By Noëlle Vieau
The last time that I had the good fortune to write for The Livingston Post, I did not realize that Moms for Liberty was a racist, homophobic, and transphobic organization. I thought that they were an understanding group of mothers who supported the right to make healthcare decisions for themselves and their families.
I was wrong.
I recognize and empathize with people who want to make their own healthcare decisions while, hopefully, being considerate toward others. Particularly the immuno-compromised.
I, like many Americans, believe in personal freedom. This includes deciding if you are non-binary. You decide if you are transgender, and what bathroom is appropriate. Not your neighbor, the government, or a school board member.
It will never make sense to me why some people cling to the idea that freedom lies in telling someone who they are.
We, as humans, know who we are. If you believe in God, they know who we are. My faith tells me that a Higher Power takes great joy in watching us learn to love each other. When we do, I imagine it’s like seeing a three-pointer in the last few seconds of a basketball game.
The big win.
Until some people recognize that it is not freedom to remove freedom(s) regarding who you know you are as an individual, parties will lose voters to parties who make a point to say, “I see you.” Whether that is something that they mean, or not.
We need to take the initiative to assert the knowledge of our freedom, ourselves.
I have a T-shirt that reads: “You Will Have To Go Through Me.” It means that you will have to go through me in your attempt to harm someone who is transgender.
It’s a T-shirt that could become unnecessary if we make the commitment to support each other.
You don’t need politics to do that. You just need heart, and a little faith in your fellow human beings and their knowledge of themselves.
“You Will Have To Go Through US.”
Has a nice ring to it.
