Calls to national LGBTQ+ hotlines spiked following the reelection of former President Donald Trump, The Washington Post reported.
Members of the queer community are feeling mixed emotions. Concerns over same sex marriage laws getting repealed have persisted since Roe v. Wade was overturned, and Trump’s reelection ensures a strong conservative bent on the Supreme Court for years to come. More recently, Trump himself made promises to curb transgender rights, including gender-affirming care.
In Bloomington-Normal, individuals, groups and businesses flooded social media almost immediately after the Associated Press called the election Nov. 5 to create safe spaces for people to convene.
“It's a place where someone can be themselves, where they can talk about concerns that are impacting them, without having those concerns minimized or dismissed,” explained Bryan Hinman, a board member for one of those organizations, the Prairie Pride Coalition.
He pointed out that the group’s monthly meetings and events around town can all act as that type of space.
Hope United Methodist Church — an LGBTQ+ inclusive place of worship — and local businesses including the Bistro, Bobzbay Books and Main Street Yoga have also made their buildings available to people and continue to keep their doors open. Church Reverend Jennie Edwards-Bertrand made stations in the sanctuary for people to light candles, write affirmations and create art to express themselves.
“One person said to me, this is one of the first times that I've really cried,” she recalled. “Then said, ‘But I felt such unconditional love to come into this space and be surrounded by other people.’”
Which Edwards-Bertrand said is exactly what she’d hoped would come of the event. For herself, she said it acted as “a reminder of we're still in this together, and there are still safe places to be.”
While the stations are going to be taken down after Sunday worship, Edwards-Bertrand said the church community is still “going to continue to show love and continue to fight for justice for all people's rights.”
Both Edwards-Bertrand and another Prairie Pride Coalition board member, Dave Bentlin, pointed out that while national politics may seem stark, the local election paints a different picture. They said it’s been encouraging to think about how the McLean County Board has a Democratic majority for the first time in its history.
“We're one of the few downstate counties that really is more progressive and welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community,” Bentlin said, adding that Illinois has always been progressive in its LGBTQ+ legislation. In an interview at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bloomington — one of the partner organizations — Bentlin highlighted that the state already has a law that protects same sex marriage, even in the event of a federal repeal.
In the next four years, Bentlin said expects Bloomington-Normal to act as a haven for LGBTQ+ people. He said people from outside the community with trans youth have already reached out asking about how supportive the schools are because they’re considering a move.
“There is reason for hope and there are things that we can build on to make this a safe, inclusive community,” Bentlin said.
In the meantime, Bentlin and others encourage people who are struggling to seek community, whether it’s in faith such as Hope Church, or gathering opportunities offered through Prairie Pride and local businesses.
For LGBTQ+ individuals in need of immediate and emergency crisis assistance, call the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text TREVOR to 1-202-304-1200. A chat is available at thetrevorproject.org.
For a more general line, there is the Suicide and Criss Lifeline reachable at 9-8-8.
Call PATH at 2-1-1 to get connected to local services for non-emergencies.
