Our Next Move

We all have a lot of emotions surrounding our newest President-Elect. There's a whole lot of this shitstorm going around and it's really easy to get lost in the panic and fear and anger. I'm not going to say "oh it'll all be ok" because the truth is that there is a long journey ahead of us, but what I am going to say is that now is the time to use those feelings to propel ourselves into action. 

Stick with me here, there's a lot to cover. 

First off, if you are feeling overwhelmed, please ask for help. It's ok to take some time and unplug for self-care. If you are afraid that you may hurt yourself, please reach out to loved ones or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (They also have a chat function on their site in case you cannot speak on the phone). There is also the Trans Lifeline at (877) 565-8860 and The Trevor Project (LBGTQ+ youth) at 1-866-488-7386. If you are worried about someone, now is the time to reach out to them and let them know they are loved. A lot of people are feeling like half the country just told them they're monsters, so let's nip that in the bud and be the example of love we want to see in this world.

Feeling at least reasonably emotionally secure but still need something to help you move with this heavy weighted feeling? Read this article at Cracked that will help you remember that our core ethics still exist. Take a moment to recognize your feelings and acknowledge that it's ok to decide to forgive those who honestly mistakenly voted for Trump thinking it would bring them job security, or to be white hot with rage at voters for ignoring, tolerate, or even praising his awful rhetoric. It's also ok to hold both of these seemingly contradictory emotions in your head and heart at once. What's not ok is denying how you feel, letting it blind you or bring you down to their level. Let's channel that energy and put it to good use. Let's build a strong front on our own streets and help create the society we want to live in. 

Still with me? Let's look at some of our options. Please, don't try to take these all on. Find a cause that speaks to you, figure out how you can help, and do what you can. Everything here has a monetary, emotional, and/or time investment and I can't tell you what will work best for you. Know your limits on these things and how much you have to give, and know that no matter how large or small your contribution is, you're doing something. 

A few months ago, I did a fundraiser for Campaign Zero , and I still think they are one of the best organizations operating in the interests of the Black Lives Matter movement. They have a 10-point plan on their website that I highly encourage you to read (even if you do nothing else). It's so straight-forward and benefits police and civilians alike by limiting both the use of force and the situations that create those perfect awful storms we hear about far too often. They even have some really easy charts and infographics on their website as well as information on how to contact your legislators regarding issues they see as related to their cause (Racial Inequality, Police Conduct, etc). 

If you've never written an email or letter to your government representatives, it can seem like a strange or daunting thing. But time and time again people who work in those offices have emphasized the importance of receiving contact from the people they represent. Often organizations rallied around a specific cause will make it easy for you to find the proper government official and can often go so far as to have a template letter for you, but I encourage you to take an hour out of every month to do some research for yourself. There are some handy guides out there (like this one, this one, and even this one here with samples), but the important things to remember is to keep it to the point and avoid use of profanity or threats. That last bit is especially important because it gives them a reason to take your argument seriously rather than just throw it away or put you on some kind of watch list. Not sure who to write to? Here's a useful directory of government officials. 

If you or someone you love is Trans, you already have had to face some really frightening political battles that have huge impact on your life. Fucked as it may be, now is the time to make sure you have as many tools as you need to fight back, which includes getting a passport with your true gender and look into options as far as healthcare goes. The Mary Sue put together this article outlining how to get the ball rolling on that. Unfortunately, that takes money and is incredibly emotionally exhausting. If you are an ally, please be patient with your trans friends. Talk with them about the struggles they are facing and see what you can do to help - maybe you can help organize fundraising efforts or help in some tangible way, but more than anything be prepared to shut up and learn about a side of this world you've never seen. Educate yourself, learn about the microaggressions (and outright violence) that you don't even see, and figure out how to best combat those dangers. 

Speaking of speaking up, if you are able to I can't recommend enough attending some kind of bystander training. We all want to believe that when we see something happen, we'll stand up against it, but psychology tells us otherwise. Fortunately, this is easy to combat with some pretty basic training and awareness of the world around us. The first part of this is just to be aware of what's going on around us and pay attention to body language, especially when someone looks afraid. Check out this awesome graphic with some really helpful advice that is focused on Islamophobic Harassment but applicable to many other situations. Once you feel you are ready to get a little more hands on, check out your local colleges and community centers (including domestic violence shelters and outreach programs) to see who offers Bystander Training classes. Green Dot Etc is one of the largest organizations out there and has a very impressive list of places in Washington, but I'm unclear on whether these are places that provide training programs or merely showing that their staff is trained under the Green Dot curriculum. Find out what your local options are, get some friends together, and take a class. 

You look like you could use a break. Go take a few minutes and watch this video  about why the Wall probably isn't going to ever actually be built. Don't read the comments. 

Here's another easy one. Planned Parenthood has a whole section of their website labelled 'Get Involved' that is so easy you can feel like you helped within five minutes of clicking that link. 

Maybe local isn't your thing. Maybe you are worried about refugees against whom our President-Elect has already spoken vehemently against. Maybe you are seeing a frightening similarity to Hitler's rise to power. Well, if you want to take a stand with an organized effort that has existed since 1933 when Albert Einstein fled to America and asked a committee of 51 people he thought could make a difference to do just that. Thus, the International Rescue Committee was born and since then they have helped to "put humanity first". Seattle magician and events producer Evan Reynolds is holding a fundraiser on November 27th at the Phinney Ridge Community Center that is sliding scale donation and all-ages, if you want to just sit back and enjoy a magic show in the name of helping out. 

My resources are incredibly lacking as far as helping out the Islamic communities and environmental protection (although I'm a huge fan of Earthships), and I'm sure there are other issues that people are afraid of that I haven't even considered. In which case, the best advice I can offer is to do some research and share your knowledge. Follow links and make sure you are double-checking any non-profits with tools such as Charity Navigator. Look on Facebook events near you and see if anyone is organizing meet-ups or rallies (or organize one yourself!). Talk to your friends and maybe expand beyond your usual social circle. Decide what you are willing and able to donate - if it's your time attending events or volunteering, if you have money that you can contribute towards any of these groups, or if it's simply the energy to educate yourself and others about why these issues matter. 

Remember, we can make a difference. We can tighten our communities and help solve these issues together. It's going to be hard work, but if each of us does just a little part then we can keep pushing forward as one. We are stronger than the hatred that consumes our country. Let's prove it.