Thread by @raindovemodel

THREAD My parent is a #TrumpSupporter . As a #queer genderfree activist on the board of several movements from Justice for Black Lives to DACA protections, my life purpose is dismantling the very things he voted for. Here’s how our relationship has survived this conflict. 1/

/2 It hasn’t.

At least not in the traditional sense. We didn’t even talk for Fathers Day. Because as grateful as I am for my life and the fact that my parent had sex with someone and allowed me to survive thru birth- I know that right isn’t something he wants for all ppl.

/3 However just because we let people go doesn’t mean we let them off the hook or that we give up on them. As long as it is within our capacity, we should work as allies to educate those that want to eradicate others. That’s why every month I send reading materials to him.

/4 I leave the door open to have a dialogue about his feelings on political occurrences and I remain persistent, loudly, openly me. Like it or not- I am my parent’s legacy. The being that is carrying their torch on is sharing flames with others and they can’t control that.

/5 As much as I have done research on our community, the various intersectional communities we’re fighting to lift up& protect, Ive also done research on his community. Because I wanted to understand why he felt the way he does. Where does his racism/sexism/transphobia come from?

/6 I found that his local community is suffering from many ailments. From an infestation of meth to the eradication of the once thriving farming community due to industrialization. Grass grows in the cracks of Main Street and the average salary is barely above poverty level.

/7 Peoples’ dilapidated porches sink in broken dangerous frowns because no one wants their property value to rise resulting in higher taxes. So they let their homes rot. Even if they wanted to fix them- it would be costly.

/8 Since he lives in the middle of nowhere, all good is essentially imported. A head of lettuce for example costs about $5-6. A hunting license is considered a food stamp- something that can save a household hundred of dollars in food bills. And Amazon doesn’t deliver.

/9 As my parent would say “No one is coming to save You. You have to save Yourself”. Ironically this mantra is what allowed me to be confidently queer in the face of rejection, to survive homelessness, and to survive this chaotic world. Saving oneself.

/10 This is how his Trump voting town sees the world. “No one is coming to save us”. While they may see themselves on TV and know they have less of a chance of being brutalized by Police they have a hard time seeing this as privilege. Because they feel they too are left behind.

/11 Yet what he fails to realize is that he is conflating socio-economic oppression with racial, sexual, ability based oppression of others (and more). He feels that his oppression is equal and that people can’t see that he too is suffering in his own way.

/12 He doesn’t understand that his economic justice and provisions of food accessibility and equality ARE INCLUDED with our visions. He feels that we don’t want equality. We want revenge. I can see it. Through every angry word, there is also a slip of fear and anguish.

/13 I see this fear over anger manifesting in many ways. His lifelong addiction to alcohol being one of them. The world is loud, leaving him behind, and he already felt left behind long ago. He wonders what will happen if he lets his fate into our hands. Will we finish him?

/14 So he votes for Trump. Not because he hates others but because he feels it is a form of self care. To protect what he has always known. He feels justified to be selfish because he doesn’t see anyone championing the plight of the impoverished white community.

15/ He doubles down as Pride takes over. Finding a community within those who feel oppressed for “prioritizing themselves first by voting Trump”. Information is shared. His racist, sexist, transphobic views are deepened by sympathetic voices wielding “fact sheets” and articles.

16/ Always living in a small town, his mind was already leaning towards these ideologies. But now- they are committed. And yet he doesn’t feel he is racist. My parent is a school teacher working at a trade school to teach disabled students how to be mechanics.

17/ He feels immune to being label led a bigot. He works with disabled kids You see. He can’t be racist. He can’t be sexist. He can’t be transphobic. Yet he is.

The saddest thing? While my friends see an “evilTrump supporter”- I just see someone who feels alone. Abandoned.

18/ I see a person who desperately wants to do right by people, but has long given up the idea that he can please the world. So he reflects the values of his local community bcuz he knows he can find support there. He doesn’t think his local racism is doing much harm- who cares?

19/ He doesn’t realize he DOES matter. His actions matter. His words. His support. So he says ALL LIVES MATTER. Because he feels left out.

He doesn’t realize that while different in many ways, we share the same goal of overcoming oppression together. One he will benefit from.

20/ For anyone reading this feeling like You are being misunderstood for being a #TrumpSupporter I want You to know that You ARE a part of the plan. We ALL (You TOO) deserves justice. Economic, freedom, safety, environmental, existential based justice. ALL OF US.

21/ While I likely won’t be chatting casually with my parent soon, I wanted to make this thread in case he’s browsing. Dad- You’re part of the plan. I love You & I know my activism scares You. But I’m working towards a nation that supports all of us, & one that supports You too.

22/ Dad, You have the right to protect Yourself. But You don’t hv the right to oppress others to do that . Which is what a vote for Trump is. You may be angry I posted this thread, but I hope You see that every action and word is simply me doing why You taught me to do. Be real.

23/ Dad, You told me to stand up to conflicts. To speak my truth. To fight for freedom. Well, we can’t breathe. We can’t love. We can’t work. So we are confronting the conflict.

I hope You can be proud of that effort. The door is always open to change and chat. Let’s discuss.

END THREAD: What words do You have for this community? How can we shift this from hatred to hope? We must find a way to widen our world or else our cries reverberate within an echo chamber and our power remains as it is. For those with the capacity- get to work! We got this!