After a slim majority of America’s voters returned a toddler with a loaded gun to the presidency, I put myself on a strict national news diet. Now entering the second month, I limit my national news consumption to one hour per day, as needed, down from five.

I read the column by Mark Segal of the Philadelphia Gay News posted on Nov. 9 after Donald Trump’s election where he states: “As we have done for the past 55 years since Stonewall, we will continue to stand tall, proud, and ready to wage the good fight. This isn’t new; there have been times when elections in this country directly impacted our lives. Let’s reflect on those moments, the challenges we faced, and how we not only survived but made progress.”

Many in our community were quick to criticize Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride, accusing her of “capitulating” to a new Congressional bathroom rule introduced by Republicans.

I spent Election Day 2024 in one place where politics was not discussed: At a polling place where, as I usually do, I served as a poll worker.