Americans are living through an era fueled by discrimination. While LGBTQIA+ folx know these tactics well. Each new law chips away at our dignity, and many of our siblings believe they are “Safe” from these attacks, that they are the exception. History warns us otherwise.
I often return to Martin Niemöller’s confession, where he listed discriminated groups, and then said, “Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.” Offering this warning after surviving Nazi imprisonment, but what many forget is he once supported the ideology that turned on him. His regret became a lesson, Silence protects the oppressor, never the oppressed.
We cannot repeat that mistake today. LGBTQ rights are human rights, and every letter in our acronym is part of the same struggle. Some letters represent sexual orientation; others represent gender identity. All reflect our humanity. Consider the teaching that the eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you;” No one succeeds alone, and the parts of the body that appear weaker are indispensable. Another moral truth, “What we do for the least of these, we do for all.” The obligation remains the same. A just society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members.
As a Trans woman who has survived homelessness, discrimination, and violence, I know what it means to be targeted simply for existing. None of which should be controversial. My hair, my clothing, and my relationships should not require public debate or legislative oversight.
We are one human family. Race, color, creed, sexual orientation, and gender identity do not determine whose dignity matters. Every one of us is entitled to safety, autonomy, and respect. Equality has never been a passive endeavor. Silence is not neutrality. And history is watching. This is your moment to speak up, challenge misinformation, and refuse to let hateful rhetoric and discrimination go unaddressed.
Misty Eyez is a dynamic keynote speaker, educator, and fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion, known for blending wisdom with wit to transform hearts and minds through authenticity, humor, and unapologetic truth. She currently serves as the Director of three life-changing programs at SunServe, supporting and empowering marginalized communities.
