I'm a little late...
I try to say it every year or so, but it's more and more important now than ever. And it's a longer reminder this time. It's necessary.
β¨οΈπ³οΈββ§οΈ YOU ARE SAFE WITH ME! π³οΈβπβ¨οΈ
It's not about a religious or political opinion, it's about the fact that OUR GOVERNMENT and our elected officials want to deny the existence and rights of people in our own country.
EVEN THE RIGHTS OF MILITARY VETERANS WHO HAVE COME OUT AS TRANS! OUR BRAVE WARRIORS, DENIED AND MISTREATED.
It doesn't matter if you think people can be transgender or gay or not, the fact is there are people out in the world that are. And they have rights to live their lives as authentically as anyone else in the United States of America (maybe recently not so much "united" as we were). It's not just America either these issues are happening the world over.
And those rights are being diminished and taken away, medical care is being denied to them, they're being discriminated against. And these government policies are making people entitled to not just do that, but it's also giving them permission to harass, bully, attack and harm these people.
We are Americans. Our country's 250th birthday should be a reminder that we were founded on INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, Equality, and Rule of Law. A collective idea that we call "Freedom".
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY is the fundamental moral principle that every person possesses inherent autonomy to act, think, and make choices according to their own will, free from undue interference, censorship, or overreach by the government or other authorities.
It ensures we have Autonomy over our Personal Lives, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Conscience and Religion and our Right to Privacy.
We cannot deny these rights to people who feel they're transgender or gay or any of the LGBTQ people. That is not what "free country" does. That's not what THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA does!
That is what AUTHORITARIAN regimes do. That's what Hitler did. That's what Stalin did. My family lived under both those fucking regimes. My father lived under those regimes. I heard 10 thousand horror stories straight from his lips.
If we're really still America, we have to stand up for LGBTQ people. We have to have PRIDE MONTH.
Maybe you can't change things, but you can help one person. If you see someone who's LGBTQ be a friend. Be kind bystander and offer them a hand. Tell them they're okay. Reassure them you accept them. JUST SHAKE THEIR HAND. Even the minimum kindness will collectively make a difference. Then do another nice thing. It adds up.
If you're homophobic or transphobic, there's probably nothing I can say to convince you otherwise, but you're wrong. That's all anyone with a conscience can say.
And to my friends and acquaintances who are in the LGBTQ here on Tumblr, you know who you are. You're lives worth more than some false president's executive order, or some asinine bigot on the streets, or assholes that won't call you by your preferred name or pronoun. Or don't want acknowledge you as you are. Just know every last one of them are wrong about you. Even if it's your family, your parents or anyone.
THEY ARE WRONG.
You're worthy and will be seen by good hearted people. You're valid even if there's fear everywhere, don't be afraid, stick close to your cis allies, stick close to your community elders, we've got you.
YOU ARE SAFE WITH US.
It's not over. Don't fall to despair. You have long lives to live.
We're in this together. π«β¨οΈπ
