Cue the title card: TWO-PLUS WEEKS LATER.

It’s been over two weeks since the results of the 2024 U.S. General Election bestowed upon us the news that we’ll be facing another four years of mismanagement, chaos, and whatever else comes with bad sequels in a bad franchise. At this point, engaging in even the tiniest bit of the talking head discourse is a form of post-civic masochism; thus, my home’s TVs have remained off or tuned away from the news channels for the most part. I’ve even cut down my YouTube political commentary consumption as there’s a near-constant flow of outrage and speculation on cabinet picks, proposed initiatives, and on and on. It becomes breathless droning after a while and I just cannot live in fear, persistent outrage, and/or despondency. I need to do something and I think you do, too, once you are past the shock and awe of what’s come to pass.

I watched/listened to the latest episode of On Guard Cigar Salon titled, “Time to RESIST“. Coming in at just over an hour, the episode sees the group (Kristofer Weston, Race Bannon, Graylin Thornton, and the Cigar Pig) talk about the results of the election and what it means for the nation and for LGBTQ+ folx. What I found interesting was how each member of the salon came from a different place as far as responding to the news, ranging from fearful to angry. It was a decent discussion and great to hear from others holding the same if not similar views as my own.

There was one point, however, that left me rolling my eyes ever so slightly.

It was the idea that we need a figurehead to unite under, a single point of light to gravitate toward for hope, inspiration, marching orders, etc. We need a Cleve Jones to step up, a Harvey Milk figure, someone to shoulder the responsibilities of the movements to come.

To this, I respectfully disagree mostly because of the way we (Humanity) treat the folx that do step up and try to lead. Living in the age of social media, people in positions of authority or prestige are regularly picked apart for their causes, their opinions, their ideas, and their looks. In the age of AI, they’re subject to deep fakes and other unsavory forms of automated imitation. One word out of line and the cancelation machines rev up, get recorded being a human and the campaigns of speculation and ridicule come to life. I think we’ve grown more unfair to our leaders since the advent of socials where the audience is no longer just one affected community but the entire world.

We have a horrible habit of excavating the good ones especially when they take on the mantles of leaders, organizers, mentors, and innovators. We put them through subjective filters half-hoping they pass our internal tests while half-hoping they fail. We pin our hopes and demands on them so we can say we did something for the cause and have thus fulfilled our roles as Concerned Citizens. We strive to show we fully support them while not-so-secretly looking for the better, hottest Next One. We delight in their rise and relish the fall with a resounding, “I told you that would happen.” It’s no wonder the good ones among us reluctantly take on the serious responsibilities of leadership.

The thing is…there will be no superhero swooping in to save us when the keys to the kingdom change hands next year.

We’re on our own, folx.

But…

We’re not alone.

To counter the On Guard guys, I say rather than call for a single point of light to show us the way, we should ALL break out our lighters in a concerted push back against the darkness. While we will need folx in prominence to represent, guide, and lead, we need to step up and do our parts to collectively shoulder the burdens and navigate the storms to come. We need organizers, testifiers, storytellers, artists to augment our supportive elected and organizational leaders; we need YOU to figure out your place in the years to come. Will you sit back or will you step up? Will you watch or will you act? Will you care or give in to apathy? You have until January 20th to figure it out but figure it out sooner than later please, that I ask of you.

We don’t know what will happen, yes, but we shouldn’t allow that uncertainty to overtake us. If you’re reading this and you’re from an oppressed group or a societal minority, we know how to fight because fighting is our social and literal bloodlines. That said, we don’t know who will come under fire in the coming administration; it could be a few or it could be all of us (LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Leather, etc.). We don’t know what will come leeching down into our jurisdictions and municipalities from on high nor do we know if we will have strong enough elected defenses to combat the start of an infection.

