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Tragically, Sometimes Things Must Get Worse Before They Improve
Reflections on January 20, 2025: A pivotal moment for democracy and human rights.
The erosion of democracy in the United States has been unfolding before our eyes for years.
Yesterday, January 20, 2025, was coined “Liberation Day” by the incoming American president. For those of us who see the egregious harm being done, it feels more like “Illiberation Day” — a pitiful reminder of how far a group of people will go to demolish the ideals of equity, dignity, and freedom for all.
As a Canadian, I see how global events — and the political climate south of the border — are shaping our own political landscape.
As a queer person, a gay man, and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I feel the profound anxiety shared by many of my friends and colleagues who are deeply worried — and, in some cases, afraid for their lives.
This fear is neither empty rhetoric nor hyperbole. It is rooted in real and deeply concerning experiences.
Many trans people live in fear for their safety and survival, and the threat against their dignity and lives does not stop there.
There has been a disturbing rise in physical attacks against trans individuals. Suicide rates among trans people also spiked alarmingly after Donald Trump’s election, reflecting just how unbearable the situation has become for some.
This fear is not abstract — it’s a daily reality, and it won’t stop with trans people. Anyone considered outside the norm is already being targeted.
If you are someone who has the capacity to take a stand for what is right and ethical, please don’t waver in your commitment to supporting and cultivating our common humanity.
Now, more than ever, your voice and actions matter in protecting our shared humanity.
But remember: don’t do it alone.
Standing alone can isolate you from the very communities that are suffering and from the collective strength that comes with shared purpose.
