So what do we do now?
Obviously, having the presidency, the House, and the Senate all go red is a frightful occurrence for many of us. My Facebook and my LJ are awash with fear and anger, from people who have good reason to fear and be angry.
There have also been a lot of people asking, "So what do we do now?"
Most of these people aren't fighters. Those of us who are, well, most of us already have our chosen organizations to work with, and if not, we know how to find them.
One of the plans I've quietly set into place is that of having my guestroom available as a landing place, so to speak. Many of my friends are LGBT or disabled or both, and many of them live in red states where the repeal of the ACA will leave them without any kind of healthcare and not eligible for Medicaid. As I live in California, and specifically in a cosmopolitan part of California where being LGBT is comparatively safe, I've set out the invitation: if you know me and you need to flee, for your safety or your medical coverage or to protect the legality of your marriage, or to make sure your partner will be treated as your next of kin/power of attorney in time of need, or any other reason, I will put you up in my guest room until you can get hooked up with the various social services if you're eligible or for a couple weeks to find a place to live if you aren't. (Due to the fiance's allergies and our dogs, we can't accept any pets, unfortunately. Have to keep my family healthy to do anyone any good.)
But my setting out this offer for my friends is a small thing, and one that...I think it's a step in the right direction, but perhaps not one that will end up actually being useful.
It occurs to me that one of the things we need right now is a network that makes this sort of thing possible. The thing about this offer I've put out is that the most vulnerable often can't afford to flee. The cost of getting out of where they are is more than they have. So what is needed, in addition to other landing places in safe places like my house in California, are waystations. People who will put you up for the night, feed you, and maybe even put some gas in your car to help you keep going. For people who can't put folks up, donating towards gas and food and moving expenses (possibly trains or flights for folks who don't drive) would also be deeply necessary to this plan.
What do you guys think? I don't know of any organizations doing anything like this, so I think it's something important and needed. If you've got ideas to add, I'm all ears. If you know people who might like to be part of this, great. If you want to be part of this, wonderful. I....well. I probably shouldn't be the person running this, I don't have the kind of connections this wants for, but maybe I can trade on my having worked with the Mazzoni Center in Philly to get people to help.
I'll be doing things locally as well, possibly working with the local Lambda Legal office if they want me and I can get my body to behave, but I think that this needs to happen, too.
There have also been a lot of people asking, "So what do we do now?"
Most of these people aren't fighters. Those of us who are, well, most of us already have our chosen organizations to work with, and if not, we know how to find them.
One of the plans I've quietly set into place is that of having my guestroom available as a landing place, so to speak. Many of my friends are LGBT or disabled or both, and many of them live in red states where the repeal of the ACA will leave them without any kind of healthcare and not eligible for Medicaid. As I live in California, and specifically in a cosmopolitan part of California where being LGBT is comparatively safe, I've set out the invitation: if you know me and you need to flee, for your safety or your medical coverage or to protect the legality of your marriage, or to make sure your partner will be treated as your next of kin/power of attorney in time of need, or any other reason, I will put you up in my guest room until you can get hooked up with the various social services if you're eligible or for a couple weeks to find a place to live if you aren't. (Due to the fiance's allergies and our dogs, we can't accept any pets, unfortunately. Have to keep my family healthy to do anyone any good.)
But my setting out this offer for my friends is a small thing, and one that...I think it's a step in the right direction, but perhaps not one that will end up actually being useful.
It occurs to me that one of the things we need right now is a network that makes this sort of thing possible. The thing about this offer I've put out is that the most vulnerable often can't afford to flee. The cost of getting out of where they are is more than they have. So what is needed, in addition to other landing places in safe places like my house in California, are waystations. People who will put you up for the night, feed you, and maybe even put some gas in your car to help you keep going. For people who can't put folks up, donating towards gas and food and moving expenses (possibly trains or flights for folks who don't drive) would also be deeply necessary to this plan.
What do you guys think? I don't know of any organizations doing anything like this, so I think it's something important and needed. If you've got ideas to add, I'm all ears. If you know people who might like to be part of this, great. If you want to be part of this, wonderful. I....well. I probably shouldn't be the person running this, I don't have the kind of connections this wants for, but maybe I can trade on my having worked with the Mazzoni Center in Philly to get people to help.
I'll be doing things locally as well, possibly working with the local Lambda Legal office if they want me and I can get my body to behave, but I think that this needs to happen, too.