Where do we go from here?

With major election news that was anything but joyful, there is—and always will be—a place for good queer news. Here's what you need to know.

Here is a picture of Good Queer News’s Chief Barketing Officer, Oliver. He is protecting his babies (the only type of toy he will not destroy) just like he will protect all of us (in spirit. He is 17 pounds but will try his best)

Hey, reader. It’s been a long night, and a night that ended with terrible, somber news about the U.S. Presidency. People are waking up, looking around, and feeling totally unmoored. Where do we go from here? I want to get this out quickly, so here is a list of reminders and things I’m doing today, and every day for the next four years. Breathe. Remember: a better world can be built, but it cannot be built alone.

1. Staying alive. With every ounce of willpower I have, I am choosing to stay alive. I must be here to fight for my community, to fight for a better world, and to see the day when we are free from tyranny and fascism. I need you to stay alive, too, even if it’s just out of spite right now. If you’re struggling to make that choice, reach out.

2. Staying grounded. Yes, a Trump presidency will be bad. But it will not be immediately rounding people up, mass violence, January-20th-world-ending bad. Federal government moves slowly, and many of his offhandedly bigoted comments about mass deportations and the like were made without any feasible path to actually happening. As new threats and challenges come up, we will have time and ability to prepare to fight them.

3. Connecting to my queer history. Queer history is not prioritized in our schools, is not handed down to baby gays upon coming out, and so it’s easy for some folks to forget that we have been here before. The trans and queer community has been a target countless times in human history. Each and every time, we have banded together, we have organized and fought and taken care of each other, and we have survived. We will do it again. Consider checking out a book like Transgender Warriors by long-time activist Leslie Feinberg.

4. Resting and feeling my feelings. I have lots of actions planned, ways to support my community, but I also know that this race has weighed heavily on me for months. We need to give ourselves space to grieve, rage, cry, any and everything (except give up!)

5. Staying alive. Did I mention this already? The game is not over. I’ve spent the past 5 years living in Missouri—a state with a far right supermajority hellbent on attacking my community. And yet, there is a vibrant, joyful trans community here that is connected and organized to take care of each other wherever we can. We can live. We have to live.

6. Checking on my trans friends. Once this newsletter goes out, I will be reaching out to every trans person in my contacts list with love and support. This community has been one of the most targeted throughout this election—the Trump campaign spent over 200 million dollars on anti trans advertising, more than every other issue combined! For a lot of people, it doesn’t feel good to be a trans person right now (or a member of many, many other targeted groups this election). Send some extra love towards your people.

7. Getting Connected. One of the biggest lessons my time in Missouri has taught me is that a better world cannot be built alone. The answer to the next four years cannot be to put our heads down and get through it. Heads up. Eyes wide open. Think of your biggest emotion right now, and choose one organization to get involved with to channel that emotion.

   1. Is it anger or fear about the rise of Christian Nationalism? Let’s get involved with Americans United for Separation of Church and State—a major organization that’s been around for decades. Next week, they’ll be holding an event about what their major threats and plans are moving forward.

   2. Is it fear for your LGBTQ+ loved ones (or self)? Join up with a local PFLAG chapter. With over 400 chapters nationwide, PFLAG is an outstanding resource for queer folks and allies to build community, access resources, and make change on a state and local level. Many chapters (including my own here in St. Louis) are very, very involved in advocacy and help our members do the same.

   3. Is it righteous fury about attacks on bodily autonomy and women’s rights? Find your statewide abortion action organization, or organizations like planned parenthood, and sign up to volunteer as a clinic defender. Ask what actions they’re taking and how you can be a part of it.

   4. Is it fears about isolation or the cost of living, for yourself or your community? Join or start a local mutual aid network. Here’s a non-exhaustive list. Pick a fun, easy recipe, and host a dinner party for people you care about.

   5. Confusion about how your own neighbors/neighborhood could be falling for some misogynistic, racist, transphobic campaigning? Join an organization like Red, Wine, & Blue to learn how to get through to the people in your community.

   6. Fear for the climate? Join a climate advocacy or support organization. Whether it’s policy advocacy like the Climate Action Network or a local action group like the St. Louis Neighborhood foresters who do tree planting and maintenance of the urban canopy.

   7. If there are other fears or feelings that you have, put them in the comments of this post and I will include even more resources for ways to get involved.

There will always be queer people. We will always be fighting for a world that’s even better than the one we live in today, or yesterday, or 20 years ago. With these two facts as unquestionable truths, I can say confidently that

There will always be more Good Queer News to report on.

Don’t try to go through the next few days alone, folks. I’m right here with you. Connect with your people. Do a puzzle. Go for a walk. Play the new Zelda game. The world will keep turning. We will keep living. We will keep fighting. The only way is forward, and so we will walk together.

With love and strength,

Ben