A letter to LGBTQ+ youth
Dear LGBTQ+ youth,
After it was announced that former President Donald Trump would be the next president, I know that fear was felt throughout the community.
Trump has made it clear that he will not protect our rights, and in reality will take them away. He has continuously spread false narratives about the community, specifically trans people.
I feel scared as a lesbian woman in this country, and I know that I am not alone in that feeling.
After he secured the presidency, it felt like there were so many things that were out of our control, including our own basic human rights. However, the one thing we can control is the ability to keep fighting and to keep our voices heard.
As a newsroom that has many members of the LGBTQ+ community, we feel this too. While we are tasked with providing election coverage, we feel this at the human level because these decisions also impact our livelihood.
Now, more than ever, is the time to make our voices heard. For people who can’t use their voices due to an unsafe environment or who aren’t out yet, we will make sure to keep this administration accountable for its actions. I promise to continue to fight for you, so one day you can live authentically as yourself.
While I don’t know your specific situation, I know what it is like for the people who say they love you to actively vote against you. It is a reality that is far too common for many queer and trans people.
But you are not alone, and there is a community of people who will fight for you. Do not give up because the fight is far from over, and your light is needed in this world.
Kaia Zimmerman is Central Michigan Life’s Sports Editor.
