I don’t know what comes next. I don’t know what to expect. It’s serious. It’s real this time. Prepare for the worst-case scenarios and do not assume anything. A lot has been said about how this administration plans to handle queer rights. It could mean anything. No level of institutional violence against trans people is off the table as of now. Medications can be banned, non-conformity with assigned roles can be criminalized, conversion therapy can be accepted as widespread policy. I don’t know. The end result is it’s not good. Whatever this change in power means for us, it’s not good. I don’t want to downplay the seriousness of what’s at stake here.

That being said, as escape and resistance efforts materialize, this community will support them. We will persevere as queer people have always had to. When the systems fail us, we rely on each other. Grassroots efforts will come together in the coming weeks and months. I encourage people to do what they think is right and to do what they think will keep themselves and their families safe. We have to stay together and we have to love and protect each other. No matter what happens. Unity and queer power doesn’t stop now. Today is a day to mourn the loss of a safe world for so many queer people. Tomorrow, we should begin to steel ourselves for resistance.

I hope the best for everyone. This community is here to support us all as this unfolds. I’m so sorry. I wish there was more I could say or do. The waves of anxiety and fear have been washing over me for the past couple of hours. Let’s mourn together, I guess. And get ready for what comes tomorrow.

There’s some crisis lines in the sidebar I encourage anyone to make use of if you’re unsafe right now. Those are all explicitly trans affirming support lines.

    • ToastedPlanetEnglish
      73·
      15 days ago

      Always remember that we had a democracy. Fascists took it from us by leveraging the flaws in our institutions to take power.

      The people who lie about our history do not value democracy, our freedoms, or us.

        • ToastedPlanetEnglish
          45·
          15 days ago

          America was a democracy, but we had late-stage capitalism that was terminal. Neoliberalism was the scam that conned generations of Americans into clinging to flawed political institutions and capitalism long after they had demonstrated themselves to be ineffective.

          Neoliberalism was so deeply rooted in the minds of the American people that they rejected socialism, the means of their liberation, without learning what it was and allowed fascism to flourish in their minds instead.

          But we aren’t all dead yet. So as long as people are still alive we can organize against fascism. It may even be possible to take our democracy back. A good place to start is to tell people how great socialism and democracy are.

            • ToastedPlanetEnglish
              8·
              15 days ago

              People can only hold one set of beliefs in their heads at a time. By not fully internalizing neoliberalism as a scam people are unable to internalize socialism as the answer to their problems. They can’t accept systemic change or wealth redistribution if their institutions are infallible.

              And with all the people pining for a dictator that agrees with them, democracy needs all the love it can get.

              What people need is organization and mutual aid to help them survive another Trump admin.

              Yes, because instead of socialism and democracy we got late-stage capitalism and christo-fascism.

              • knightly the Sneptaur@pawb.social
                2·
                14 days ago

                People can only hold one set of beliefs in their heads at a time.

                Republicans hold ten contradictory beliefs simultaneously and are immune to cognitive dissonance.

                • ToastedPlanetEnglish
                  2·
                  14 days ago

                  A lot of the contradictions are resolved by remembering the Republican party don’t want to lead, they want to rule. So Republican politicians say things like states’ rights when they are out of power in the federal government. Because they don’t want a Democratic Party administration to have power over their state. Then we they are in they power in the federal government they stop saying states’ rights because they want power over every state.

          • ToastedPlanetEnglish
            17·
            15 days ago

            If we lie about history we will be doomed to repeat it. We had a democracy and fascists took it. Organize to take it back. Tell people the truth so they don’t repeat the mistakes that got us here.

        • ToastedPlanetEnglish
          8·
          15 days ago

          No, it was a federal presidential constitutional republic which is a kind of democracy. The way a beagle is a kind of dog. Our democracy still intact until the inauguration at least.

          • fern@lemmy.autism.placeEnglish
            1·
            15 days ago

            So Bush winning in 2000 was a democracy, even though the popular vote was ultimately not a deciding factor? If a popular vote doesn’t determine if something happens, it cannot be a democracy.

            • ToastedPlanetEnglish
              1·
              15 days ago

              Our democracy is flawed because of its flawed political institutions such as the electoral college that enables minority rule. What you’re describing is know as direct democracy which is a kind of democracy.

              Even though we have representatives who vote on our behave that is also still democracy. Representatives are an innovation that allow democracies to scale to hundreds of millions of people.

              Disproportionate representation to small states however, is another example of a flaw in our democracy that causes it to favor minority rule. This favoring of minority rule is also part how we got here. We needed record breaking turnout to correct for this and we the people did not deliver that.

  • SlippiHUD@lemmy.worldEnglish
    80·
    15 days ago

    This feels as bad as the morning after in 2016 did. 2016 was shock and disgust, 2024 is horror and fear.

    • thrawn@lemmy.world
      71·
      15 days ago

      This feels worse.

