It feels like the entire United States of America (I’m using the word, “United” loosely based on our current political climate) is in utter chaos. Many of us are still processing how we got here, to THIS place of divide, fear and uncertainty because quite frankly, it’s starting to feel like we have successfully entered the Twilight Zone. I’d like to think this is the start of the revolution instead.
Which leads me to first and foremost … CHECK IN with my LGBTQ folks! Y’all alright?
If these walls could talk. I can feel the tension rising as our community waits with bated breath to see what gavel will come down and which one of our rights will be up for repeal under the new political regime.
The uncertainty that exists makes it hard to take a DEEP breath sometimes. I know. I can feel the pungent fear in the air which means you can too. But, you know what – I refuse to just sit around and wait for the other shoe to drop. I can’t.
Instead, I choose to use my voice. I choose to surround myself with like-minded individuals and I choose to stay in a space of thinking positive and ordering my steps to be positive so that collectively, we can create a shift – a turning point of some kind. We must. Listen, the shift is possible; it’s already started. Our LGBTQ rights are at stake, how can we not be involved on some level?
The revolution has started.
Which leads me to remind you about the HISTORICAL Women’s March which happened a few weeks ago. To walk a day in the shoes of all who chose to take a stand. It was mind blowing! I know it may seem like old news by now because well, the media tends to move really quickly past one protest on to the next when they see that a revolution could be starting…one that is absolutely being televised.
I’ve sat back and watched the commentary, the think pieces, the negative and positive comments that came up about the women’s march and I don’t think we should stop talking about it. Not just yet. I think we need ANOTHER reminder about WHY it was so important to march in the first place.
I was there. I was in the midst of HERstory being made at the march in Los Angeles along with 750,000 other marchers. People felt strongly about who showed up versus who didn’t and why any of us even bothered to show up at all. I KNOW why I showed up.
I am a woman of color. I am a part of the LGBTQ community. I’m also an immigrant. Triple Threat.
We can choose to stay busy counting how many women of color vs. other races were there or how many straight women vs. lesbians were there. But, I’d rather focus on the fact that so many of us decided to show up there. Period.
I think unfortunately too many people are under the guise that if “it doesn’t affect me directly, why should I care – why should I march?” To which, I ask – “HOW does none of this affect you?” WOMEN gave each one of us LIFE. WOMEN are the reason we are here.
So, we showed up. We showed up and we marched. We marched in support of marriage equality, women’s reproductive rights, healthcare for all, protecting our environment, open immigration, safe havens for refugees, freedom from sexual harassment and rape culture, better education for generations to come, and respect and dignity for all minorities.
I LOVED seeing thousands of women (and some men) in the thick of it. There were ZERO incidents and I witnessed women of different sexual orientations, backgrounds and all walks of life come together, use their voices together and stand up to discrimination TOGETHER.
It was not in vein. Just because it’s over doesn’t mean it’s over. The privilege to march and protest was not missed on me and it shouldn’t be on you. It’s a revolution and it WAS televised.
If you are a part of the LGBTQ community, you should be very proud because WE were there in droves. Rainbow flags ripped in the wind right next to American flags and it was amazing to witness.
But the fight isn’t over. It’s only beginning and I implore you to stay informed while still maintaining a balance of how much you allow yourself to be inundated at the same time. You’ll burn out from scrolling and only internalizing the negative. There are still good things to come. At the march (and the protests this past weekend at the airports across the nation) we witnessed how when it matters most, we CAN come together and we will continue to do so. Keep the faith!
The revolution apparently WILL continue to be televised. Don’t just turn on the TV and watch. Join in. Make a difference. I did!
Bless Up,
Coach Kerri