Graphic by Brenna Connell/OutWrite
Content warning: transphobia, racism, xenophobia
At thirteen, I remember my parents frantically looking through a box in their closet containing important documents. They were searching for their citizenship papers, even though they had been United States citizens long before the election of a candidate whose campaign centered around deporting immigrants. My mother found the documents, held them closely, and sighed, relieved that everything was in order. Such was not the case for many other immigrants in the United States. Extended family and friends we knew were forced out of their homes, and their lives were forever changed. The fear that ensued from the results of the 2016 election was how I was first introduced to voting.
The panic in my parents’ eyes was a wake-up call for me, pushing me to reflect on my political rights and power. I was a high school student during the next presidential election, and I became more aware of the election process. I watched the presidential debate and noted what each candidate advocated for and promised to voters. I questioned the sincerity of their vows and the odds that they would be implemented. As a voter, my power relied on educating myself and trusting that my future ballot would have an impact.
As a college student today, I wonder how the values I seek in a candidate have shifted. I have changed as a person since middle school; for example, I now identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Being out brings many joys but also newfound fears in the political realm. Last year, it was alarming to see how many anti-queer laws were passed, though the advocacy against such laws from the queer community and its allies gives me hope. Anti-trans laws, such as ones putting limitations on youth gender-affirming care in particular, were worryingly prevalent in 2023. According to the Williams Institute, “research indicates that efforts to support transgender youth in living according to their internal sense of gender is associated with better mental health and feelings of safety at school, while efforts to change the gender identity of transgender people (i.e., conversion therapy) are associated with suicidality.”
However, bills such as Ohio’s H. B. 68 do not consider gender-affirming care urgent or even necessary, going so far as to equate being transgender with mental illness. This bill threatens medical professionals with removing their license if they perform gender-affirming care for minors, prevents insurance coverage for such care, and prohibits transgender girls from engaging in athletic activities with cisgender girls unless they are in a co-ed setting. When Governor Mike DeWine recognized the detrimental consequences of such a bill and vetoed it, other legislators voted to override DeWine’s veto and support the bill, arguing that the benefits of gender-affirming medical care do not outweigh its overblown potential risks. Such a perspective is common among Republican candidates running in this year’s election.
For instance, when asked about the transgender community, Ohio-born Vivek Ramaswamy said during the second primary debate last September that “transgenderism, especially in kids, is a mental health disorder. … And I’m sorry, it is not compassionate to affirm a kid’s confusion.” “Transgenderism” is a derogatory term for the transgender community, which reduces transgender people to “a condition” or “dangerous ideology.” Ramaswamy does not acknowledge the mental health struggles that the transgender community endures as a direct result of the lack of care and being forced to disguise their true gender identity. Such ignorant statements from politicians like Ramaswamy are truly frightening; they show that proper research regarding the LGBTQ+ community has been ignored, and there is no genuine consideration for the community’s welfare.
In considering such legal decisions, voting can often feel disheartening because of the hopelessness that comes from being unable to solve every issue. Voting does not automatically abolish every damaging form of legislation, and sometimes, it feels like there might never be an ideal candidate to support. As I reflect on how I was introduced to voting, I realize that my approach to the upcoming election is still spurred by fear. I fear that I will become complacent and believe my vote does not matter. I fear for my family and friends who already have to take ten steps for every one step of those around them, as they were born into a world that is not inherently catered to or accepting of them. I fear that I am not doing enough. I feel the weight of being an immigrant daughter and of what my vote means for future generations.
Something my father tells me whenever I get too much in my head is that fear means you care. You acknowledge what is going on and try to interpret everything to the best of your abilities. Even out of fear, voting means you care about what is happening in the world and want to do something.
I know many other fellow Gen Z individuals find themselves voting in an election for the first time and wish you the best in your decisions. It is easy to get caught up in the fast pace of our world, but I urge everyone to take the time to figure out what matters to them and find a candidate that aligns with those views. Recognizing your values and taking the time to research goes hand in hand with casting well-informed votes.
To get the ball rolling, the following candidates support LGBTQ+ rights. Here is a brief introduction to some candidates you should look out for and endorse as fellow members who are publicly part of the queer community:
Monica Martinez is a 41-year-old Latinx mother running to be the first publicly out LGBTQ+ member of the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors as 5th District Supervisor.
Javier Hernandez is 35 years old, was born in Mexico, and grew up in the Inland Empire. He is looking to be the first DREAMer elected into the California State Assembly, specifically District 53.
Other Resources:
Credits:
Author: Jocelyn Diaz (She/They)
Artist: Brenna Connell (She/They)
Copy Editors: Gabriella Silverman (They/She), Emma Blakely (They/She/He)