A wide variety of pro-LGBT organizations issued responses after Donald Trump's Nov. 8 victory as the newest president of the United States. Many groups and individuals have seemingly approaches that include vigilance and defiance.
What follow are excerpts from organizations' and individuals' press releases:
—SAGE ( Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders ): "With a corrosive election season behind us, we now must put aside divisive rhetoric and exclusionary proposals that fly in the face of our values in favor of a national governing agenda that addresses the pain and inequities that so many Americans face. ... SAGE stands firm for a policy agenda that makes older Americans a national priority, and that ensures that LGBT elders and elders from all diverse communities—who are among the most vulnerable in our society—are at the center of that priority."
—National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs: "Now more than ever in light of the results of the presidential election, we are committed to speaking out against injustice and to caring for those in our communities who have experienced violence and discrimination. ... We will work tirelessly, continuously moving ourselves toward the fight for justice and acceptance everywhere. This week, we are tested again, as we have been so many countless times before, and just as many of us feel drained, tired, and overwhelmed, may we all find that our capacity to love and to care may well be limitless."
—Freedom for All Americans and Trans United Fund ( joint release ): "This election represents a serious setback for transgender people and our allies. ... Now more than ever, it's crucial that trans leaders and our allies redouble our efforts to better understand and support one another, to struggle through our differences together, and to bring our collective wisdom and experience to bare in building a movement and a strategy that can make that vision a reality."
—One-time presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders: "Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics and the establishment media.
"To the degree that Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him. To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him."
—Victory Fund President & CEO Aisha C. Moodie-Mills:"I am heartbroken that racist, xenophobic, sexist and transphobic demagoguery won last night's presidential election. The devastating results hit the LGBT community particularly hard because we are unique in spanning all the demographic groups targeted by the president-elect throughout his campaign.
"Build the next generation of diverse LGBT candidates so we can cement our gains and further equality for all people. But let's not kid ourselves. We made huge strides these past eight years, and last night we took steps back. Now our community and allies need to rally and demand all elected lawmakers—not just LGBT elected officials—unequivocally stand on the side of equality for all people."
—Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron: "At this critical moment in history for our federal courts, it is essential that we fight with all the resources at our disposal against a takeover of our courts by the anti-woman, anti-gay, anti-worker, anti-minority forces of the far right. Rarely has there been a time when the fairness and impartiality of our courts have been more at stake. We and our allies at Alliance for Justice will oppose, with every ounce of our strength, an ultraconservative takeover of our nation's courts."
—GLSEN: "While we can't go back and change the outcome of this election, we will not sit silently by and watch the progress we've made on LGBTQ issues be destroyed.
"We have certainly hit a roadblock, but our momentum will not be stopped. And the momentum we've seen is because of you. It's because of local communities, school districts, and state coalitions coming together to demand change. We must renew our support for local organizing, advocacy, and progress, even in the face of stronger political opposition and the loss of civil rights champions at the federal level."
—Lambda Legal CEO Rachel B. Tiven: "Our beautiful, slowly improving, two-steps-forward-one-step-back country took a giant step backward.
"Lambda Legal will hold the line when our rights are under attack. We know how to fight the government in the courts when the other branches are closed off—we did it in those dark years after 2004, and still we made progress. We will do it again now—and this time Americans know who we are and stand with us.
"We will fight back in our beautiful diversity and without compromise. We will fight back as LGBT people of color, Muslims, immigrants and refugees. As my friend Cristina Jimenez, head of the immigration leader United We Dream, wrote early this morning, we are here to stay."
—CenterLink CEO Terry Stone: "While some celebrate and others commiserate, we, as an LGBT community, must remain resilient and strong. We must renew our commitment to listen to and learn from each other, to speak out against injustice, and to be a voice for those who have no voice.
"We must speak loudly in protest against homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, racism, sexism and all other forms of oppression. And as they have always done, our LGBT community centers will continue to be a place of gathering, caring and support."
—Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin: "Throughout our nation's history, we've faced devastating setbacks in our pursuit of a more perfect union. But even in the darkest of moments, Americans have summoned the courage and persistence to fight on. The results of tonight's presidential election require us to meet tomorrow with the same resolve and determination.
"This is a crucial moment for our nation and for the LGBTQ movement. The election of a man who stands opposed to our most fundamental values has left us all stunned. There will be time to analyze the results of this election, but we ca nnot afford to dwell. We must meet these challenges head on."
—GLAD Executive Director Janson Wu: "The full, devastating impact of yesterday's election is yet to be known, but I woke up this morning knowing that, first, we must take care of each other.
"This is not business as usual. The rhetoric of racism, misogyny, and Islamophobia that we endured during the campaign cannot become policy, and cannot become who we are. All of our collective efforts will be more vital than ever.
"GLAD is not going anywhere. We are here, and we will continue fighting like hell for all of us.
—NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell: "By a slim margin, this nation has elected a demagogue who trafficked in bigotry, stoked racist hatred and normalized misogyny. The election of Donald Trump as president threatens basic principles of human dignity and justice. Many of our most cherished values—inclusion, honoring difference, embracing equality, dismantling oppressive systems—are in jeopardy, but we will not be deterred. This is the moment we are called to resist.
"We are about to be tested as never before, and speaking for myself, and NCLR, we will not stand down, sit idle or be silent in the face of oppression, bullying or threat. This election result is devastating for our nation and especially for the most vulnerable. But we will fight on and will never give up. We must be the ones we are waiting for. Together, we fight on and we fight back. We must harness our grief, fear and outrage and serve justice."
—National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund Executive Director Rea Carey: "Millions of people here and around the world will be shocked, disappointed and frankly frightened by the election of Donald Trump. His remarks over the course of the campaign including his sexist, racist, and xenophobic comments, as well as his mocking of people with disabilities and his dehumanization of Muslims leave many of us deeply disturbed.
"Make no mistake about it: This will also give us a roadmap for fair-minded, moral, compassionate people to come together like never before and fight. It will take longer, it will be harder, but rest assured that united and working in partnership with people of good conscience, we will get there."
See earlier coverage at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/On-election-of-Donald-Trump-organizations-respond/57103.html .
