For my Gay and Lesbian Brothers and Sisters…

I am quite concerned about the potential impact on the country, based on the decision-making history of the President-elect, and the benchmarks set for his political party in Project 2025. Have you read it yet? Borrowing a quote from the BBC, Project 2025 “is a 900-page policy wish list, a set of proposals that would expand presidential power and impose an ultra-conservative social vision.” Do we need the guy who thought we should inject ourselves with bleach to fight COVID, to have a 900 page To Do List or an expansion of powers?

LGBTQ+ rights had slowly been gathering momentum, to the point where I felt very confident that the Federal government may finally be getting this right. Now I worry that with the stroke of a pen, all of these advancements could be eliminated. The country is showing signs of serious regression regarding the basic human rights that should be universally afforded to all humans on the planet. Racism is more prevalent than it has been in my adult lifetime. Not just side eye racism, but direct and overt racism. I was pumping gas the other day, when two big, bearded, dirty, white men exited a company vehicle and began to have a very language-filled discussion about a black employee trying to tell them how to do their job. I thought I would make it back into my vehicle before I heard them use the N-word. No such luck. Several of us looked at each other, but no one said anything to them. I was afraid to.

I watched a news segment last night regarding the potential possibility of the abolishment for gay marriage. The reporter identified that the “Marriage Certificate” could not be invalidated, but all the rights that came about for married same sex couples could be ended. No support for distribution of assets, retirement account legacy, medical decisions, guardianship, decision-making for children, and more. During this segment, I was surprised to learn that if the 2015 decision of Obergefell v. Hodges was overturned, many US states have dormant laws on their books which would be resurrected to ban same sex marriages. Can this really happen? Remember when we thought Roe would never be overturned?

There is a good article on alhlaw.com by Alex Dixon titled “Trump 2.0 Contingency Plans for Same-Sex Families During Project 2025.” There are a number of recommendations regarding ways to ensure your rights, assets, and families can be protected given the incoming political agenda. Why is it that straight politicians are so afraid of the LGBTQ+ community? I doubt any of them have heard of the Stonewall Riots or ACT UP (sarcasm there). Are we the next group to be targeted by way of the influence possible on the Conservative Supreme Court? Remember when we believed in the decisions made by the Supreme Court? Fair and balanced. Maybe I am just naive.

I wonder if the States will have individual Welcome Signs at their border crossings which say that “Family Planning Clinics are Available”, or “LGBTQ+ People are Welcome”.  Will people decide to move to different states because they are more (or less) tolerant of human rights? And how about those folks who are cloaking their racism as patriotism? Apparently you just do not love your country if you think illegals should get to stay here. Will you speak up and defend your neighbor who is being deported for entering the country illegally? They have been your neighbor for 15 years. You have had meals with them, been inside their home, and watched their kids grow up. You have borrowed their garden hose, and loaned them a tool or two. Do you really know everything about them?

This isn’t going to be a quick fix. It will not be as simple as just rounding everyone up who has an expired visa or no papers to be here. Don’t look away from these things, or ignore them. We are the next group they may be coming for.

RESIST.