Lepers or Loved: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings

Summary

The website content reflects on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community, particularly in the U.S., in the wake of political and social adversity, and calls for local-level activism and storytelling to foster acceptance and support.

Abstract

The article "Lepers or Loved: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings" discusses the hostile political climate experienced by the LGBTQ community in the U.S., marked by a legislative onslaught and a rise in suicidal calls among queer youth. It contrasts the conservative pushback with the potential for local activism, as inspired by a conversation with a Lambda Legal child advocate. The piece also criticizes some liberals and progressives for their dismissive attitudes towards queer issues. The author emphasizes the importance of LGBTQ visibility and allies' support, inviting writers and artists to contribute their voices to the Prism & Pen platform, which has already published several related pieces.

Opinions

The author views the past year as particularly difficult for U.S. queer people due to legislative challenges and a rise in calls from distressed LGBTQ youth.
There is a critique of Donald Trump Jr.'s anti-trans rhetoric and its role in inciting the insurrectionist mob.
The author expresses frustration with self-identified liberals and progressives who mock or marginalize LGBTQ people and issues.
The piece conveys optimism about the potential impact of local activism and community support, as exemplified by the ideas shared by a Lambda Legal child advocate.
The author suggests that the U.S. could follow the U.K.'s path in political hostility towards trans people if action is not taken.
The call to action for LGBTQ people and allies to contribute stories, essays, and art to Prism & Pen indicates a belief in the power of storytelling to effect change.
The author implies that the future of the LGBTQ community, in terms of being accepted ("Loved") or further ostracized ("Lepers"), hinges on the actions taken by individuals and the broader society.

A Prism & Pen writing prompt

Queer Solidarity photo licensed from Adobe Stock

Just over a year ago, a mob descended on the U.S. Capitol in an effort to destroy democracy — to establish or maintain rule by a white, straight, cisgender, conservative Christian minority. Racist flags waved beside Christian flags as Donald Trump’s son fired up the crowd with some old fashion trans bashing.

2021 became a legislative annus horribilis for U.S. queer people, on the state level where it matters most given Congressional paralysis. By autumn, The Trevor Project was forced into emergency fundraising to cope with an unprecedented wave of calls from suicidal queer youth in red states.

Will we be loved this year or will we be lepers?

Just before Christmas, I spent an hour with a Lambda Legal child advocate who fired me up with brilliant ideas about how LGBTQ people and allies can fight for love on the local level. I’m writing that story now.

I’m writing another story too, about how I keep seeing self-identified liberals (and even progressives!) treating queer people liked embarrassments. A popular liberal political writer on Medium published a story recently mocking our acronyms. He repeated transphobic lies from the U.K. that we’re trying to ban the word “mother” and force other cultural absurdities on “normal” people.

If conservatives are winning, it’s you queer people’s fault, he implied.

In the U.K. trans people already have no mainstream political home. The Liberal Party have dumped them overboard and the Tories … well, Trump’s pal Boris is still in charge, still spreading hatred and chaos, and trans folks are running for cover.

Are we headed that way in the U.S.? It feels like it sometimes as straight white liberals wish out loud we queer folk would sit down, shut up, and know our (second-class) place.

Loved or Lepers: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings

That’s our Prism & Pen prompt for the coming two weeks. I’m writing BOTH stories I mentioned above. What about you? Where do YOU think we’re headed, and what do YOU think we should do?

Just because I’m writing with a U.S. spin doesn’t mean you should. No matter where you live, we want to amplify your queer or queer-allied voice. Loved or lepers? What’s to become of us in these perilous times as Christian conservatives and racists fight to destroy democracy?

Lepers or Loved: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings

A Prism & Pen writing prompt

Trump Jr’s Anti-Trans Rant Riled Up Insurrectionist Mob

As he pandered to Christian hatred

Will we be loved this year or will we be lepers?

Loved or Lepers: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings

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Stories so far →

You Should Feel Sorry for Trans Critics Because Their Hearts Are So Small

Lepers or Loved: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings

Our Queer Future Is Already Here

It’s just not very evenly distributed

Get Fired Up! Top Five Ways YOU Can Help LGBTQ Kids!

Says Lambda Legal youth advocate Currey Cook