Why the LGBT Community Will Survive Donald Trump

This election cycle has been traumatic. We have experienced the broad separation of our country. Families have been separated over the values that people held as the most important.

For those of us in the LGBTQ community, this election can leave us feeling disenfranchised, unappreciated, and disposable. We have had to survive through so much. We know that there are so many who came before us, who had to fight so that we can live the lives that were living today. I understand the fear, hopelessness, and hurt that comes out this election.

Whats made it even harder is that weve seen many of our loved ones blow off the struggles that weve faced. This has put the walls right in front of us between us and them. We can feel that our basic human rights are secondary to making a statement against Washington.

Its difficult to avoid feeling sorry for ourselves on a day like today. Its also difficult to not feel a level of deep betrayal, which cuts to the core from those who we counted on. We had a lot to lose here.

But we have to remember one important thing. The majority of the country voted on our side. It might feel like only a consolation prize today, but for tomorrow, its so important. Even in this system. Even in this climate. Our rights were recognized as incredibly important. We should never forget that.

Hold onto your importance.

Heres what Ive reminded myself today. For every person who carelessly voted for Donald Trump , and put on blinders to my human rights, there were more friends who recognized the importance all along. They dont only see us as human. They dont view it as a generous chore to accept us. They just accept us because were worth accepting. That can be hard to remember today, but we have to keep centering ourselves to that.

The hope doesnt end there. Theres a number of people who will support us, but who we dont even know. Theyre growing up under the care of our friends who continue to teach them about the beauty of treating people with love. They arent using religion as a weapon. They dont judge us. They just see and hear us.

Im not saying we have to just sit and wait for this. Its all around us now. We just have to look for it and remember that its there. Especially right now. Times like this can make us search for whats not there, and theres a lot thats missing. We have a long way to go. But a Donald Trump presidency wont erase what we have, no matter what laws pass.

So its not over. This fight for our own dignity has just begun. Unless we let one election defeat us.

That which I am not willing to do.