Fear

I am afraid.  Yes, afraid.  The recent national election has made me afraid.  As an American citizen, who has voted in twelve presidential elections, fear was not what I felt after the winner was decided---until this election.  The president-elect of our country has sowed the seeds of fear, hate, divisiveness, mistrust and anger throughout his run for the presidency.  His choice of advisers and confidants supports the rhetoric he spewed during the campaign.


I am afraid for every marginalized demographic that makes up this country of ours.  As president of Plymouth-Canton PFLAG, I am very afraid for all of my LGBTQ brothers and sisters.  The president-elect has said marriage equality has been decided, it is no longer an issue.  Yet, he chose for a running mate, a man who feels quite differently.  Let me explain.


Mike Pence,  now vice-president-elect of the United States, will have tremendous power in a Trump administration.  Bringing no governmental leadership experience to Washington, the president-elect will lean heavily on Pence to make government work.  Pence was a congressman from Indiana for ten years, followed by the governorship of Indiana.  His politics are very, very, conservative.  But more disturbing, his views on social issues are discriminatory.


Mike Pence is perhaps one of the most anti-LGBTQ evangelical Christian political crusaders to serve in Congress and as governor of a state.  As a member of congress, Pence supported "conversion therapy."  As a columnist and radio host, Pence said that marriage equality would lead to "societal collapse."  He called homosexuality "a choice."  Not allowing gay persons to marry wasn't biased, but was rather about compelling "Gods idea."  Mike Pence and Donald Trump have both said they plan to withdraw federal guidance to the states issued by the Obama administration protecting transgender students.


The assault on LGBTQ persons is underway.  The election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence signals the attack.


I am certain, fear will now be a prominent thread that makes up the fabric of American society.


George Belvitch
PFLAG