Purple Isn’t Good Enough Anymore
I started writing online (substack) two years ago absolutely distraught and grasping at words to make myself feel better – to find the glimmers of hope and comfort around me where I could. And so often the last two years I have found myself mute from exhaustion, from fear and from a feeling of hopelessness.
I am fortunate to live in a blue state (although looking at the election night map, I live in a state clearly bifurcated) and my small community has insidious undercurrents of racism, homophobia, strong transphobia, and serious classist elitism. I’m not sure it’s a red pocket – but it definitely has malignant red streaks running through it.
I battled a migraine all day to day and was this close to not attending the election party hosted by my local democrats to which I’d already bought tickets. But I felt a driving need to be with people tonight – to either celebrate or commiserate – and to be with my people. That is, people who champion the causes I champion and people who hold the same values I hold. (the blue wave energy cured my headache!)
I also needed to slough off the trauma of two years ago. I was in the same location with the same people, and we all suffered such an incredible loss. I cried myself to sleep that night and then hours later bawled again when I was awoken by fireworks – I felt unsafe and under attack. I was frightened by what the future would bring.
This is not the end of fighting for change. Far from it. In fact, a horrifically transphobic initiative is looking like it will pass here in Washington – in our blue state. So, while I am buoyed and heartened for all the progress made tonight, I am steeling myself for all that we still need to fight for. This is just one small step toward righting the transgressions and tragedies we’ve endured the last ten years. I am grateful for the energy this blue wave has incited and hopeful that we can harness it to keep going – to keep supporting each other – to stand up for what matters – and fight for who matters.
We are all in this together.
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