Interesting Times are indeed upon us, specifically upon The US, although the fallout is going to affect many elsewhere too.
This is a difficult, and scary, time for many minorities, and the non-binary are under particular threat: right now, increasingly so as we enter 2025, and in ways difficult to predict but unlikely to be at all pleasant for several years to come.
It is difficult to really understand just how scared people are, so let me introduce a couple of examples.
Trans Rescue is a non-profit foundation, based in Holland, that helps transgender people worldwide escape from places where it is dangerous to be a transgender person. Here is part of their view on recent events:
The one bright side is that, though Trump may have won the election it’s worth remembering that the Biden presidency lasts until the 20th of January. Between now and the inauguration there may be an increasing level of danger, but after that the conditions are certain to worsen precipitously. We believe that a Trump presidency will end any notion of safe states or of sanctuary cities, and thus our advice remains that if at all possible, as a trans person you should consider leaving the USA. Ideally you should do this before January 20.
2024 US Election – Trans Rescue
And this, from a non-binary individual:
I’ve said this many times to minorities, women and queer people. Arming yourself and prepping shouldn’t just be for the far right. A few tips:
– Research the best self defense firearm for newbies, you want something that doesn’t kick like a mule, something that isn’t easily known for jamming, something that is easy to handle for those who have never fired a gun. Also does it need to say fit into a handbag etc?
Research before you buy including the laws, concealed carrying etc
– Be responsible, learn safety
– Join an firing range, practice. The last thing you want is shoot someone or yourself by accident, you also want to know how to hold one properly, and spots on a human that maim a perpetrator vs what’s a sure fire kill shot. In self defense you need to be sure you can handle the consequences of killing a human or just leaving them disabled for life you don’t want to fumble especially with the safety, you’ll want to learn maintaining so it’s less likely to jam.
If you do think a civil war or secret police are going to be a sure thing now in America – Network, organise, learn guerrilla warfare tactics during your crochet evenings. Just in case. Learn from past successful resistance movements in their tactics and how to modernise them.
Most importantly discuss ways you can help one another, practically such as emmigration outside the US, especially research ways you can crowdfund or raise money with allies to escape, or just help one another emotionally. I’m not suggesting finding people to smuggle you across a boarder but it’s always good to have friends who can put you up until you find a stable job.
This is how seriously people are having to take it. Stop and think about that for a minute if you are lucky enough not to have to consider such things.
I think that here in the UK we need to be as supportive and welcoming as possible. Uprooting your life and moving to a different country because you feel that you must for your mental and physical wellbeing, rather than because you want to is a big thing.
Here in Europe, we need to push back against the rise of intolerence here too. It is very easy to become disheartened, and even seriously depressed, about how things are and the direction in which they are heading. I know this from personal experience. But… a positive attitude can accomplish so much more.
And we need to hold on and, to cheekily flip one of Churchills most powerful lines around, “carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the Old World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the New.”
Hope must not die; never give up, never surrender.
Sophie Baskerville 