Facing The Long Dark Night

The energy in the air feels--weird. After over a year of unspeakable violence that I know I will never be able to fully comprehend, a ceasefire for Palestine has been solidified. In America, the 28th Amendment (“The Equal Rights” Amendment) has been put in place--guaranteeing equality for all men and women and legally making gay marriage a protected right and solidified in the constitution. These are wins, more wins that it feels like we’ve had in the past few months. 

But the dark cloud that is the inauguration of the Tangerine looms over most of the nation. If Monday wasn’t happening--the former mentioned breaking news would feel more joyous. Yet, it isn’t hitting the same. It’s just not. And I know a lot of people instead are feeling dread, fear, and anxiety that almost feels isolating. It feels traumatic. 

I get it. I survived the first four years of 45’s rule as a queer, bigender, trans, polyam, and autistic human. I began speaking out against his rise to power in 2015, and have participated in anti-deportation protests, spoke at a Roe VS Wade call to action the day the repeal broke, and testified in support of making Kansas City a Sanctuary city for tans folk. My partners have made sure I had their phone numbers written on my body, in case anything happened to me as a speaker at “The March for our Lives” and we had to safely escort a group of speakers to safety at a BIPOC Gender Justice rally after it was reported someone had a gun and the cops showed up. So I have an idea of what the next four years will look like. I know this dance. 

I hate that we are here again…but despite it all, I still believe we can turn this shit around. I know my own community, and have seen the beauty and strength of other marginalized activist groups. We are built to survive. We have survived before, and we will survive again. The love and support we have for each other will outlive their hate. I know this. And history also states thus. 

It takes a long time: but evil does fall. It always does. The snake will eat its own tail, because when all you can do is hate and destroy--you end up destroying yourself and your allies from the inside out. These people don’t know how to play nice and not let their egos get in the way, even with each other. I am not saying this won’t be difficult, and tough, and scary, and fucking sad. But I promise you: it will come to an end one day. These monsters will fall. But we have to survive until then. 

As someone who has done this dance before, I offer my advice, as we turn to face the dark night, to fight for the light. 

1. Listen to marginalized groups and their experiences 

This is going to be a BIG one. It’s why I put it first. You have not lived through all the things other people have. The only way we are going to survive this is if we all listen to each other, ask each other how we can help best, and then do that thing. We have to be united as a community. We have to help out other activist groups. We cannot just focus on our own struggles. Unity is important. That is how we are going to survive this, and possibly even come out better. 

2. Mutual Aid will be Pivotal 

Help where you can. If someone needs food, and you have a spare can of soup, give it to them. If someone needs a ride to work, and you can help them, help them. We will have to build systems of aid in these hard times. We will have to also get used to asking for help, and giving help, when we can. 

3. Get involved locally 

Mutual aid also means helping your local marginalized groups. Look for your gender justice groups. Your locally run food banks. Your BIPOC rights educators. Ask how you can help and give aid. And if they offer to speak to you, and educate you, LISTEN and try to compensate them for their labor they are giving you. It’s an honor to hear of others' experiences. Don’t disrespect that privilege. 

4. Learn when to Shut the Fuck Up

MAGA will be going after immigrants and other marginalized folk (especially activists and queer/trans folk). As of right now, you don’t know any undocumented immigrants. If anyone asks, you don’t know about this blog. You don’t know of any activists. Shut the fuck up. This will probably be one of the of the most VITAL skills in the next few years. 

5. Stay Hopeful and Don’t Give Up

Doomerism is not an option here. We have our younger generations to fight for. Our community, ourselves. 45 and his cronies want us to give up. We are powerful when we resist and speak out against hatred. It’s why they are so dead set right now on destroying things like Tik Tok, a valuable info spreading platform. There is power in our voice, and in our actions. Fight for a better future. Don’t fall into pessimism. Fight for a better tomorrow. Don’t give up. 

6. Make Future Plans and Celebrate the Small Things 

Fight for your happiness. It’s important to do things that make you happy and to make future plans that are positive. Not taking care of yourself and not celebrating the things that are good, can feed into burnout. Being angry can be a force for good, but being that way all the time, on a biological level alone, is not good for you. So seriously, any small thing that is good, celebrate it. And make plans to get coffee with friends, celebrate Pride, participate in Juneteenth. Having good morale DOES GENUINELY HELP. 

I hope this helps anyone who needs direction right now. And again, I say as someone who has survived this before as a participating activist: we will get through this. We will get through this together. And now, I want to tell you the most important thing: 

Your presence matters. I love you. Please stay. And please, please keep resisting.