social commentary | Angela Harrison

LGBTQ rights are under attack across the nation. The ACLU is currently tracking 89 anti-LGBTQ bills in Texas alone. These bills include barring access to healthcare, strict definitions of gender, and, of course, the infamous bathroom bill. Bans on places trans people can exist in public, censorship in curriculum, and on free expression (a clear attack on the First Amendment), and bills forcing teachers to out LGBTQ students.

Don’t forget that up to 1,000 dedicated members of our nation’s military are being separated from service after years of hard work and dedication, simply for being who they are. This is straight up discrimination, no matter how you slice it.

It’s not all bad news, though. There is pushback. The Puerto Rican Supreme Court just ruled against discrimination, granting nonbinary people the right to use the X marker on their birth certificates.

The number of Americans who think politicians should NOT focus on trans issues is up, including among republicans. Fifty-seven percent of Republicans agree this isn’t an issue for political intervention. (I concur, true conservatives don’t care about your personal life and want less government intervention overall.)

In response to the current administration’s attack on the LGBTQ community, many states have enacted shield laws, enshrining protections for transgender people, their families, and their medical providers.

LGBTQ people, and yes, this includes transgender people, have always existed. Contrary to current talking points, trans people have always been here and always will. This isn’t new. It isn’t a social contagion, and your children cannot be “turned trans” because they know trans people exist.

Younger generations are much more supportive of LGTBQ rights than older ones. I really see the current atmosphere in this country surrounding these issues as an extinction burst. I think it’s really important to understand this and understand why we can’t stop pushing back against hate.

In 1991 Susan Faludi published a book called Backlash that tackles the phenomenon that happens when progress is made. Any time we take steps forward, there is always backlash against it. Her book was about women’s rights, but I think the concepts apply here.

The only answer is to hold the line.

So despite the hate, despite the current administration, despite the almost daily indignities, despite the capitulation of the billionaire class, despite all of it…. I can’t be more clear on just how important this is…. hold the fucking line.

Oh, and Happy Pride Month.