I’ve never been particularly interested in politics.
Ten years ago, I was a conservative Republican who was pro-life and didn’t believe in gay rights. That’s just the way I was raised. I grew up in a strict Christian family (we were Pentecostals, which should give you a very good idea of the type of faith I was raised in) and this is what they believed in, so it’s what I believed in.
Even though I couldn’t vote in 2004, I wanted Bush to win a second term, and when he did, I was thrilled.
Mmhmm.
And then 2008 rolled around. I was 20 and it was my first election. My choices: Barack Obama, a Democrat, or John McCain, a Republican.
I voted for Obama, gladly and happily, and was over the moon excited when he won.
And then I voted for Obama for a second term, still gladly, still happily.
But even though I voted Democrat in 2008 and 2012, I considered myself a Republican. I still considered myself pro-life. I just didn’t feel like voting based on one single issue nor did I feel like the Republican candidates fit my vision for America.
This past year, something changed. Maybe it was what happened during this election cycle when the Republican nominee was someone so vile and so repugnant that the only thing I could do was figure out where my alliances truly lie. I became engaged this time. I learned about issues and followed blogs and forums that talked about what was going on. I figured out that what I truly, actually believe, after researching and reading and opening my heart, is nothing of what the GOP stands for.
What I am is a liberal Democrat with a passion for human rights, most especially for women and the LGBTQIA community. I’m pro-choice, which is not the same as being pro-abortion. Then again, being pro-life isn’t the same as being pro-all life. What I do believe is that women should have access to the services they need and, in some cases, that includes abortion services. What I believe is that I have zero right to tell a woman what she should do with her body. And neither does anyone else.
Can I admit that I’m a little scared to say all of that publicly? I know that’s a highly controversial opinion (at least to some people), and I am more than happy to discuss further, calmly and respectfully, with anyone who wants to send me an email.
But back to the matter at hand.
This past Saturday, I attended the Women’s March St. Pete and it was life-changing. I feel like I’m still trying to process all of my emotions because it was such a positive, uplifting, exhilarating time. Friday felt like the beginning of the end, but Saturday gave me back hope. It made me realize how many people are ready to fight and to make their voices heard.
This past Saturday, there were marches on every single continent. (Yes, even Antarctica!) I’m not sure of the final numbers, but I do know that there were at least 3 million people marching around the world.
It was peaceful. It was encouraging. It was demanding action without violence.
It was about showing this new administration that is going to be led by someone who has racist, misogynistic, xenophobic views that we are going to fight him every step of the way. It was to tell him that we the people believe in the rights for all… for women, for the LGBTQIA community, for immigrants, for those with disabilities.
At these marches, there were Democrats and Republicans. Christians and Muslims and Jews and atheists. Pro-lifers and pro-choicers. Women, men, kids. Liberals and conservatives. It was all of us coming together to stand together in solidarity.
It was about human rights. That’s why we marched. And if you can’t see how this incoming administration is a threat on that, then I have nothing to say to you. At the end of the day, this march showed that this isn’t about party vs party. It’s about people who fight for human rights vs people who are threatened by those who are different. Those who don’t care about marginalized communities. Those who don’t believe rape culture exists. Those who laughed along with Trump as he joked about grabbing a woman by the pussy.
As I walked along streets I’ve known my entire life in downtown St. Petersburg, so crammed in some areas that I couldn’t move, I felt filled up. I read the signs and snapped photos. I chanted along with the crowd with my fist in the air. Show me what democracy looks like. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.
And, look, I get it. This is not the end. I’m not patting myself on the back for a job well done for going to a march for a few hours on a Saturday. There is still work to be done. There is a lot of work to be done. There are calls to be made, protests to attend, money to donate, organizations to volunteer with. There’s a midterm election to prepare for. This is only the beginning of what is going to be a long and tough-fought four years.
But hell. I am fired up and ready to go. This march was a life-changing experience not because I attended or because of the people who were there. It was life-changing because it taught me that women are powerful, that we’re not going to let this new administration run over us, and that political activism is more important than ever before.