      In 2016, I could at least rationalize that some people were voting for an outsider, a “billionaire” who promised to fight corruption in D.C. Anyone paying attention could see he was an immoral dipshit who was corrupt himself, but I could understand how he won.

      Now? We’ve all had years to see who he is, and if that wasn’t enough, to see his rapid mental decline. This time I don’t understand.

    • margaritox@lemmy.world
      35·
      15 days ago

      I feel like this is worse because more is at stake. I personally have a whole family in Ukraine and they’re terrified, as I am too.

  • ericatty@infosec.pub
    75·
    15 days ago

    My son and (trans) daughter in law were already talking about leaving the country if 45 became 47. At least our city is one of the safe areas (for now)

    I’m terrified for them and my friends/found family

    Mourning is definitely happening today.

  • mizuki
    36·
    15 days ago

    I haven’t even started my transition out of a deathly fear of judgement, but have been getting such severe dysphoria lately that I have almost become a danger to myself. Just knowing that half of America is ok with my rights being stripped from me is enough to stop me from transitioning, let alone all the incoming anti-trans laws. I don’t know what to do anymore.

    • SlyLycan@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      6·
      15 days ago

      Ya I feel you. I waited for a long time because it felt sooooo unsafe but it just got to be too much for me and when I medically retired I started. I’m still in the early enough stages that I could pass as masculine still, at least androgynous. I really don’t want to stop/pause but it’s definitely something I’m considering given the political climate. I wish you luck in however you decide. It hurts to be forced to be something you’re not for fear of being harmed.

      Be safe.

  • No_Ones_Slick_Like_Gaston@lemmy.world
    33·
    15 days ago

    My mantra today is “all things shall pass” and is a hard one today. Don’t want anyone to suffer, and likely we need to plan for that, mitigation and damage control.

      • dellish@lemmy.world
        4·
        14 days ago

        Not sure why you got downvoted. By the time you find out what they’re going to do to you, it’s too late. First comes the list, then the borders close, then you’re stuffed.

    • Hello Hotel@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      14 days ago

      don’t think I’m on it yet

      My state is usually a swing state, but was flooded with red this time, they celebrated our main issue being shot down, wording it to sound like a “no” vote was supporting the new law.

      Be careful of AI survailence cams and debit/credit transaction logs and phone based tracking. Im closeted but still have a few blips that make me nervious. Im unable to move somewhere else because my friends and famialy are all in golden handcuffs.

  • Elise@beehaw.org
    28·
    15 days ago

    Just cycled past this town hall in Belgium. Also lots of churches here hang the flag, including the progressive trans one. In other countries too. In the smallest towns to the biggest cities.

    I know that it might seem a bit mean of me to dangle this in front of you, but I just mean to say that there’s a way forward and hope.

    • LadyAutumnOPMEnglish
      51·
      15 days ago

      Donald Trump has aligned himself extremely closely with transphobic groups and policies. He has spread transphobic conspiracies. He has stated his intent to dissolve American democracy when he takes power. It’s great that she won her race. For most transgender americans the concern isnt political representation it’s their access to healthcare and their safety.

      • dandelionEnglish
        26·
        15 days ago

        nevermind the explicit plans to erase “transgenderism” from public life, which they might be positioned to do if they take the House and thus control all three chambers

    • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
      8·
      15 days ago

      There’s no silver linings or little victories here. Nothing progressives won last night matters at all. It can all be undone at the federal level, and will be on day one.

      The reason nobody’s talking about her is, if we can get them to forget she’s there, maybe she’ll get to live. But I honestly doubt it.

  • mossy_@lemmy.worldEnglish
    17·
    15 days ago

    Been up since 5AM when I woke up to check the results. Talk about a waking nightmare… Been seeing talk about local and grassroots movements in other posts and that sounds like the best option for self-preservation. I’m fortunate to live in a progressive oasis in a red desert, so I’ll have to find out what’s around me.

  • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.caEnglish
    13·
    15 days ago

    I’m not American and I wasn’t able to vote in any American election. However, my heart goes out to all of my American friends, especially those in any group which has been clearly targeted by the incoming administration. Including certain races/nationalities, and LGBTQIA+ persons.

    Stay safe, I’m sending you thoughts/prayers/vibes/whatever I can, hoping you will be safe throughout whatever comes next.

    You didn’t ask for it, you didn’t vote for it, you don’t deserve it. I’m angry that we find ourselves in this position. Much love for you all from Canada.

  • Cethin@lemmy.zipEnglish
    8·
    14 days ago

    Fascism hasn’t taken over yet, and just because the Fascists won the election doesn’t mean we should let them have it. Build a community that supports you and join mutual aid groups in your area. Don’t just accept that they won and let that be the end.

    We’re in a better place for more people than we have been in the past. Remember the sacrifices they’ve made to let us be in this world and fight in their memory. We can come out of this stronger than we were. It’s going to suck, but don’t let them take hope from you.