A request in the age of Trump. [View all]
Tonight after work I was talking to a gay friend of mine here in NYC, who recounted that a few days after Trump's win, he was called the F-word on the street by some assholes. This happened in the West Village in Manhattan, a few blocks away from the Stonewall. He was shocked and so was I. Yeah, this stuff happens, but not on Christopher Street.
The other thing he said was that everyone else around hung their heads in embarrassment about the situation, but nobody said anything.
At which point I realized that I could have been one of those people. I've seen and heard people say bigoted things, and my usual response to mind my business, quietly disapprove, but don't risk getting in a confrontation with some possibly drunk or violent person who could snap. This is partly a NYC problem: here you learn pretty quick to mind your business and not try to engage crazy people on the streets.
Well, in the age of Trump, that's not good enough anymore.
So my request is, if you see this kind of stuff, wherever you live, whether it's homophobia, racism, sexism, religious bigotry, or whatever, say something. You don't have to get into a confrontation. My friend told me it would have meant a lot if people had even said "hey, what you're saying is wrong". Say something. Say something and walk away even. But if you hear any kind of bigoted comment directed at anyone, at least let the victim know that you heard it and are on their side.
Bigotry is rising thanks to Trump. We need to respond.
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