I hope he’s ready for us.
I’m so glad you came!
I am so proud of you for marching!
Stephany, you give me hope! Hope that people who were raised a certain way can grow up and think for themselves and decide “hey, I want everyone to have the same rights! I don’t want anybody to be discrimnated against! I am a compassionate human being!”… It’s so brave of you to come and say “I changed my mind!” and I applaud you for it.
You’re so right: I’m pro-choice, which is not the same as being pro-abortion (NOBODY wants to have abortions!) . Then again, being pro-life isn’t the same as being pro-all life (THAT’S RIGHT. If you’re pro-life, you have to support EVERYBODY’s life, not just the lives that you deem worthy of being supported).
This is a major pet peeve of mine and as long as you’re not willing to help that poor woman who thinks she can’t afford a child (financially and/or emotionally), you have NO right to tell her what to do with her body.
Thanks for marching! Thanks for being an advocate! Thanks forcontinuing the work. We need it more than ever.
Yes, yes, YES to all of this.
I find it ironic that some people get so upset about whether a child is going to be born or not and pay no attention to the LIFE it’s going to have. If a woman can’t actually afford a child, are you going to financially support them? If you want to force her to go through with a pregnancy -do you support public services and assistance that will enable that child to have a good LIFE beyond birth?
I’m sad that the new administration has so far managed to exceed my worst expectations. It’s scary, but seeing so many rally in the past few days is a ray of hope.
Obviously I love the heck out of this post. Like San says, you are such a great example and you give me hope too. You have been killing it with the brave and honest writing of late, Stephany.
Thanks for being so open and candid. Welcome to the left-we’re happy to have you! 🙂
Yes, yes, yes!! I marched in D.C. and am also still processing all of the emotions. I’ve started my action by calling my senators today about cabinet nominees. I’m a fellow swing-stater up here in Ohio, so you and I both know the important work we have to do over the next four years.
And your story of changing your views through research and facts (not “alternative facts”…) gives me so much hope. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for fighting.
I love this so much! I’m proud of you for being able to post all of this, especially having changed your views. It’s hard sometimes because these are sensitive topics and opinions, but if we don’t talk about them nothing will ever change.
Man I felt proud and inspired by everyone who marched last week! I am 100% pro human rights all the time. It really conflicts with some of my family members views who are more right-leaning and tend to be more concerned about the economy and freedom and protecting ‘our own’.
So glad to hear you got out and marched and good for you for sharing your political views so publicly like this. I learned a long time ago that I cannot keep my mouth shut about political stuff so I’ve had to start to just deal with taking some heat, 99% of the people who comment on my stuff are respectful about it.
Those pictures from the march are so incredible! I love that you went out and did this. What a great way to feel a bit more empowered and encouraged. I wasn’t able to march because we had a marriage meeting with the church that we’d scheduled over a month in advance. But I loved seeing everyone’s photos.
I am a conservative but I voted for Clinton. It was the first time I voted for a democrat since 2000. It was a hard decision for me as I was not a huge fan of Clinton but I knew that abstaining from voting for a presidential candidate (which was my initial plan) was a vote for Trump. So I voted for Clinton. These days I don’t know what political party I am a part of. I would say I am moderate. I’m socially liberal, except when it comes to abortion as I am pro-life – but I am pro ALL LIFE! Which means I think life begins at conception and I want to defend life, but I want to help care for and support life from birth to death (i.e. I’m appalled at the execute order banning refugees). But I am fiscally conservative. So I don’t fit into either party right now which means the candidate I vote for will never be a given based on their political party. This election, I had to set aside my strong views about abortion and vote for Clinton. I truly do not believe that Trump is representative of what it means to be a republican. His behavior is so awful, it makes me sick to my stomach and I have had trouble sleeping. I hope and pray that all of the action of those of us who are upset will make a change because i struggle to see how I can feel like this for 4 years.