I live in Newberg, Oregon. Even just saying that much makes me afraid. I'm exposing myself to anyone who might seek me out, out of hate.
But I also live in a town where the school board banned any flags, stickers, clothing, or any other materials bearing logos of LGBT or BLM just over a year ago. While many spoke out against this action, there was a lot of support for it in this area.
It's a terrifying feeling living in an area where I'm afraid to exist as myself. When I go out in the community, I refuse to hide, however. I wear the clothes that show I'm non-binary and a member of the LGBT community. Why? Because there are most likely other people like me who are still living in fear, who are living closeted and can't come out because of their families and because of a community that doesn't support, even disapproves, openly, who they are.
I want them to see me and know they aren't alone. That I am here, and standing up against the community and its bigotry. I alone may not change the views here, but I know there are others like me, (I have seen them), and together we can begin to create change. There is always fear within me that I will be confronted or even attacked for showing who I am. I don't display my LGBT flag on my house yet, because I have conservative neighbors and honestly I am afraid of harassment so close to my home. My grandson lives with me and I don't want to put him in danger.
This is the reality of living in small-minded Newberg here in Oregon, just 20 miles away from Portland. People like to think of this state as "blue" and liberal, but I can assure you, it is not. Not only does it become far more anti-LGBT as you move farther away from Portland, but incredibly more racist and dangerous for Black people.
The US is not a safe haven for anyone who isn't a cisgender heterosexual white man, and won't be for a long time. At least not until the Boomer and Gen X generations are gone, and the taint they leave in their children as well.
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