As a Queer Person, I’m Doing THIS in the Aftermath of the U.S. Election

What This Queer Canadian is Doing Now That Hate Won

I’m lighting a lamp in the darkness

Photo by Severin Höin on Unsplash — cropped by author

I spent the day after the 2024 US election grieving. My stomach was in knots and my heart hurt. Everyone who saw me could tell just by looking at me that something was wrong. I felt helpless.

The next morning, I woke up determined to light a lamp in the darkness.

I am relatively safe. I’m a White Canadian, living in a major city and working at a queer-friendly female-dominated workplace. I am a bisexual woman married to a man, so I can pass as straight.

So, what can I do? I didn’t vote in the US election. I am not American. I feel like I’m looking over my neighbour’s fence while he sets his house on fire, and I’m tied to a chair. I can’t even call the fire department.

I am afraid for my American friends. But what can I do?

I’m writing poetry about love. I’m writing fanfiction about boys kissing boys. I’m making memes. I want to make people smile. I want to bring a little bit of joy and light into the world.

When I was a child in Sunday school, one of my favourite songs was “This Little Light of Mine.”…