What Now?

So, the election happened.

As a gay, married man, it didn’t go exactly the way I had hoped. As a writer of queer fiction, I am more than a little concerned about what happens next. The incoming powers that be have made no secret of the fact that they are not particularly LGBTQ+ positive.

I’ll be honest, the first couple of days after Americans made their choice were brutal. I felt paralyzed, anxious, angry, and betrayed. I had a hard time sleeping, eating, even just existing. On the night of the election, the first thing I asked my husband, Mark, was “how do we get through tonight?”

Now, with the advantage of a week of hindsight, I don’t have any great answers for you. But I have realized a few things. I will share them with you, in the hopes that they will help you chart your own course in the weeks and months to come.

First off, this was not a red wave. Republicans overall ran about three points behind their presidential candidate, and just squeaked by to gain control of the Senate and possibly the House. Unfortunately, all that matters is having those one or two extra votes to control both chambers. But it does mean that things could change in two years, with the midterms. Yes, there are reasons to be skeptical about our prospects – will our votes even matter in the next election? But it is still possible that Democrats hold the House this time around, and last Tuesday saw the election of our first transgender member of the House. So we have to keep our hopes up.

Second, none of us are alone here. Millions and millions of people voted for Harris, and I’ve heard from so many of them over the last week–friends, family, acquaintances–offering me support, and asking for my own in return. Remember that when you are feeling depressed, anxious, or all by yourself, reach out for help, and give help wherever you can.

And third, we are lucky enough to live here in California. Of all the places in the United States, this is one of the safest for the next few years. We have a Governor and an Attorney General who plan to stand up for us, and we can be the place that keeps the light burning for the rest of the country in these dark times.

In the meantime, the best I can do is to continue writing, sharing queer characters, and doing what I do. I’m part of a local group of authors who are close to launching a book festival in Sacramento at the end of May next year, and our own Queer Sacramento Authors Collective will continue to do events around the area and support our local writers.

What can you do as a reader? Continue to read queer books. Keep coming to our events. Reach out to queer authors you love and tell them so.

We can make it through this dark time, but only if we stick together.

“On your left.”