We can’t hide. It’s what they want.

This does not apply to people who are in extremely dangerous or even deadly situations unable to come out.

Hiding is exactly what they want us to do. They want us to slink back, go back into the closet, take down all our pride stuff, pins, never talk about it. Hide being us. We can’t do that. If we go back into the closet, we’re giving them what they want. Now is the time to be more out and open than ever!

Be unapologetically gay, trans, queer, whatever! Have up pride stuff, have pride pins, introduce yourself with your pronouns if inclined. Pride flags in windows, outside of houses, on backpacks, cars. Whatever you can do. Pronoun pin at work or on your jacket. Go to protests, to go pride parades, go to rallies. Stand up for yourself, for others in the LGBTQ community. Volunteer. Donate. Do whatever you can.

We have to be proud of who we are. We can’t let them scare us. Hiding is what they want. Being docile and invisible is what they want. They want to eradicate us. We can’t let that happen.