This year's theme for LGBT History Month is 'Activism and Social Change' and in this piece (originally written for Gay London Life) I outline my strategy for 'world affairs overwhelm'... Value where you put your attention.
Error 404.
I’ve just typed ‘LGBTQ+’ into the search bar on the White House website.
How about ‘HIV’?
No results.
This swift takedown of information on the White House website is accompanied by a slick trailer showcasing Trump’s return to office – ‘America is back’ it declares as the nation’s military might is paraded across the screen.
Much of this is merely for show of course.
Executive orders must pass through the American legal and judicial system to become law, and hopefully the systems designed to stop a dictatorial smash and grab will hold fast.
Although emboldened by a second term despite a maelstrom of controversies, the fear Trump may begin to sidestep due process is all too real.
Truth and justice don’t really matter to people like Trump - the ultimate reality star ‘showman’, he and his team are masters of perception management.
Anything can be used as an angle for publicity – even being a convicted felon.
Grandstanding aside, we are all now stuck with Trump and his insatiable need for our attention in the headlines for the next four years.
Surrounded by air punching Bezos, nazi-saluting Musk, and general suck up Zuckerberg – the new American oligarchs – the fear of where America could be heading is palapapable, especially for historically marginalised communities like ours.
The inauguration of Trump has emboldened the far right here in the UK too, although I’m not overly convinced they’re too much of a threat here in the UK just yet.
Witnessing Lawrence Fox and his cronies travelling to Washington but not gaining entry to any inauguration event resulting in them being forced to watch proceedings in their hotel room was quite delicious.
I knew the swing to the far right was coming, but never did I think it would be so cringe.
I don’t say any of this to diminish the very real fears many of us are feeling right now.
History has taught us to believe people when they tell us who they are, and this bunch haven’t been backwards in coming forwards about their thoughts and feelings on us queers.
But power is fragile, especially power built on populist, jingoistic, anti-woke rhetoric, and people like Trump know this so they weaponize fear as a tool for control.
Trump is a master of grabbing things… power, money, women (in inappropriate places) and your attention.
For a sociopath like Trump, the only thing that matters are ‘the ratings’ and boy has he perfected how to get them - I heard his name in every single news bulletin the week of his inauguration.
The world is an unstable place on many fronts right now, and it’s all too easy to become addicted to the cortisol spikes brought about by rolling news and social media doomscrolling.
As an activist I know how important it is to protect your peace and be well rested and resourced to fight the good fight, burning out in a blaze of glory in constant reaction to the current violence of this world is not a cute look.
As we head into LGBT History Month, I’m reflective about how far we’ve come, but how precarious that currently all feels.
But I’m determined not to let them get me down.
As LGBTQ+ people, whether we like it or not, our bodies are politicised, our very identity makes us all activists on some level.
But in these destabilising times with an emboldened far right, how do we keep ourselves safe and sane?
My answer?
Turn off.
I’m not calling for mass ignorance, but for us to consider where we place our attention.
Are we really making good use of our time and resources shouting on social media or screaming in despair at the telly?
Or could we focus that passion and energy in more productive places?
Listening, reflecting, supporting one another, nurturing, and growing our grass roots – don’t forget creating queer joy is also an act of powerful resistance.
So, I encourage you to break the addiction to the cortisol spikes of fear manufactured to grind you down.
And remember, for those in the business of reality TV political perception management, they can’t control you if you simply switch off the channel.
My play Toxic tours England this spring 2025. For tour dates, visit: www.dibbytheatre.org.uk/toxic
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