Rea Carey: Dear President Trump
Dear President Trump,
We are LGBTQ people and we are resilient.
Having lived in Washington, D.C. since 1989, I’m used to the passing of the presidential baton from one party to another with opposing policy arguments and the requisite bipartisan banter. I’ve watched the ever-increasing polarization of American political parties, but your actions during the campaign and in these days leading up to Inauguration have demarcated an altogether different era. And while your tweets are headline news, we view them as harmful distraction away from what really matters: freedom, justice and equity for the people of this nation.
LGBTQ people and our families are part of every community in this nation and we are standing together. We stand with non-LGBTQ people. We resist your attempts through words or actions to dehumanize any of us, to discriminate against any of us just because of who we are. We have each other’s backs — an attack on any community is an attack on us all.
If Muslims are attacked, we stand together. If Black people are attacked, we stand together. If Jews are attacked, we stand together. If transgender people, or immigrants, or women are attacked, we stand together. If government workers are attacked, we stand together. If people with disabilities are attacked, we stand together.
Welcome to Washington. We are watching.
Rea Carey
Executive Director
National LGBTQ Task Force
@rea_carey
Read more Letters to Trump:
- A. Cornelius Baker, Citizen
- Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute
- Alexa Rodriguez, The Trans-Latina Coalition DMV
- Alicia Garza, Co-creator of the Black Lives Matter network
- André Hereford, Writer
- Ba’Naka, Duchess of Protocol
- Bernie Delia, Capital Pride Alliance, Inc.
- Cathy Renna, LGBTQ Activist
- Chris Allen, DC Log Cabin Republicans
- Clarence J. Fluker, Former Obama Appointee
- Dana Beyer, M.D., Gender Rights Maryland
- Danielle Moodie-Mills, Advocate, Writer and Strategist
- David Mariner, The DC Center
- David von Storch, President, UA Companies
- Emil de Cou, Pacific Northwest Ballet
- Eric Schaeffer, Signature Theatre
- Gil Steinlauf, Adas Israel Congregation
- Holly Goldmann, Capital Trans Pride
- Jeff Manabat, The Kinsey Sicks
- John Guggenmos, Small Business Owner
- Jose Carrasquillo, Freelance Theatre Director and Educator
- June Crenshaw, The Wanda Alston Foundation
- Kate Kendell, National Center for Lesbian Rights
- Mark Pocan, U.S. Representative, Wisconsin
- Mike Daisey, Author and Working Artist
- Mitchell Gold, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Home Furnishings
- Nicholas F. Benton, The Falls Church News Press
- Rayceen Pendarvis, Emcee, Entertainer, Activist
- Schuyler Bailar, First Men’s NCAA D1 Transgender Athlete
- Serge Seiden, Theater Maker
- Sterling Washington, Consultant, Musician
The opinions expressed in these letters are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organizations and this magazine, its staff and contributors.
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