Don’t stop loving

Lies and money won this time, but don’t give up the fight

America has become a certified oligarchy. Gone are any traces of grassroots democracy. Instead, we are headed down the same road as former superpowers Russia and China.
As sad as it is, apparently money is all that matters.

Money controls the media, the economy and now the government, though many have said that for years. Now the rich — from Jeff Bezos to Elon Musk — will manage our former democracy and we will be governed by spreadsheets and profit margins.

For minorities like me, a queer kinky guy, it’s going to be different. Survival will be based on how valuable I can make myself to the oligarchs in control. Luckily, much of my minority has a certain amount of economic privilege, and with that comes some influence — though not much.

What will the next four years look like? I have absolutely no idea, except that I will survive and do everything I can to keep me and my fellow kinky queers safe, both physically and emotionally. I will avoid supporting the oligarchy as much as possible, but that is tough when the rich have stacked the deck.

I am angry and sad: angry that misinformation and lies won the day and sad that so many Americans believed those lies and misinformation.

At their heart, I still believe in the good of people. But when they are swayed by massive social media campaigns and have fallen into a cult-like trance believing a convicted felon and con man will do anything to make our country great, I cry.

I cry not because of politics; I cry out of compassion for a deluded people who have given up their morals for the promise of a “happy meal.”

But I will not hate. As tough as it is, I will not hate. Because hate brought us to this point.

I will instead muster all the love I have and keep loving my fellow Americans through this dark period. We all will need that.

As we move into this dark time, love is the light that will sustain us. It has sustained millions throughout history, and it will again. Love can win — maybe not elections (for now), but it can win in our hearts and the hearts of our families and families of choice.

Don’t stop loving. Don’t stop being queer and kinky and fabulous and exactly who you are. With enough love, I know we can once again thrive.

For now, I will shed my tears and take care of myself and my friends. We will need all the love and care we can muster for the road ahead.

…………………………

Ready for the fight

We know Trump’s agenda;we’re ready to stop it

The results of the election are in: Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States.

I know these results create fear for many, particularly those whose communities have been most targeted and threatened by the president-elect’s extreme rhetoric and policy proposals. But if Trump comes for our communities, he’s gotta get past all of us.

Trump has been crystal clear about his plans to deport one million immigrants every year and target the enemy within — which, for Trump, means anyone who disagrees with him. He is dead serious about seeking retribution against his political opponents and deploying federal law enforcement to shut down protests and muzzle dissent.

Guided by Project 2025, we are sure he will try to make good on those promises.

Trump and the administration officials he will put in place will work to attack the rights of LGBTQ people, implement archaic and cruel immigration policies, undermine press freedoms and make it harder for Americans to vote.

It is not hyperbolic to say that this president presents a clear and present danger to our democracy.

But here at the ACLU, we’re clear-eyed about the chaos and destruction a second Trump administration will cause to our nation. We’re done with the hand wringing. Instead, we are ready to take action the minute Trump takes the oath of office. The fact is, we’re familiar with fighting a Trump White House. The ACLU filed 434 legal actions against the first Trump administration’s illegal and cruel actions — and we are prepared to fight again with the organization’s full firepower. We have plans in place to litigate, legislate and mobilize for reproductive freedom, immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ rights, racial justice and all civil rights and liberties — in the courts, in Congress and in the streets.

Here at the ACLU, we play the long game. We’ve been around for 105 years. We’ve seen 19 presidents come and go. We will vigorously defend your right to protest and speak against our government — especially when that government attacks our civil liberties and civil rights.
The next four years will be challenging, but we’ll be ready on day one. You can count on it.