a Trump-led White House, remote though the possibility seemed. Fueling my anxiety was the worry that his administration could actively work to overturn the Supreme Court's decision.
Here we are in 2022. While Trump no longer holds office (and hopefully never will again, although I know better than to "never say never"), the conservative-skewed Supreme Court and extremist lawmakers who represent the backwards-thinking, evangelical Christian, white nationalist segment of the American population pose an immediate threat to your safety and freedoms. If you've been paying attention to the news over the past several months, you know that this year's outlook for LGBTQ+ rights, among those of many others, has been especially dire.
Homophobia is rampant throughout America. It may even be worse than at this point in 2015, because the alt-right fringe population has been validated and given a voice by the former Trump administration. Compounding this is the recent onslaught of hate-fueled bills, which are being signed into law at an alarming rate. As of writing, 28 states have introduced anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2022 and eight have signed them into law.
Although President Biden has taken steps to combat these affronts to our community, there is much more work to be done. No sooner are bills rejected, new ones are drafted that are equally or even more dangerous. Seemingly taking a page out of my mom's playbook of homophobic rhetoric, the Texas GOP just this week labeled being gay as "an abnormal lifestyle choice," pledged ongoing support for conversion therapy, now branded "re-integrative therapy," and reaffirmed their war against the transgender community.¹
If you're not scared, you should be. The archaic policies being explored in Texas, Florida and elsewhere could soon come to a state near you. How can we protect our freedoms? Although this post's title is a tongue-in-cheek nod to Texas' ever-present threat to secede from the United States, cutting ties is neither legal, nor would it help those residents whose rights and safety are affected by the harmful words and actions of religious and political zealots.
With rational people, leading by example is a powerful way to reeducate others. The aforementioned extremists, however, are far from rational. Much of their ignorance is willful, and no meaningful change can occur without intent. So, what is the solution? For some, political activism is key. Those of us who err on the more introverted side can lead a quiet revolution by blogging, creating videos, respectfully engaging with others through social media and, of course, by casting your ballot. Though America is failing us in most every conceivable way and our two-party system is woefully dated, voting is the only way to ensure a gradual shift in the political bent of our nation.
A cautionary tale: In 2016, Bernie Sanders was my candidate of choice, and I would accept nothing less than a Progressive in the White House. Discounting the fact that I would never vote Republican in the first place, I despised Trump and everything he stood for. Unfortunately, I also didn't care for Hillary Clinton. "There's no way Trump will ever win," I thought on November 8 as I essentially threw away my vote by writing in Sanders. The next morning proved me, and countless others, wrong.
Make your vote count and never take your current freedoms for granted, because "it could never happen" can and will.
Notes:
¹ Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/critics-texas-gop-abnormal-lgbtq-platform_n_62b09f93e4b0cdccbe615c6b
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