Member-only story
As a white, cisgender woman with all boys and past childbearing years who isn’t LGBTQ, it’s true that I’ll probably be just fine. I fit into a demographic that often feels a layer of insulation from many issues affecting marginalized communities. But does that mean I can ignore the realities facing others? Not at all. The fact that I don’t face certain risks personally doesn’t lessen the importance of those risks or the compassion I feel for those who do face them.
Some of the people I hold most dear are members of communities that are more vulnerable to discrimination, hate, and systemic challenges. I have friends who are gay, loved ones who are immigrants, and acquaintances whose rights are under threat simply because of who they are. And knowing this — caring for people who face those risks daily — means I feel a responsibility to stay informed, to speak out, and to advocate for them however I can.
Why Staying Engaged Matters
It’s easy to assume that if we aren’t personally impacted by certain policies or social trends, then they aren’t our business. But, when we’re part of a community — whether it’s a neighborhood, a country, or just a circle of friends — the wellbeing of others affects us all. The rights, safety, and dignity of others aren’t just their issues; they’re human issues. And they remind us that our silence can be interpreted as consent to injustices we don’t agree with.
