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| On a personal note, many of us are experiencing a range of emotions from anger and grief to anxiety and fear. I share many of those feelings and am deeply concerned that an individual will return to the White House who has so clearly shown us who he is with the hate filled rhetoric that fueled his campaign and promised to seek retribution using the full reach of the government once he is restored to power.
For all Trump’s lies, we must believe him in this moment. His second presidency will be more dangerous to our community and impactful on your Center than his first. Still, I want to remind you that the LGBTQ+ community, and the Center, have demonstrated time and again that we are not only resilient to attacks on our existence, but have found ways to thrive in a hostile environment. We’ve expanded services in ways and are reaching more LGBTQ+ people than we dreamt about just a decade ago. The Sacramento LGBT Community Center opened its doors at a time when everything about our lives as LGBTQ+ people required us to hide as our existence was considered a mental illness. Since 1978, the Center has been a beacon of hope, responsive to the health and wellness needs of our community through HIV, COVID, and MPOX; an advocate for equity and justice as we fought for the right to marry, employment protections, and equal access to healthcare; and a place where our diverse and culturally rich community is celebrated with Pride year-round. Our commitment to care for the most vulnerable is unwavering and our experience will guide our continued fight to protect our community regardless of the challenges ahead. While the election results may undermine our progress toward a more inclusive and just nation, I want to uplift the victories of this election cycle. Last night, Proposition 8 was struck from the California Constitution and Sarah McBride became the first out transgender person elected to Congress. I recognize that this is a difficult moment. And we believe that with your support, our continued work to create a region where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive and our advocacy for a more inclusive and just world is not only possible but achievable together with you. In Solidarity, David Heitstuman, CEO
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