If you live in a progressive city, consider staying put

Okay, I need to be real with those of my friends and queer community living in progressive “blue states,” and I say this with an abundance of love and awareness of how scared many of us are right now — staying put and focusing on community and building up your stress tolerance is very likely the safest option for the future.

I see a lot of people who live in disproportionately progressive areas making frantic statements about fleeing abroad to places where they would have no community, sometimes where they know none of the local language, would have no job security, and no safety net — where, often, American immigrants, particularly those whose identities are “controversial,” do not fare well. Yes, by all means, get your passport ready and updated in case the worst were to happen — it never hurts to be prepared. But also, I encourage you to check in on your privileges.

And honestly, your friends in bumfuck Ohiotucky don’t need to hear that you’re thinking about fleeing the place where they may soon be seeking refuge and community.

I understand the fear many of us are feeling and, trust me, I understand the fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or flop response. It makes sense that recent events are triggering to so many of us, and now is a time to feel your feelings. You need to feel your grief, your fear…