Over the past week, the world has potentially become less safe for minorities, immigrants, Muslim-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, African Americans, people with disabilities and those in the LGBT community. With all the divisiveness of the United States Presidential campaign in 2016, it is no wonder that people are scared. I myself have seen hate speech and people harassed for being who they are. It is not okay to treat each other rudely and it is not okay to stomp on the rights of those in the LGBT and minority communities so hard fought and won.
With all the protests that have been happening there is cause for concern among those that voted for equality.
It harkens back to times past where those who were different were discriminated against, tortured or even killed. In the Middle East being LGBT in Isis controlled territory can get you thrown off the roof. In other places marriage equality is not allowed or transition is not available. Being oneself and the ability to present your true nature is integral to people’s happiness.
I worry about myself and my LGBT friends. As a member of multiple minorities, it is imperative with the change coming that we do not forget all the lives lost fighting to bring our freedom, from the battlefield and the military sacrifices made to the lawyers and the doctors and activists who fight at home.
I have safety pins for everyone who needs one and I am here to support all those who feel unsafe. I myself have been having nightmares recently and have changed my habits of going out so that I am not faced with discrimination. The fact that this has to happen is sad. I know that in my case I keep my hair long which adds to the ambiguous gender classification. I do not consider myself non-binary but I have to exist in between worlds for various reasons. Medically I have had three surgeries and am awaiting approval and scheduling for one more. Having been bullied for being intersexed as a child, being able to medically transition was necessary for my sanity. I did not know at 16 when I was experiencing anxiety that it was because of my gender expression. I have come to learn this years later and even though I had to wait for many years I am much happier with myself by being able to change my body to match my mind.
I am also concerned for transwomen of colour in America who face violence and death. There have been a record number of murders of trans women recently that make my heart sick. Everyone is equal and should be able to express their genuine self. I know when I first got hormones it was a very emotional time. As a member of multiple minorities including Blaisian, Trans, Intersex, Native American, Gay I live in a world that is hard. I never fit in with the Asian kids at college or the African Americans. I had to hunt for my group of friends until I was accepted by a group of Europeans from Berlin, France, the UK and Germany. But even in this present year travelling across the globe for business I was faced with harrassement in the airport because I guess I “looked atypical,” or “looked different.” I had to undergo more scrutiny at security than the caucasian couterparts I was with.
The world has become an unsafe place with the KKK endorsing Trump and the Republicans willing to rollback reproductive rights, women’s rights, LGBT rights and trans rights. I worry for the children who are afraid their friends are going to be rounded up and sent out of the country by the deportation forces if they are undocumented, Latino or Muslim.
It is sad time in America. And I think the Brexit was a precursor for what happened in the United States. The world is trembling but we have to fight back the hate. We must come together and spread love and equality. I know people are hurting and rightfully so. Some of the things that were said during the American Presidential campaign were vile and harkened back to World War II evil. The protestors have a right to their voice. I believe they are in the right place and are equally scared of what could occur.
I write about oppression in the grydscaen books with the autocratic government of the Elite in the Pacific Territories trying to suppress people’s rights and the evil Atlantea Federation which will slaughter its own people for not following their views. The grydscaen series is a microcosm of the world. Corrupt power, government oppression, corporate greed and abuse of their power and the Zone Police ruling the streets as if martial law were enacted. All these things that occur in grydscaen bubble to the surface in our reality. I do not present a happy picture in grydscaen of a world post nuclear war. I present a harsh reality and a deep seated angst that needs to be given a voice.
We are all equal. For all those minorities who are scared of what is in the future, as well as myself I can only internalize my grief and hope that “Love Trumps Hate.”