Even though I am turning 67 this year, death hasn't yet scared me that much. I still see a future ahead of me, and then - who knows? But what does scare me is that I am transgender, and that the "religious right" in politics is targeting people like me for their pogroms.
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Recently, I awoke to a rerun of a program discussing how the Christian Nationalists are plotting to take over the levers of American government and take away hard earned rights from the LGBTIQ community. This scares me, as I have been open enough to be easily persecuted if the worst happens. Yet, I feel that I will have enough time to pack up my bags and find a temporary home if the worst happens.
But why does the fear of religious persecution keep me up at night, and not that of death?
All people die. Why worry about something you can't control or avoid? But being persecuted is something I might be able to avoid, and history has shown that it is possible if one is able to act early enough. Right now, I fear that I might be living in the equivalent of Germany's Weimar Republic of the 1920's, and that we may soon enter the equivalent of the Third Reich of the 1930's. Given that we know what happened to Germany in 1945, there is a lot for a thinking person to be worried about.
Do I have a plan for the worst case scenario?
Right now, I am working on an escape plan. But this is not enough. Anyone who leaves this mess may need to bring their money with them as well. If I were in my 20's, I'd leave this country and put down roots elsewhere. Canada might not be a good option, as I remember what happened to Austria when the Nazis had power. The last thing that the US or Canada needs is to unify under a single government. Ireland or the UK would be good options, but could they maintain their own independence?
In youth, it's easy to find places where one can start life anew. If I had to leave the US when I was in my 20's, I'd have had my choice of English speaking nations. But 40 years later, I no longer have the skills that would make me desirable candidate to be accepted in a new country.
So, what am I doing?
For the most part, I'm speaking my truth to others, hoping they will see the dangers coming from the right. Sadly, I think identity politics is finally going to get the best of America, and that I may find myself looking for the nearest border if the worst happens....
