06/11/2024
LGBTQIA Media and organisations, together with progressive groups from across the political spectrum, were reacting this week to the election of Donald Trump to the White House, where as ILR Radio West noted, he will be the forty seventh President. Indeed, rumours circulating among jubilant conservative style websites even speculated that he will change the US constitution to allow him to permanently defer future elections and will rule as a monarch, in perpetuity. Such grandiosity might seem far fetched, but history is littered with examples of democracy being subverted by demagogues from Ceasar Augustus to Napoleon. Gay lifestyle magazine OUT says that the next four years will be difficult for many millions of people within and without America and note that there is a well published and rehearsed plan to essentially make America a clerical fascist nation, known as "Project 2025". In fairness to Mr Trump, he has said that this manifesto will not be his chief priority in office. Out Magazine says " There is some good news. In Delaware, Sarah McBride won her election to the House of Representatives, meaning that she will be the first out member of Congress. In Texas, Julie Johnson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from the South. We've got hard times ahead, thankfully, we have each other." The Washington Blade says "With the upcoming administration poised to roll back progress, our allies in Congress — including newly elected leaders like Sarah McBride, Angela Alsobrooks, and Lisa Blunt Rochester — will be essential advocates. But we can’t do it alone. If you’re able, please consider supporting LGBTQ media and advocacy groups like Lambda Legal, or volunteering locally to safeguard our rights." Reflecting the fact that many millions of people outside the concerns of LGBTQIA+ folks are also horrified at the election of Mr Trump, the ecological group Greenpeace said "Donald Trump’s victory was built on the back of misinformation, climate-denial and multimillion-dollar donations from Big Oil companies. Trump has pledged to shred environmental regulations, unleash a “drill, baby, drill” wave of new oil and gas projects and is expected to immediately withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, at the very moment when international cooperation is needed to tackle the climate crisis." They have called on moderate and liberal countries in Europe to make the case for the environment on the international table. And New York based Human Rights Watch says that there is an existential threat to human rights globally under Trumpism, noting "this poses a grave threat to human rights in the US and around the world. To look ahead, it’s first worth looking back at the documented abuses under Trump’s first term as president, from 2017 to 2021. These included policies and efforts to expel asylum seekers and separate families at the US-Mexico border. There were policies aimed at punishing low-income families and deprive them of health care. Trump personally pushed racist tropes against Black communities and other people of color. And, who can forget, Trump fueled a violent assault on the US Capitol to overthrow the results of the 2020 election. Trump’s promises during his 2024 campaign are also enormous cause for alarm, both inside and outside the US. Trump has repeatedly praised authoritarian leaders such as Viktor Orbán, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un. But it’s more than just a general bent toward autocracy. Trump has proposed specific policies that would weaken democratic institutions in the US that protect fundamental human rights. Trump has openly vowed to retaliate against his political opponents, using the Justice Department. Throughout speeches and campaign interviews, he has used increasingly dangerous rhetoric, referring to his critics as “the enemy from within.” He suggested he would deploy the US military and national guard against people who exercise their right to protest". This observation about Mr Trump's vindictiveness has been echoed by others. We can expect liberal democratic newspapers and television stations to have their licenses revoked for Mr Trump does not make idle threats against those he deems to be against him. Indeed, one small hope for trans people in particular is that the Mr Trump will vindictively pursue his political opponents and media critics before he gets round to our communities. And are there opportunities for growing resistance to the far right in all this mess? The anarchist blog It's Going Down thiks so, saying "there is a new generation of people entering autonomous spaces and projects, as people involved in past struggles are also coming back around. While the future doesn’t look rosy, at the same time there are still a lot of people who are looking for an anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian alternative to the established political order and are searching for concrete ways to get involved in real life action." They go on to list dozens of ways in which people can build alternatives to repression, and community radio stations are a part of this vision. In Britain, the leftist weekly paper Socialist Worker editorialised "Trump’s victory will be a boost to every fascist, far right politician and racist thug. Nigel Farage, leader of the far right Reform UK party in Britain, was already celebrating at Trump’s watch party after Georgia was declared. A torrent of resistance on the streets, campuses and workplaces is required in the United States, Britain and elsewhere. Hope lies with the mass movements that have rocked US society and the uptick in workers’ strikes—but on a much higher level". Finally, the Bob Mizer Foundation, which curates gay art and doesn't often get involved in party politics, has these comforting words to say. "As we move past Election Day in the U.S. and into the days that follow, we know that emotions can run high, and reactions may vary. Regardless of political affiliation, this can be a highly charged and emotional time for people around the world. First and foremost, we encourage you to take care of yourselves during this time, giving yourself the space to process and find balance. This is a powerful moment to make your voice heard, and we hope you can engage in whatever way feels best for you. We also ask that we extend one another a little extra grace during this charged time, respecting each other’s perspectives, experiences, and emotions. In our community, we are committed to maintaining a respectful and supportive environment for all, no matter how we approach this moment. If you find yourself needing extra support, please remember to lean into the practices and people that help ground you. Your well-being is important to us, and we are here to support each other through every experience." On that note, we remind all our listeners that the National LGBTQIA Switchboard out of London is available from 10am to 10pm daily. You can reach them on 0800 0119 100. TRUK Listens for Trans People is available on 0800 009 6640 from 8am daily and the Samaritans are twenty four hours a day on 116 123. Mahatma Ghandi once remarked "Dictators fall, always, eventually. That gives me hope".
