As election day nears in the United States it can be a stressfull, scary and anxious time for everyone. As such, the moderators and I felt it important to say a few words.
Remember that your voice is essential. Every vote counts, and showing up to the polls empowers our community and influences the change we deserve. If you have not yet voted, please ensure you have a plan.
The National Center for Transgender Equality offers an excellent checklist aimed specifically at trans voters. It contains instructions for what to do on voting day, as well as information to show to poll workers that advocates for your rights. Please print and carry the document with you.
Stay Safe While Voting
For those of you voting in person, prioritze your safety. Bring a friend if possible, stay aware of your surroundings, and remember it’s okay to leave and return another time if you feel unsafe. If you ever feel threatened, don’t hesitate to contact local authorities or seek a safe space nearby.
Crisis Support
If you or someone you know needs immediate support, here are some US-based resources (from GLAAD):
- The Trevor Project‘s 24/7/365 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) or TrevorChat, their online instant messaging option, or TrevorText, a text-based support option. If you are looking for peer support, you can visit TrevorSpace from anywhere in the world.
- Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860
We do not consider the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline a safe resource for the trans community due to their history of involving local law enforcement without the caller's consent, which can result in indefinite detainment.
Mutual Aid and Support
Reach out for support or mutual aid if you need it. This community is available to all who need to discuss issues, get something off their chest, or find support. We allow mutual aid requests with prior approval from the moderation team, so reach out to us. In addition, the following communities and resources are available for mutual aid or support:
- Blahaj has a community Matrix free for anyone to join.
- The Trans Housing Network Chat helps connect unhoused people, or people in unsafe housing, to those able to provide temporary shelter. Contact xilliah@beehaw.org to join.
- Mutual Aid Hub has a list of mutual aid resources across the United States
- The aforementioned TrevorSpace offers peer support globally
- If there are any other resources we've missed, please direct message me on Matrix @emily:mtrx.nz or leave a comment
The best mutual aid and support is local. We encourage everyone to research trans advocacy groups around them, local queer facebook pages, and keep connected with their community.
A Personal Note from Emily
As someone watching from Australia, I want you to know that you are not alone in this. The international community is watching this election closely, and most of us feel a deep anger that your rights can be and are on the ballot.
This specific trans community and each member is extremely important to me. You make the world a better place. I care deeply about your safety, your voice, and your wellbeing. No matter how things seem right now, know that there’s a global community standing in solidarity with you, holding hope, and offering support in every way we can.
Please stay safe, take care of yourself, and reach out for support when its necessary.
I just wanna go in on Tuesday, Vote, go to bed, and wake up several days later when it's all over so I don't lose sleep anxiously looking at results every few hours.
I'm mentally exhausted thinking about it constantly:
I literally came out to my parents about a week ago because of this question. I wish I'd done it sooner because I found that I'd been scared for mostly no reason. Furthermore, turns out 20-ish years of supressed dysphoria is reaaaally bad for your mood, self-worth, screws up your ability to function as a normal person and generally destroys your enthusiasm for life. Got used to it and didn't even realize I was experiencing it but coming out to my parents also caused all of that to come out too.
Uuuhh, anyway, I just kinda figured that, between domestic and foreign spying agencies, the US government probably already knew I was trans, even if my family didn't. As such, there wasn't any reason not to come out anymore; might as well go out waving my flag, yanno?
Yeeeeeah, it'd be nice, except I have the same boss as my dad. And we both sit within 10 feet of the water cooler. In an office full of old white dudes. Who have regularly made the classic sarcastic "i identify as" jokes.
I'm not particularly masochistic, nor do I want to potentially fuck over my own dad's retirement.
I'd rather be living in a different (and non-red) state where nobody knows me or him before I make any moves.
Oof, that sucks. I'm also in a deep red state, but I'm lucky enough to live in a city. It makes me sad that, even within our community, we have such radically different experiences with parents. If my dad was more emotive and my mom was more emotionally stable then I'd probably try roping them into being a mom and dad for the local LGBT and furry communities. Maybe some day.
Pretty sure my mom would be supportive and my dad would be indifferent-ish, just... don't want to deal with backlash in an area where EVERYONE knows him by name. Don't want him to have to deal with people talking behind his back.
Ohio isn't like, the reddest of red, but it's fairly up there. The KKK knows not to do things in public usually, and they get heavily counter protested if they do, and fuck me it's depressing to even be able to type that what the fuck...
Trump flags everywhere, coal-rolling jackasses with giant Trump flags, punisher flags/stickers, etc...
Sames, I went in for early voting tho, so I dodged the crowds, but those same questions have been keeping me up at night as well. I've been obsessively thinking about where I could possibly go if I wanted to keep being true to myself
I know it's probably unfounded, but i just don't trust mail-in voting this time around. Too much shit happened to USPS due to trump/DeJoy, and living in a hard-red state, I just don't trust that my vote would not be ignored.
I can't afford to go anywhere, I'm more or less fucked if he wins.
Depending on your state they do provide in person early voting alongside mail ballots. That's what I did, though they are often times in different locations than what you're told and you have to go looking
I Voted, yaaay! Promptly put two "i voted" stickers on my shirt over nipples when I got back to my car.