Four Years Later
Four years ago, I wrote How I Felt As a White Straight-Passing Bisexual Millennial Sexual Assault-Surviving Woman on Election Night in America. At the beginning of that piece, written for my own catharsis at the time, I said that I was tired, “the kind of exhaustion you feel when you’re inching toward the finish line only to discover you have ten laps to go.” I’ve now come to terms with the fact that we as a nation have many, many laps ahead, including those set in place by the Trump administration. In the weeks leading up to Election Night 2020, I watched as gay couples rushed to get married, afraid that their right to do so would be ripped away from them. I navigated the Healthcare Marketplace, putting in my application early in case the Affordable Care Act was repealed. I watched as COVID-19 continued to take the lives of artists and doctors and teachers along with all work they could have done, all the lives they could have continued to enrich, if they only had more time.
Despite the obstacles that at times seem insurmountable, despite the pushback on democracy from the opposition, despite the divisiveness of our nation, my prevailing feeling this morning is hope. President-Elect Joe Biden has proven himself to be a good man time and time again. I believe that he will live up to his promise of being a president for all Americans. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris has broken glass ceilings, arming female and BIPOC Americans with power through representation. Yet as I try to remain steadfast in my hope for the future, I also urge the people of this great nation to not get caught up in the illusion of safety and allow themselves to become complacent. The hard work isn’t over; it’s just beginning.
The reality is that even though President-Elect Biden won both the popular vote and the electoral college, Trump received approximately 7.5 million more votes in 2020 than in 2016. (Probably more. At the time of publication, the votes are still being tallied.) Over 70 million Americans believe that after all we’ve been through, Donald Trump should remain President of the United States. I’ve spent the past few years trying to understand the point of view of Trump supporters. I want to at least be able to step into their shoes and see the future of America that they envision. I think the majority of people who voted for Trump genuinely want what they think is best for our country. What I don’t understand is how a U.S. military veteran could vote for a man who referred to fallen soldiers as “suckers” and “losers.” I don’t understand how an immigrant who came to this country in search of a better life could cast their ballot for an administration that is separating children from their parents at the border. I don’t understand how a woman could ignore the fact that this administration has been trying to oppress women by making obscene comments and stripping them of certain rights. I don’t understand how anyone could be in support of taking away rights and opportunities instead of engaging with new ideas and possibilities to make life better for more people.
I have faith that we may be able to come together to make this nation a better place for all Americans. It may not be today, and it may not be tomorrow, but eventually we will be able to look each other in the eyes and listen. Biden wrote in his book Promise Me, Dad a piece of advice from his father:
“Never tell a man what his interests are. Be straight and open with him about your own interests. And try to put yourself in his shoes. Try to understand his hopes and his limitations, and never insist that he do something you know he cannot. It’s really just about making the effort to make a personal connection.”
I feel that part of my purpose, and the thing that drives most of my actions, is the desire to identify the connective tissue that brings people together. It’s why I’m drawn to theatre, writing, sociology, and human interest stories. To know that we will soon be led by a president who is stirred by a similar instinct makes me feel like I can release into a deep exhale. I will be heard. You will be heard. We will all be heard.
Four years ago, I pledged that through all the struggles and embarrassment our country would face, I would continue to create art, lead with love, and live my life. There are people in this country who still hate me, hate my political affiliation, hate my sexuality, hate my gender. I’ll keep being brave. I’ll keep doing my best to bring about positive change. I’ll continue to support organizations that are dedicated to work I care about, like Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight and the ACLU.
I believe so strongly in the progress we’ll be able to achieve under the courageous leadership of Joe Biden, a man who is not perfect, but who is willing to work with individuals from both sides of the aisle and everywhere in between. All of our problems aren’t going to magically dissolve, but I am confident that if we keep up the momentum of actively fighting for what we believe in, the next four years will push us in the direction of equality, justice, and a more perfect union.
