Hello Homos,
First, I want to acknowledge and validate your feelings following this election. This is a major blow, and I hope you are able to find the support you need to navigate forward. Second, next week, I will share a guide for finding LGBTQ+ mental health support. In the meantime, please use 988 or The Trevor Project if you are having a mental health crisis. Third, I want to thank all OFM readers for submitting questions and engaging with the column over its first five weeks.
I am writing this week’s column on my couch, watching the election results roll in, and the outcome has become clearer. Earlier in the day, as I walked around Capitol Hill, I was moved by how palpable the election anxiety was. The tension was so thick you could cut through it. Reflecting on this election season and this tragic outcome, I hope the election-centric era of Hello Homo has helped cultivate curiosity and alternative thinking about politics as a whole.
Now that the election is over, let’s highlight a few great takeaways from the discussions with Rep. Brian Sims, The Girl with a Microphone, and Rep. Leslie Herod. To think holistically and sustainably, we need to be aware of where we have the most access and power, which is on the local level.
We get so caught up in the media frenzy of the presidential election coverage. In doing so, we lose sight of where we can make changes in our states, counties, and towns. The presidential election takes up so much attention and hijacks our nervous systems, leaving us with little to no energy left to keep fighting once it’s over, like now. There are so many tangible ways to make change and cultivate advocacy. If we give all our energy to this big symbolic figurehead-style election, we lose sight of the smaller, MORE SUSTAINABLE methods of community and political organizing.
Please take all the time you need to take care of yourself, your loved ones, and your community. When you feel like you have your reserves back, I invite you to consider these local and sustainable change methods. This is how we can organize and empower through the next four years.
Switching political thinking from a top-down approach to a bottom-up is a more holistic approach with more long-term impact. This is a very short list, but take a moment to look at your local community organizing opportunities and local politics (for Denver):
The live links above here are for Denver. If you live outside Denver, I encourage you to search for these resources in your community. You, as a resident, can begin to build relationships with these leaders in your communities and be a part of change in your areas. Yes, you can also run for these positions! Lauren Bobert did; why can’t you?!?!?
Also, get to know the driving industry in your area and its impact (negative or positive) on your community. Learn who and how they have the most political sway. Pro tip, you can always follow the money. For example, here on the Front Range, we are dominated by the oil and gas industry. Wouldn’t it be impactful if we, as residents, had more knowledge and community organizing around the oil and gas companies directly harming our communities? That’s just one example of thinking globally and acting locally that can cultivate lasting change.
Lastly, and simply, we have the choice to register with a party that more closely reflects your values. You can vote however you like, but registering outside the Democratic or Republican parties creates visibility for alternative candidates and parties. This is also a stratagy to to tell dems to step it up and speak on issues that matter to you.
In the coming weeks, Hello Homo will diversify, moving away from the election. I already have several questions lined up from OFM readers that I’m so excited to dive into. I will be exploring questions from parents of transgender children, holiday alternatives and planning, sexual health, and queer relationships.
Please take care of each other out there.
Follow me on Instagram @holistic.homosexual for updates on my column!
I look forward to sharing another edition of Hello Homo next Friday!
Have a question you would like addressed? Submit your questions directly to me at hellohomo@ofm.media.
Disclaimer: Hello Homo is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. Hello Homo (Jesse Proia) is not providing mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment to readers. If you are someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please contact 911, 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
