On Jan. 20th at noon, the United States of America gained a new leader. A man who has been given a second chance to lead this country even after being ranked as the worst president in American history by a bipartisan panel of presidential historians. A man who has roused hatred, bigotry and division throughout his time in the public eye. The American people have spoken. They have made it very clear that this is who they want to take the reins for the next four years. 

Unlike the other side, I am willing to admit when my candidate lost an election. Yes, I’m devastated, but I’m not going to do something insane like engage in an insurrection to attempt to overthrow the peaceful transfer of power, a tradition that has been enshrined in our nation’s history dating back to President John Adams and broken by President Donald Trump. Like millions of Americans, I have been reflecting for these past months on what went wrong, why we lost and why we decided to return to the era of Donald Trump. 

Unfortunately, most Americans are very nearsighted and don’t educate themselves or think about the consequences of their actions. They have fallen under the spell of entertainment and sensationalism rather than focusing on facts. This is not a game or a reality TV show. Many may think I’m being too partisan or that I’m somehow a horrible person for not supporting your positive opinion of a convicted felon, racist, homophobic, misogynistic, failed leader. I support your right to disagree with me. I welcome your disagreement. That is where the best ideas form, through debate and compromise. That is how America went from 13 colonies to the most powerful nation on the planet. There is not necessarily a right or a wrong opinion when it comes to things like economic policy or government involvement in citizens’ lives. However, when you start debating basic human rights and degrading those who are different from you, that is where you are clearly wrong. 

Additionally, facts are facts and opinions are opinions. We are in an unfortunate period in our nation’s history where this statement is not universally accepted. They want to control you. They want you to be uneducated. That’s how they entrench their power. To support a leader who will do anything to reinforce his own power and wealth, as well as that of his friends, at the expense of others, is disgraceful. Leaders matter. Reflect on this question… do you want your child to grow up and act like Donald Trump? You’ve just placed him in a position where he will be a role model for children over the next four years. Unfortunately, he takes that role very lightly. He does not care about you. He does not care about what his actions result in. 

As a gay man, I am terrified for what the next four years will bring. I am terrified for the people I love. I am terrified for our nation. It hurts beyond belief that people I love vehemently support someone I despise. Someone who would strip away my rights at the first chance he gets… my right to love who I love, my right to protest, my right to disagree. I will not remain silent while this happens. SILENCE = DEATH. I hope I’m wrong. I truly do. However, I’m willing to bet that I won’t be. Your prices aren’t going to go down, there won’t be law and order and America’s respect and power in the world will decline. We’ve made this mistake before and we just made it again. This is why history is so important. Learn from the past and educate yourself with reliable, respected sources, not just ones that you agree with. If you voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election or opted not to vote for either major party candidate, you have made the most consequential decision of the 21st century, a decision that ensures America’s decline and the rejection of so many people’s rights. For those of us who are on the right side of history, stay strong. I am with you. I support you. I will fight to ensure that our rights are respected. I am ready and willing to do so. Remember what Vice President Kamala Harris said in her concession speech, “only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”