Steven LaChance Blog

I was born in 1965 in St. Louis, MO happy, healthy and gay.

The world I was born into was a very dangerous place for someone like me. Growing up in the late sixties and seventies wasn’t easy. Back then, being homosexual was often seen as taboo. In some places, it was outright illegal. In some areas, it was punishable by death, which it still is today. Statistics tell us that the year when I was born, being gay was not even close to being widely accepted. In fact, homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association until 1973. Imagine grappling with your identity. It is the very fiber of who you are as a person. Yet, society labels it as a sickness. How do you reconcile your truth with this type of worldview? Seems unfair doesn’t?

Research shows that in the sixties and seventies, gay men faced significant challenges. They experienced, at times, brutal discrimination, suffocating social stigma, and a lack of any comprehensive legal protections. Same-sex relationships were considered illegal in many parts of the world. Discrimination based on sexual orientation was rampant and often resulted in violence. As a gay man, I had to be cautious about who I revealed my true self to. In many workplaces, being openly gay would cost you your job. The fear of rejection and isolation loomed large, and the mental toll of living in secret was palpable.

The HIV/AIDS crisis of the eighties added another layer of complexity to being a gay man. The epidemic disproportionately affected the LGBTQ+ community, and many lives were lost. The stigma linked to HIV/AIDS further ostracized gay men, creating a sense of collective trauma and grief. The Moral Majority was politically strong in this era. They attacked dying gay men by claiming it was God’s wrath cleansing the earth of the gay scourge. Every day, we listened to the talking heads on television discuss our value in the world. They questioned whether we were worthy of life. As a teen in the early eighties, I remember receiving a constant barrage of daily hate. It came from the people and institutions supposed to guide a nation, not hate its people. This changes you.

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Over the years, attitudes towards homosexuality have evolved significantly. The legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015 marked a historic milestone for the LGBTQ+ community. It signaled a shift towards greater acceptance and equality. Today, as a gay man in my fifties, I am grateful for the progress we have made. It seemed we were finally on the right road of acceptance. That was until the Trump era began.

The reality of a second Trump presidency looms large as a source of concern and fear. Progress has been made in terms of LGBTQ+ rights. However, the political landscape can shift rapidly. This shift puts our hard-won victories at risk. The statistics paint a sobering picture. During the Trump administration from 2017 to 2021, there were several rollbacks of LGBTQ+ protections and rights. The earlier Trump administration attempted to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. They also eroded healthcare rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. These policies and many others had real and lasting consequences.

For gay men like me, the fear of discrimination and marginalization under another Trump presidency is very much alive. The rhetoric of hate and divisiveness perpetuated during his time in office created a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. It emboldened those who seek to strip us of our rights and dignity.

The specter of a second Trump presidency raises concerns about the erosion of marriage equality. It also raises concerns about workplace protections. Additionally, it raises concerns about access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals. The progress we have fought so hard for could be undone, leaving us vulnerable and exposed to discrimination and bigotry.

As we look to the future, we must stay vigilant. It is essential to stay resilient in the face of these challenges. We must mobilize everyone. We should advocate for equality. We must educate others about the importance of inclusion for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.

I understand some of you voted for a second Trump presidency. You don’t understand the feelings of sadness and anger from the LGBTQ+ community right now. We feel as if we have been betrayed by people we thought we could trust. You told us you accepted us and you supported us. You told us love is love. Then you voted for a man who has already hurt us before. He will hurt us again. He and his sycophants promise to hurt us even more in the future. We as a community have a right to be hurt and angry.

I urge those who supported a second Trump presidency to take a moment. Try to comprehend the feelings of sadness within the LGBTQ+ community. Understand how anger and betrayal are being deeply felt. It’s challenging to reconcile the promises of acceptance and support with actions that undermine our rights and well-being. Put yourselves into the shoes of members of the LGBTQ+ community. How would you feel if your life was being challenged in this way?

In conclusion, being a gay man born in 1965 has been a journey marked by struggle, resilience, and progress. Even with the current looming threat, I am still hopeful. I envision a future where LGBTQ+ individuals can live without fear. They should not face discrimination. The community has survived through this threshold of fear before. We will survive again because our history has taught us how to. Remember, love is love, and our stories deserve to be heard and celebrated. Our stories and our voices will carry us through this time of uncertainty. They will also guide us through what is to come in the future.

Watch carefully, wait vigilantly and plan smartly is how we are going to get through what’s ahead. At all costs do not go silent and say nothing. Do not let the hateful crowd force you back into silence and hiding. We know where that leads. We have seen it too many times before. Silence still equals death even in this day and age.