Post-election thoughts on how to navigate through these unsettling times

It’s been a month since the election and we’ve had a chance to take a deep breath and calm down after what has been one of the most acrimonious and hate-filled elections in history. Unfortunately there has been little calm; many people are feeling angry and frustrated, as evidenced by the numerous protests and demonstrations by people who fear for their rights and safety. And on the other side, Trump is preparing for his presidency and his supporters are busy mounting boycotts against any and all companies which dare to speak out against Trump or voice their support for human rights. The nation is as divided as ever, with no end in sight.

Along with the majority of American voters, I voted for Clinton, yet she lost and we are faced with the prospect of four years of a Trump Administration which has been very vocal against the LGBTQ community and promised to revoke the rights and protections we’ve gained during the Obama Administration. But the reality is that it’s not even certain whether Trump will actually take office next month due to numerous recounts and questions about his many businesses which create a conflict of interest that many deem unconstitutional. I can easily see a scenario in which many states will do recounts, along with lawsuits seeking to overturn the election results, with the end result being that this will be tied up in the court system for a long time.

But in the meantime, Trump is assembling his staff and so far his choices have done nothing to ease our fears. He is putting together a staff of people who have been very vocal in their opposition against the LGBTQ community and their voting records show a history of voting for legislation which takes away our rights and protections against discrimination. This is a scary and troubling time for many of us, but even though the situation may appear pretty grim right now let’s not lose hope. While it’s easier said than done, we should try to keep an open mind and give Trump a chance. History has shown that many of the promises made during an election campaign are never carried out. But having said that, we need to be proactive and do what we can to ensure our wellbeing before he takes office. We should hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

One of the main things to get done as soon as possible is to get all your identification documents such as birth certificate, driver’s license, Social Security card, and passport updated with your correct name and gender. There is already a backlog of requests for these services so the sooner you can get started the better. Getting a name change is a simple legal procedure that should not be affected by the new administration’s policies. Below are a few resources with information for getting your identification updated:

http://www.lambdalegal.org/
http://www.transequality.org/
https://transrelief.com/

One of the main issues a lot of people are concerned about is Trump’s promise that that the first thing he will do when he takes office is to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, which many of us depend on for our healthcare. Thankfully he seems to be backing down from this threat and is taking a more cautious approach, partly because there are some within the GOP who question the wisdom of doing this without having a new plan to replace it. As Sen. Lindsey Graham, the Republican Senator from South Carolina stated, “The flaws in Obamacare are obvious to me. The solutions are much harder.”

Even with all the criticism about the Affordable Care Act, the fact remains that the majority of Americans overwhelmingly support most of Obamacare’s key provisions. A survey released last Thursday by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that only about one in four Americans wants President-elect Trump to entirely repeal the Affordable Care Act that extends coverage to millions. So contrary to what you may hear, there is not overwhelming support for a repeal. And even if Obamacare is repealed, it is likely that it won’t take effect immediately. GOP leaders are working on a plan to vote to repeal the law in early 2017, but delay the effective date for that repeal for as long as three years. So the likelihood that we would lose our coverage anytime soon is very slim.

The bottom line is that the Affordable Care Act is a complex set of laws which are interconnected with other laws and provisions, and to repeal it would not be a simple matter. Repealing the law could create an imminent solvency problem for Medicare, which many Senate Republicans say is something they’re not ready to deal with, as well as destabilizing the healthcare industry and the insurance industry. There is a great deal at stake, and Trump has a lot to lose if he rushes into this and screws it up.

Another issue we need to be prepared for is a surge of legislation at the state level aimed at taking away our rights and protections against discrimination. We’re already seeing this in Texas with the announcement by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick that Texas plans to introduce a bill similar to North Carolina’s controversial HB 2. Stay informed about what’s happening in your state and just as importantly, voice your opinions to your legislators.

And lastly, please be safe. Since the election there has been an increase in attacks against the LGBTQ community. It almost feels like the conservative haters now feel empowered to come out and be more aggressive now that their guy has been elected. It’s sad that we as a community feel such fear for our safety, but this is the reality of our life in America now. We can’t afford to not be vigilant and proactive.

• Be aware of where you are and your surroundings. Know where Safe Spaces are located.
• If something doesn’t seem right then it probably isn’t. Trust your gut instincts.
• Be aware of the people around you.
• Don’t go out alone if you can help it, and let people know if you are going out.
• Consider carrying Pepper Spray or other devices to ward off an attacker.
• Take a self-defense class to learn how to defend yourself.
• Check in with the people you care about and make sure they are okay. We need to be as supportive as we can for each other.

And lastly, try to remain positive and not lose hope. Even though there is ample reason to be concerned, nothing bad has happened yet. We need to see how all this plays out and then act accordingly. We as a community are here and we aren’t going away. We can’t be pushed aside and made to feel irrelevant. We have many allies and many strong people who are voices for our community. We may be in for a struggle, but it’s nothing we can’t overcome if we continue to work together to fight for what is right.