As most of you are aware, since Kamala Harris’s election loss (which trans people were not in charge of nor responsible for), Democratic politicians and pundits have been signaling that they plan to throw trans people under the bus. Sadly, this came to fruition last week, when Republican congressper...
I propose that on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 (the first day that both the House and Senate are back in session), all of us who are invested in this issue and have a platform (whether it be a blog, newsletter, column, podcast, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc.) publish a piece with the shared title: “LGBTQ+ People Are Not Going Back.” Yes, I know, it’s a cheesy title, but it holds Democrats accountable to their own talking points and makes it clear that backsliding on LGBTQ+ rights is nonnegotiable for us.
So... a blog post and social media campaign.
No fucking wonder we aren't getting anywhere. This is some tragically weak-ass protest action.
We need to get creative and we need to get into people's faces.
We need to set goals and consider sidelining a few issues that we're getting beat on.
We need to show our allies how they can help. Hitting 'like' on a social media post doesn't count.
So the plan is to boycott the Democrats because of all the terrible things the Republicans are doing, and keep boycotting the Democrats until they succeed in stopping the Republicans from dismantling trans rights?
The plan is to only boycott them if they ignore the campaign to pressure them to continue supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
The planned action is first to demand Democrats hold the line and continue supporting LGBTQ+ rights, and to threaten withholding votes if they don't comply.
From the article:
I am but one person and cannot speak for our entire community. But here’s what I propose in the spirit of Queer Nation, who in the 1990s carried out myriad protests under the same banner but with no singular leader or directive.
I propose that on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 (the first day that both the House and Senate are back in session), all of us who are invested in this issue and have a platform (whether it be a blog, newsletter, column, podcast, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc.) publish a piece with the shared title: “LGBTQ+ People Are Not Going Back.” Yes, I know, it’s a cheesy title, but it holds Democrats accountable to their own talking points and makes it clear that backsliding on LGBTQ+ rights is nonnegotiable for us.
What you write or say or express in your op-ed or article or video or podcast etcetera is up to you. I encourage you to make it personal and feel free to tailor it to your audience. My only request (other than all of us using the same title) is that you implore people to contact their Congressperson and Senators (and perhaps even local politicians) and tell them that 1) you will not tolerate any backpedaling on LGBTQ+ rights whatsoever, and 2) if they fail to strongly stand up against these attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, then you will take your vote elsewhere next election.
Protests are how you try to push the party to do what you want. If the only thing you do is vote then the only thing they need to work for is the bare minimum to get your vote. As you imply, democrats are the best for LGBTQ+ people, so they don't really get a voice when voting. In order to be heard you need to do more than just vote.
I don't know how common your idea of voting being the only form of civic involvement is, but it's horribly misguided. You hold your nose a vote for the best option, but you hold them accountable and try to get your goals furthered outside of voting. This is how it's always been. Please, do not tell people to stop asking for more again.
Your idea of not voting being the only form of civic involvement is breathtakingly counter productive. The more the right wingers win, the more the Democrats move right to win back what passes for centrists in the USA's horribly twisted version of democracy.