Fight for Positive Change during the Global LGBTQ Backlash

A Prism & Pen writing prompt

What global backlash?

From the U.K. to Australia to India, and in much of the U.S., fierce opposition to LGBTQ equality is raging. Political repression is surging, and so is street violence, which has caught up several Prism & Pen writers recently, notably in the U.K.

The U.K. government is aggressively pushing measures to further marginalize transgender Brits — as every mainstream LGBTQ group pulls out of this summer’s government-sponsored equality conference in protest.

In the U.S., trans and gay people are being called “groomers” and predators in a wave of religion-based oppression that eerily echoes Anita Bryant’s harsh 1970s campaign. Trans youth and their families find themselves under withering, frightening fire.

In Australia, the government is pushing a law to let religious people discriminate against queer folks, especially trans people, and news reports are flooded daily with toxic messaging.

Queer people, family, and friends are asking ourselves what we should do. So, how about some P&P brainstorming?

I’m going to continue working to raise awareness, because solutions rest on understanding. During the AIDS crisis, our constant base strategy for creating positive change was helping people see the problem. Even though gay men and trans women were dying in frightening percentages, many people of good will didn’t understand how bad things were. Showing them the real human cost unleashed powerful support.

How does that work best today? What can you do to raise awareness? Got ideas?

But raising awareness isn’t a solution, it’s a necessary beginning. What else should we be doing? What ARE we doing? What are YOU doing?

I just interviewed a man who’s volunteering to mentor queer youth in an area where acceptance is low. He’s determined to be that one adult who makes a big difference one on one. Is that for you?

I know others who are entering politics or political/community organizing. Is that for you?

Friends of mine in New York City are taking to the streets again in protest. Is more street activism needed?

What are you doing? What do you want to be doing? What should more of us be doing?

I’m throwing out conversation starters. What do y’all think? If you write for Prism & Pen or you’ve ever wanted to, you’re invited to submit stories about how to Fight for Positive Change during the Global LGBTQ Backlash. That’s our writing prompt for the next two weeks. LGBTQ people, family, friends, allies — we can’t wait to read your stories!

Ready to write?

Please send in your essays, poems, short fiction, memoir, art reviews, or history. If you’re already working on something else, we welcome submissions about anything within our guidelines at any time.

If you’ve not yet written for P&P, here are our submissions guidelines and procedures:

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