Artículo publicado en Curve Magazine el 2 de diciembre de 2020

Now What?

Biden and Kamala have arrived to our lives.

Their arrival signals the return to the path of common sense and protection of all American citizens regardless of their skin color, culture, or sexual orientation.

Under Trump, those of us who truly love America felt ashamed for his lack of compassion and humanity. We were embarrassed of Trump’s constant disdain for the most vulnerable people in our society.

After much effort and investments to eliminate the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy, the Trump administration forced the LGBTQ+ military community to fear the possibility of hiding who they are again. Among Trump’s downfalls, we can include the sexualization and belittlement of women, including his own daughter; his cuts to social programs and the trim of the LGBTQ+ community’s dignity. It seemed that Trump set out to eliminate transgender people. As Human Rights Campaign President, Alphonso David put it “His intention is clear, by denying that we exist, the Trump Administration hopes to deny our equality.”

Hate and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people began long before Trump and Pence took office. Defeating the Trump-Pence presidency will not resolved LGBTQ+ issues, but it is a step in the right direction. It also marks the path towards equality and ending the hatred instigated by Donald J. Trump and Mike Pence.

In 2016, many of us thought Trump’s candidacy would not come to fruition given his lack of experience and education. But, we were wrong, and this nightmare of a presidency lasted way too long. The American people should have never consented to a heartless person representing the country’s home of the Statue of Liberty. I do hope we’ve all learned our lesson.

Love for your country must be above any political ideals and if your party’s leader is ending democracy and freedom, you must set the party aside so that it doesn’t end your country as well.

The Republicans, in an attempt to panic the masses, called Kamala Harris a radical socialist. First, we must understand what a socialist is and later define what radical means, so that we can understand what this really signify. Socialism is intended to achieve a more equitable distribution of wealth. One of the main pillars of socialism is to achieve a fair society for all. Radical means that it affects the fundamental part of an issue. If we put these two definitions together, we could say that: Kamala is a person seeking social justice from the foundation of the problem. Nothing to do with radicalism or communism as it is implied by the Republican Party.

A woman who advocates for equality between men and women and who fights for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, is someone who represents my values. Europe and other areas of the world, to the terror of the Republicans, is full of these “radical socialists”, a kind of demon that manifest it’s self in the bodies of many women: Carmen Calvo (Vice President of Spain), Angela Merkel (Chancellor of Germany), Jacinda Ardem (President of New Zealand) and Sanna Marin (President of Finland). For this reason, I wish there were more “radical socialists” like them, their presence would positively benefit all.

This election has demonstrated that society knows how to correct its mistakes. Mistakes that should have never happened if the population had taken Trumpism seriously and all the damage it could do to both the US and the rest of the world. What a pity… Now, after four years of abuse, intimidation, insults to women, homosexuals, transgendered people and all of those who opposed Trump’s views, the U.S. has finally said, enough!

Now what?

Joe Biden believes that every human being should be treated with respect and dignity. People should be able to live without fear, no matter who they are or who they love. During the Obama-Biden administration, the United States made historic progress toward LGBTQ+ equality, from repealing the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy and advancing LGBTQ+ rights at the federal level, to Biden’s historic statement in support of marriage equality.

Biden made this very clear when he declared, “No one should be fired, denied a home, or access to services because of who they are or who they love.”

—Joe Biden, 17 May 2019

Currently, a large number of LGBTQ+ Americans live in states that do not protect their civil rights. They may marry on Sunday and the next day be fired under state law because of who their partner is.

Biden-Kamala have the power to end the discrimination that the LGBTQ+ community suffers in almost every aspect of our lives. Discrimination can affect employment, military service, starting a family and even obtaining a driver’s license with the right gender indicator, to name some of the issues.

Biden has assured the Equality Act will be a legislative priority for all state agencies, in an attempt to end discrimination facing the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender Americans when seeking employment. Biden will also order the U.S. Department of Defense to allow transgender people the right to join the U. S. Armed Forces and be able to serve openly, receive necessary medical treatment, and be free from discrimination.

No doubt that Biden and Kamala have a lot of work ahead of them. They have the great challenge to ensure all people are treated with the respect they deserve. The journey will be long and hard, but the path has already been marked by Obama. Now we have to start taking steps in that direction. As Biden said, “We cannot rest until every American can live openly and proudly without fear.” Joe Biden, 12 October 2019.

#WeWontBeErased.

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