In light of this disheartening election, I have shed tears, and watched my loves ones shed tears, as an overwhelming feeling of hostility seemed to emanate from my very surroundings the day the polls declared Donald Trump and Mike Pence as future President and Vice President of the United States. It felt stigmatizing and it felt retroactive to anyone that did not fit the wealthy straight white male narrative.
As if it was a way of the American people telling me that my rights as a human being did not matter; and that the lives of countless women, people of color, other LGBT+, immigrants, Muslims, and whomever else in this scenario would be considered the marginalized “other” were non-essential. However, this is not the first time we have faced obstacles. This will not be the last.
The United States has certainly held repeated reputations in the past of regulatory oppression and discrimination toward countless demographics. But it is through the power of the people, through the freedom of speech and freedom of press and freedom of assembly to which voices have been heard and change has been enacted.
Just this year, same-sex couples have been ensured the right to initiate a family through adoption.
A federal judge ruled the anti-gay-adoption law in Mississippi as unconstitutional and said the law “violates the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the United States Constitution.” With this ruling taken into account, Mississippi was marked the last state banning same-sex adoption before the entire country had become safe for LGBT+ members looking to adopt a child.
In all 50 states, LGBT+ couples now no longer face discrimination from the law when desiring to start a family. LGBT+ couples can no longer be deemed “unfit” parents for being who they are, and loving who they love—and now, who they love can include an addition to their family with a child of their own.
Just last year, same sex marriage was legalized in all 50 states.
On June 27, 2015, the nation took an earth-shattering collective sigh of relief as love, between any and all people, was at last considered dignified. This monumental moment in history resulted in pride, true unprecedented pride, cascading over millions of Americans (myself included) as a fight that had been fought for countless years saw true undeniable progress.
President Barack Obama delivered a speech on the day of the ruling, and stated, “Our nation was founded on a bedrock principle that we are all created equal. The project of each generation is to bridge the meaning of those founding words with the realities of changing times — a never-ending quest to ensure those words ring true for every single American.” As his speech continued, President Obama’s words left lasting impressions on the nation as a whole, reaffirming that “when all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free.”
Just five years ago, “Don’t ask, don’t tell” was repealed, meaning LGBT+ people in the United States were now offered the opportunity to defend the nation without compromising their identities—without discrediting who they are.
LGBT service members previously discharged due to the DADT law were also able to re-enlist. With this action, Americans everywhere were forced to recognize the lack of parallelism between sexuality and patriotism. One can be prideful in themselves as a member of the LGBT+ community as well as prideful in themselves for being an American citizen looking to serve in the armed forces.
Just seven years ago, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 was passed.
The act was passed in response to barbaric and completely sickening hate crimes toward Matthew Shepard, a gay man tortured to death in Wyoming, as well as James Byrd, an African American man dragged to death in Texas. The HCPA was implemented in order to bolster movements for justice and equality and, most importantly, to signify that the United States Department of Justice will in no way tolerate the radicalized discriminatory killings of any oppressed group. To reinstate that justice will be heard.
All of these exceptional movements in recent history, along with countless others, prove the advancement of progress in the United States. It is through movements such as those previously mentioned, that faith in our nation is restored. It is through such positive change that I remember I am proud to be an LGBT+ American. It is through moments where I am reminded of the continued struggle of LGBT+ people everywhere that I am not going away, and I (along with my rights) will not be swept aside.
This nation has an incredulously long way to go as far as equality stands, and by emphasizing positive events of the past it is in no way efficient or ethical to ignore the injustices that have also taken place in the past. It is the duty of a society to work toward societal balance and justice; and by gathering inspiration and motivation from past fortifying moments while still acknowledging and gathering outrage and passion from both past and present injustices, we will move forward.
As a unified whole, we will prevent the abolition of our liberties and human rights. We can ensure the United States remains a safe home for all Americans, not just those with privilege. We must constantly remind ourselves that #LoveTrumpsHate, and it will continue to do so.
