Election Aftermath - Navigating Trump's Re-Election and its Implications: Fear, Uncertainty, and the Future of DE&I
A Looming Shadow: The Potential Consequences of Trump's Project 2025 Plan
When the election results were announced on November 6th, it was a moment of conflicting emotions for me. I felt like I watching a train crash in slow motion (a very helpless feeling).
A part of me (that hadn't dared to hope for anything other than another Trump presidency) felt detached, numb, and defeated. But another part (holding onto the slightest hope) was overwhelmed with a heavy sense of pain, sadness, and disappointment.
Worries for the world and its People.
Now that Trump has officially been re-elected, many are wondering what the next Trump Presidency will mean for LGBTQIA+ rights.
If Trump can enact everything within the Project 2025 Plan, which attacks civil rights protections for various groups of marginalized peoples, DE&I programs, the environment, access to abortion, access to food assistance programs, childhood headstart programs, and so much more, the consequences could be dire.
It's crucial to understand the potential impact of these policy changes on the lives of Queer and other marginalized peoples and the progress we've made (and the ground we stand to lose) in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
I am worried about what this win could mean for the world (especially the most vulnerable) and the people I care about deeply.
I worry about what our lives will look like in the coming years.
In addition to worrying about the planet and people around me (and in the broader world), I also worry about what this Trump "victory" will mean for our (David and my) survival over the next four years and beyond.
Since 2020 I've found fulfilling work (as an independent DE&I Consultant focused on the fields of Queer and Neuro-Inclusion), but recently DE&I has become a controversial field to be in.
As a DE&I Consultant, the election results (and an "anti-DE&I president") were a strong blow.
The impending Trump presidency is likely to significantly impact (and has already significantly impacted) my work and the work of many others in this field.
An Attack on DE&I
I've observed a trend of in-house DE&I professionals being let go from their full-time positions, and many independent consultants, including myself, have experienced a decline in US-based business in recent months (years).
Once upon a time, my consulting business was half Queer Inclusion and half Neuro-Inclusion. Now, I'm lucky if I do two or three Queer Inclusion trainings each year.
This shift in the DE&I landscape is a cause for concern, as it could potentially limit the resources and support available for multiple marginalized communities in addition to the Queer Community.
How I present my training pieces has also begun to evolve.
Many of the organizations I work with have shifted away from the old "talking head" and PowerPoint presentation (popular only a few years ago) and towards "fireside chat" style workshops (which allows for the content to be more "lived experience" and less "declarative teaching").
While the goal of this style of workshop is to "keep things light," I pack as much education into these one-hour sessions as possible.
I've enjoyed curating these "humanization workshops" for my clients. They have a very conversational and human feel, inviting people to be curious, ask questions, and engage.
Do you have an organization that could benefit from this "fire-side-chat" (or another style of) workshop on Queer Inclusion, Neuro-Inclusion, or NeuroQueer Inclusion?
If you would like to learn more about how we can collaborate as part of your organizational inclusion efforts, please use the button to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.
If I can stay in business over the next four years, I will likely do more of this type of workshop and focus my efforts on marketing my skills to clients outside of the US (and writing in my spare time).
While I still have a few US organizations on my books (and will continue to work with US clients brave enough to stand up to the status quo) most of my recent clients have been from Canada, Australia, and the UK or are international companies.
I plan to keep offering a limited number of one-to-one sessions each month whenever I have openings in my schedule. I currently have 4 sessions available in my current scheduling block. More info HERE.
I also want to set aside time to write in the coming months (if business continues to be slower than usual).
I've got a few books I've wanted to bring to life (now that I know how to self-publish on my own). Watch this space for more info about those as I release it.
You can also get my first book, Workplace NeuroDiversity Rising, below:
From my perspective, the election seemed to unfold as an inevitable outcome.
While the results were not unexpected (to me), they were still deeply painful to witness. The implications of this win for the most vulnerable in our society, including the LGBTQIA+ community, are profound, and it's hard to come to terms with the potential setbacks we may face.
It hurts to know that, despite how Trump talks about Queer, transgender, and other marginalized groups of people, many (who are supposed to be our peers) voted for him (because they were unaware of, ignored, found no problem with, or endorsed his rhetoric).
It would be nice to think the majority of his voters have been "living under a rock" and haven't seen (or don't understand) the problem with the demeaning language and misrepresentations that have been used to describe trans and other Queer people in recent weeks leading up to the election. However, here in Texas, it is evident that many Trump supporters have followed along.
Is violence on the horizon?
I've seen them (Christian Nationalists) out in the streets, displaying signs spreading fear and hatred against transgender and other Queer People, painting us as a threat to the US's national identity and the Christian way of life.
Many of them think this country is "a Christian nation" and are willing to fight to enforce their twisted version of "Christian values" onto the people around them (with violence) if necessary.
I can't speak for other states, but in Texas, many of these nationalists have created or joined their own militia groups.
Who are they planning to "fight" with these militias? WHO?
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I hope this helps,
- Lyric
