There is a lie that power clings to, a lie whispered through history and etched into laws written by men who fear losing control. It tells us that autonomy is granted. That our right to exist as we are must be legislated and approved.
But that has never been the truth.
No government, no institution, no self-proclaimed authority holds the power to grant or revoke what is already ours. Autonomy is not given. It is owned. And when that ownership is threatened, we do not step back. We fight malice where it stands.
This is not just a belief. It is a call to action.
When we stand against those who seek to erase, diminish, or control us, we do so not just for ourselves but for those who have been silenced before and those who will come after. We refuse to make oppression more comfortable. We reject the idea that neutrality is anything but complicity. There is no room for civility when people’s dignity, safety, and existence are at stake.
Not all views deserve a place at the table.
The notion that every perspective is valid falls apart when that perspective demands harm. There is no middle ground between justice and injustice. No reconciliation between freedom and control. No conversation to be had with those who believe some people are worth less than others.
We do not break bread with those who stand against progress.
This is not a time for silence. Not a time for waiting, hoping, or appealing to the better nature of those who have already chosen their side. It is a time to draw boundaries, fortify ourselves, and stand as a force too powerful to be ignored.
If you’ve been waiting for permission to take up space, to exist without apology, to hold your ground against those who would see you small: this is it.
You are loved.
Your identity is valid.
And no matter how hard they try, they will never erase us.