Giuliano D’Orazio

2020 is here! As we look at the decade ahead, reflect on the 2010s, and set our sights on self-improvement and resolutions, what future do we see for the queer community? Looking at the looming presidential election, where do we focus our activism and political support? While there are positive strides of the past decade to celebrate — like the federal legalization of same-sex marriage — there have been notable setbacks under the current administration in Washington. While the LGBTQ+ community is far from monolithic, I believe our shared interests and intersectional identities implore us to band together in solidarity when faced with common oppressors. Likely, the most publicized and politicized LGBTQ+ issue in the 2010s was that of same-sex marriage. In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples was a violation of the fourteenth amendment, thereby legalizing LGBTQ+ marriage in America. Over the course of the last decade, more than eighteen nations across the globe legalized same-sex marriage. Over the past several years, however, the Trump administration has rolled back several important advancements for the queer community, most notably impacting transgender individuals. The reinstatement of the ban on transgender people serving in the military and the recession of protections for trans students in public schools both limit the rights and endanger the lives of queer people, and the health of our community as a whole. Moving forward, it is important we look at the most marginalized members of our community, listen to their concerns and needs, and focus our activism and coalesce accordingly. In the last year alone, over three hundred trans and gender-diverse individuals have been murdered, and this statistic disproportionately impacts trans women of color. The issue of protecting trans people deserves our full attention and focus as we push for greater visibility and rights in our community. In terms of healthcare, we have seen the advancement of pre-exposure prophylactic drugs like Truvada, which has helped greatly reduce new HIV exposures. The experience of getting it prescribed, however, varies greatly from provider to provider and many patients still face shame and stigma when discussing treatment with their doctors. It is so important that we make accessible, affordable LGBTQ+ healthcare a priority. While all of the candidates in the democratic field share the common goal of defeating Donald Trump later this year, they vary in the specificity of their support areas surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. Former Vice President Joe Biden pledges to devote an office in the State Department to LGBT issues, in addition to refusing to do business with nations abroad that have anti-LGBT legislation. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has a robust set of proposals that would benefit the lives of LGBTQ+ people. She would fight to pass the Equality Act, ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexuality in the adoption and child welfare system, and nominate federal judges who would advance and uphold protections for the LGBTQ+ community. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the only openly gay candidate in the 2020 field, while admittedly more of a centrist on many issues, does support greater protections and healthcare rights for trans people, and advocates for a federal ban on conversion therapy. I think one of the most important tools we have as a community is our voice — a voice that is stronger when we band together. As queer people, we have to have discussions within our circles about these issues, but also not be afraid to have the difficult conversations with those that may not agree with us, or are simply uneducated on the impact of LGBTQ+ rights. 2020 is potentially the most important election of our time for our community. Let’s all commit to staying engaged, getting involved, and most importantly — VOTE this November! Giuliano D’Orazio (he/him pronouns) is a Worcester native, musician, music educator, active member of the local LGBTQ+ community, and a board member of Love Your Labels. Follow him on instagram at giuliano.music.