The Personal is Political

A little phrase that has become a bit of my personal motto is “The personal is political.” To some, this may sound a bit odd. For many, the personal and the political are two mutually exclusive things. However, for others, the case may be very different. I first became aware of this complexity as I began coming into my queerness years ago. I began to realize that no matter how much I did not want it to be, some fundamental and intrinsic part of who I am will be forever bound up in external conflict. In other words, for people like me, there is little to no separation between the personal and the political. This is something that is familiar to many queer people and to many people from other marginalized groups. Never has this been brought back into the spotlight like in this moment.

This year, pride month feels a little different. We are living in scary times: we have seen the continued rolling back of rights and the increase in hate violence in the preceding months and years. All across the country, including here in Texas, various bills are becoming law that seek further marginalize queer people. Most prominently, some states have enacted laws restricting or downright prohibiting gender affirming care for trans people. Gender affirming care is life saving care, and the data shows it. What is happening now is little more than backlash to the queer, and trans people in particular, have made in recent years. Many of these same states have also passed or are considering laws banning drag in public places, or in some cases, across an entire state. They seek to suppress a cornerstone of the culture of a community that was built in no small part by drag queens. They also seek to eliminate queer stories from public view. Whether by books bans or by “Don’t Say Gay” and its copycats, access to these stories has become ever more restricted. Ask any queer person, and they will tell you how important it is to see yourself reflected in someone else or in a story as you come into your queerness. All this is nothing more than recycled hatred.

Given all this, it is very easy to be disheartened. We live in a time where there are those who seek to use our identities against us. Things look bleak right now because, in many ways, they are. I know we almost certainly have some difficult days ahead. However, I also know that we are incredibly resilient, and we are here for each other. That is the only thing that is going to save us: each other.  Remember that this year as we celebrate Pride. I see you all, I love you all, and I celebrate you all.