Last year when businessman and real estate mogul Donald Trump announced he was running for president of the United States, I, like a lot of Americans, was caught off guard. I thought it was a joke at first — I mean, this man has no prior political experience — and I was genuinely surprised at his continued success in the polls. Soon, as stories about the Republican candidate began to surface, I realized this was not a joke; in fact, there was nothing funny about this situation. My humor quickly turned to fear as I came to understand that my country could end up being led by a man who is known to have deeply-rooted racist, sexist, homophobic, and islamophobic views.
Now, I recognize that as Americans we are fortunate enough to live in a country where our voices count and are heard. I recognize that for a lot of people, myself included, neither candidate seemed to be a perfect choice for president; there was really no easy decision. I also recognize that yesterday this country spoke and the majority of Americans were under the belief that Donald Trump was more fit to be president than Hillary Clinton. Despite which bubble I circled in on my ballot, I recognize that the new president has been chosen and I have to accept that. However, that does not mean I have to pretend to not be afraid of what the future holds because, to be honest, I’m scared.
I’m scared for my best friend who, after celebrating a huge Supreme Court victory last year, texted me this morning saying he was afraid he would never be allowed to marry the man he falls in love with someday. I fear for my neighbors, two of the happiest married women I know, and my cousin’s aunts, my roommate from this summer, and anyone still in the closet. What does this new presidency hold for them? How can I protect them if the president won’t?
I’m scared for the people in minority communities. I think of my mom’s third grade students in an underprivileged city who came to school worried about the election because if Trump won, their parents might be forced to leave the country. I think of victims of police brutality and gun violence who are losing an ally in this election. I think of the racially profiled and I am afraid for them; I try to understand how utterly horrible it must be to hear your president call you awful things, like a rapist or a terrorist, because of your ethnicity or your religious beliefs. I worry about the people who want to come to our country for new opportunities and for a better lifestyle; is building a wall to keep them out really the best we can do?
Finally, I’m scared for myself as a woman. I’m scared for my mom, my aunts, my cousins, my friends, my sisters, my future daughters. How can I explain to them that our country is so threatened by powerful women that they ignored and tore one down when she ran for president, despite her qualifications over her competition? I am finding it so difficult to come to terms with a misogynistic president who objectifies women consistently and does not think I should have control over my own body. My president should not be promoting rape culture and my president should not think it’s okay to “grab me by the p****”. I have a bright future and I have just as many career goals as my male peers, and I want a president who recognizes that and helps me get where I want to be.
The past twenty-four hours has been an emotional rollercoasters for our country as a whole, whether you were pleased with the way the election turned out or not. For those in favor with the presidential elect, I am genuinely happy for you. Knowing that you exercised your right as an American and your vote counted in one of the most controversial elections in our history must be an incredible feeling, especially for those voting for the first time.
For those of us on the other side, though, for those of us who chose the other name on the ballot, do not forget how you felt when you went to bed last night and how you felt when you woke up this morning. Be angry. Be sad. Be confused. But don’t be numb. Now is not the time to be silent. We have to keep fighting for all races, genders, religions, and sexualities; we have to show them they have places as Americans. Become involved in your communities. Stay informed on what’s going on. Reach out to officials about what you believe in. Our voices matter, too, and they deserve to be heard.