by Danielle Bergan
I’m sitting at my computer, just home from work at the restaurant, gathering my thoughts as this month of November 2016 comes to an end. Though I am tired right now, this month needs to be written about, needs to be documented. In the words of the Grateful Dead, “What a long, strange trip its been.
Ever since the election of our 45th President, Donald Trump, I have been existing in a vortex of shock, anger, compassion, realization, and fear. It reminds me of a turbulent storm that stays with you, either on top of you in fury and rage or allowing you to remain in the calm eye, just long enough to catch your breath.
The one shred of normalcy that I have been clinging to is my sobriety and my gratitude. I made 15 years clean and sober on the 12th, no small feat for this drunk and drug addict like me. My tribe in recovery has allowed me sanity in a sea of insanity; given me strength and courage to stand up to the fear and oppression which encompasses my LGBTQ community across our nation. It has provided a base of normalcy in a world gone mad with white power, hatred of immigrants (especially Muslims), people of color and of course, women. Without it I’d be finished, done, gone never to return. But, I am not!!!
I am grateful for the thousands of strong, men , women and children who are transgender, gay , lesbian or gender non-conformant. We have gained so much in the past 10 years and will fight to keep the rights we have. In the face of virtually every appointment by President-elect Trump is a person with an anti-LBGTQ agenda. They would just see us dead and gone rather than deal with us. But Honey, I can assure you, we will not go quietly into the night!
We are preparing, day by day, to stand up in the face of any oppression this new Administration might throw at us. We will also stand with all the women of the country who face the possible reversal of Roe vs Wade. We hold firm with people of color because Black lives do matter, women’s lives matter, LGBTQ lives matter and immigrants’ lives matter! We will support our Muslim brothers and sisters at every turn, because they are citizens of the U.S. like us, with the same inalienable rights any citizen has. They may try to force them on to a list but liberal bastions of freedom from New York to L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, and Chicago will be safe havens for all our groups.
Yes God, I am grateful. Grateful to be a nicotine free, clean and sober transgender woman, in her 60s, ready to stand and fight for all I believe that is right and kind and good with this great Nation and this world.
So be on notice President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect Pense, Treasury Sec Steve Munchkin, Transportation Sec Elaine Chao, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Education Secretary Betsy DeVOs, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Secretary of Housing and Human Development, Ben Carson, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, National Security adviser Michael Flynn, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Chief Strategist Steve, Alt right, Bannon and whoever else is named. Together our minorities are a large part of this country and we are already lined up for a fight.
Just wait to all those working folks who voted for Trump to realize they have been had. There will not be full employment for you, there will not be health insurance for you and there will not be lower taxes either. The orange faced guy has gas lighted you.
So, going into this December, I am likely more alive spiritually, and soulfully than I have ever been in my 63 years on the planet. While the horizon to many in this great Nation seems dark and obscure, in a way, perhaps Donald Trump has made America great again. I believe he has awakened the spirit of freedom of oppression that our founding fathers fought for some 250 years ago. Different time but the same scenario. Bring it on Donald! We are ready!
