It is difficult not to succumb to the temptation to talk about a certain former President turned felon. He already soaks up too much oxygen in almost all media. But we also cannot bury our heads in the sand. Sadly, despite the thirty-four (34!) convictions (so far…), November is still going to be a dogfight for democracy. We know what’s at stake, not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for all marginalized people. There is no room for error. But rest assured, our fate is in our own hands. Let’s channel our anxiety about He Who Shall Not Be Named into advocacy and support for people like Sharice Davids, who in 2018 became the first openly LGBT Native American elected to the U.S. Congress, the first openly lesbian person elected to the U.S. Congress from Kansas—and one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress.
Sharice is one of a growing number of openly LGBTQ+ elected officials in the U.S., and she, along with so many others serves as an important reminder that if you’re not seated at the table, you’re in danger of being on the menu.
As President Biden recently remarked, “Democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it. That’s the test of the ages.”
Let’s show you-know-who that we ready to ace this test.