In Tuesday’s election, the GLBTQ community was hit with yet more adversity. Rather than wallow in the disappointment, it is time for all people no matter their orientation to stand up and be heard! The question is how? These three steps will help in taking our message to the society at large: SPEAK, STAND, and SHELL!

1. Speak OUT! Conquering our fears of judgment is no easy task. However, our families must know, our friends must know, the person in the store must know! It is time to correct those who would think of us otherwise and make sure they understand WE ARE GOOD with our lives and they should be too. We must be seen in our daily lives the same way anyone is seen. We cannot allow people to assume that everyone is heterosexual. By correcting them or clarifying your identity they will stop thinking that we are the exceptions and just see us as part of the common fabric that is our world.
2. Stand OUT! It doesn’t matter if its email, phone, or handwritten notes. Let elected officials know that we are not going to be forgotten or dismissed. Join a grass roots organization, local gay community center or even an online community to stand up and be counted. Now more than ever affiliating is easy. Try www.broadwayimpact.com, or www.talkaboutequality.org. It is important that people we don’t even know see us and realize that we will not go away quietly.
3. Shell OUT! We live in a world that values and respects the dollar, so use it to our advantage! Spend your money in targeted places. Support GLTBQ owned and GLBTQ supportive businesses. We are members of the community, but we always recommend our clients patronize businesses that support our community fully! The more we choose to spend with these companies over those that either ignore us or worse yet intentionally discriminate against us, the stronger our voice becomes.

We are the strongest voice for our rights that we will ever find. We must each take the lead by example and speak for those who still do not feel safe or accepted. Now is the time to be counted. You can choose the approach that is right for you, but choose to be an active participant in our community. We will all benefit for each others efforts.