On Saturday many people were justly shocked and utterly dismayed when a mass shooting event took place at a political rally here in Pennsylvania. Soon after, many pundits and politicians banded together to condemn the act of gun violence outright and stated that we are not the type of society where political violence happens.
I asked myself: What does it mean to live in a world without violence? And if we have no political violence why did we have to mourn Pauly Likens on the same day? If we live in a world without political violence, why oh why are there so many of our trans siblings facing death and incarceration due to legislative actions? Why are so many queer kids at risk for suicide? Why are so many gay families making contingency plans in case their marriage is no longer constitutional and their families may be ripped apart? If we live in a world where there is no political violence, why do we need queer nursing homes for our elders so they can grow old with dignity and not discrimination?
If we live in a world without political violence why do we use politics to enact violence across the world? Why are there killing machines at our southern border? Why are there kids in cages? If we have no room for violence in our democracy why are so many of our kids going to bed hungry every night? Why do we have thousands of thousands of people who are homeless and displaced as corporations have bought up property and forced them out?
If there’s no room for political violence in our democracy why are we still battling outright transphobia and homophobia in 2024? If there is no room for political violence in our democracy why are queer people being told they could see their identity will be outlawed in 2025? If there is no room for political violence why are so many people dying and why are so many people suffering in our nation? If there is no room for violence in our democracy why do we use our democracy to enact violence on the queer community?
I truly want us to live in a world without violence. I truly want us to experience a world where we have what we need to live and thrive. I fully believe there is a world where every queer child is loved and every queer adult is free to be themselves without state violence or harm. But to create that world, we have to understand the violence that currently exists and threatens our communities so we can do the work of creating a better world for all of us. I deeply believe a better world is possible and am committing to building coalitions to imagine and develop a world where all of us are safe and free from violence.