That’s where you come in. Below are a few ideas that I have:

• Determine what causes you feel the most strongly about and look for organizations/groups that will represent and advocate for them. Start locally in your respective city/county, look for meetings and calls to attend/join to gauge if it is right for your support. Then, move to statewide, then national organizations. As much as I appreciate what national organizations do, what happens in D.C. or NYC has little effect on, say, Chico (CA), Kayenta (AZ), or Paducah (KY); it’s the actual grassroots organizations and chapters that will need your help.
• Begin volunteering with those organizations rather than donating right away. What we found from the election was that money did nothing to assure a win, what was needed was people. Organizations are going to need people especially if you have talents and skills; check out what your organization needs and see if you can provide your skills for the cause.
• Encourage your organizations to work with one another. In my time, I’ve seen a lot of needless battles for prominence among organizations; one group wants credit for starting A, another group says they came before but improved A to a better B. While credit should be given where credit is due, it makes more sense to acknowledge the work and move forward together despite differences.
• Encourage your fellows to work together. Organizations and groups are united in purpose, or should be, and survive on the support and cooperation of their members. You will be an important component of the cause, the person by your side in a protest, at a table, or standing on a sidewalk gathering signatures is just as important. Anyone who believes they’re more important than someone else especially within the movement is perhaps not seeing the whole picture. Whatever the cause, they need to reminded of what’s at stake and what the causes are. Educate, empathize, and engage.
• Participate in initiatives as they come available. Organizations and groups will be organizing and holding events, carrying out initiatives both in-person and online. Get involved in both, not either, especially if the cause is dear to you. Strive to get like-minded folx around you involved, your family and friends, so that you have a supportive system behind you. Share the infographics, post the sample messaging, get to know who your elected officials are and learn how to contact them (via phone or email), get the info into newsletters/forums/etc. If you can’t get involved in person, do the online; if you’re more comfortable handling things online, do that. Do both but please don’t do nothing.
• Protect yourself and those you value. Movements are not known to be smooth sailing and you may come under attack for any number of reasons, begin (NOW) shoring up your defenses on a number of fronts:
  • Learn self-defense techniques: Basic techniques of defense, protective objects, etc.
  • Gather your papers and protect them: Birth certificates, passports, licenses, etc.
  • Learn basic emergency medical care: CPR, administering an AED, carry a first aid kit.
  • Read up on your rights and protections: Especially if these items were designed specifically for your respective protected class.
  • Learn basic hands-on skills: Changing a tire, jumping a car engine, using hand tools, you just never know.
  • Check up on family and friends often: Depending on your circumstances, this may mean chosen family; in any case, keep your lines of communication open to colleagues who you know stand with you.
• Know that you are not alone even if it feels like it. You’ve volunteered, donated, protested, etc. but there is still a feeling of aloneness. You’ re not alone. The organizations and groups you joined and gave your energy to are testament to the assertion that there are many others who feel as you do. Reach out and connect with them, either online or in-person. Go out for coffee, a hike, a movie, it’ll be more important than ever to stick together as cause-united friends.

All of this is to say that we need to be prepared and we need to be able to push back on what’s to come TOGETHER. While it may seem ideal to find and lift someONE up to be the face of our causes, there will come a time when that person may falter and/or fade. Either by their doing or by OUR doing after we’ve dragged them through every wringer we have.

Finally, to bring this into the Leather Community:

If you are a current titleholder, start using your station to speak up for unity and for the causes.

If you are a former titleholder, start using your honorific to engage Communities to act together.

If you are a prospective titleholder, start developing ideas and plans on how you can use the title to advocate should you get it.

If you have prominence in your local Leather Community, start sharing information on how the Community can unite; organize and provide opportunities for folx to come together like community safety forums or pooling support for those who come under harm.

If you have prominence within the Leather/Kink media sphere, encourage your audiences to volunteer, organize, and engage in meaningful resistance in addition to providing opinion. Provide specific resources often.

If you are, like me, a denizen of Leather and Kink, I encourage you to start thinking about how you’d like to engage with the times to come.

I do not intend to stand back or silent if/when my Communities come under fire.

I have fight left and I can’t do it alone.

Take my gloved hand, let’s gear up and push back.

Together.