Summoning the fighting spirit on behalf of all who have gone before us.
I'm starting to hear grumblings from moderately conservative friends, and media outlets about the need to just "accept the outcome of the election and make the best of it". Many of us are being told that we are overreacting, being alarmist, and imagining worst case scenarios that "will never happen".
The uptick in violence, hate speech, and harassment towards people of color, queer folks, and Muslims has increased exponentially in just 48 hours. Pride flags are being burned on the front of folk's houses. Muslim women are getting their hijabs yanked off their heads as they walk down the street. Black folks are being called the N-word right out in the open. School children are chanting, "build that wall!" in lunchrooms.
Some folks are talking like these are just isolated incidents, and saying it will all die down soon. Let me tell you something….This is just the start. People feel emboldened by the acceptance of Trump as president. All of the ugly, hateful, horrible things he represents are now held up as an acceptable standard.
Guess what? Half of America isn't going to take it. We aren't going to accept this behavior, not when it affects us, whatever our "minority" group is, and not when it affects other decent, good people. We love each other, we are kind, and we are hopeful. We are united against this ugliness. We reject this new leader and what he stands for. We reject the hate.
But, oh, religious right, ultra conservatives, closet racists, radical right, media, and politicians – please don't mistake our message of love as weakness.
If you come for us, we will not go along quietly. We will not let you erase us. We won't let your hate go unnoticed, unchecked, unaccounted for. Do you know who you are dealing with? You are dealing with the grandchildren of the Black Panthers. You are dealing with the great granddaughters of suffragettes. You are dealing with the unwavering determination of the descendants of people like Cesar Chavez. You are dealing with the people who have the righteous rage of Malcolm X in their belly. You are dealing with the rag tag descendants of radical drag queens, hard-core dykes, vicious faggots, and tough as nails femmes.
I am Sylvia fucking Rivera. I am Leslie Feinberg. I am Harvey Milk. I am a warrior in lipstick, covered in glitter, a feral animal, an unstoppable glorious monster.
So, come for us, you filthy deplorables. You won't be met with acquiesced bowed heads, and shuffling feet. We are strong, and angry, and we will hit back hard. We are legion. You won't push us down. Not this time and never again.
About the author:
Marcie Killian Connnally writes the blog Mommie Queerest