It has been a brutal 24 hours.
I had every possible live coverage outlet open on my computer. I watched the slow and steady disintegration of the universe as it became clearer that Donald Trump would, indeed, win the US election. I did all one can do to self-preserve.
By that, I mean I wept while listening to Justin Bieber. I drank maaaybe seven glasses of wine. I sang a Kate Bush song to a crowd of strangers. I ate a chicken bacon burger, even though I am a vegetarian.
Real talk: I kept waking up last night every hour or so thinking this was a depressing fever dream/nightmare, and I was confident that I needed to tap out of the media for a bit ’cause there was no way I’d receive any good news.
In the end, I was proven wrong on both counts. This is certainly not a hallucination, and things can get better.
In the midst of all the madness, a few silver linings were revealed. While the presidency was secured firmly by Trump, there was an historic number of women elected across the country as governors, legislators, and Senate members.
What makes it all the more empowering is that many of these women are queer, or people of colour.
A neck and neck race in Nevada – where Republican candidate Joe Heck was expected to secure the seat – saw Catherine Cortez Masto pull ahead by a narrow margin. Cortez Masto is the first ever Latina woman to land a gig in the Senate.
In Oregon, Governor Kate Brown became the first openly queer person elected to serve by a US state. While Brown is married, she was outed as bisexual in the eighties. Outing someone against their will is obvs the worst thing to do ever, but Brown has come to see it as some manifestation of a blessing.
She said “if I can be a role model for one young person that decides that their life is worth living because there’s someone like them in the world, it’s worth it.”
Ilhan Omar became the first Somali-American Muslim woman to serve as a legislator, strongly winning a House race in Minnesota. Omar is a refugee and feminist, and proud wearer of the hijab. Her victory will undoubtedly offer some light and strength to women of colour in a world that Trump has already begun to create.
At least @IlhanMN made us proud tonight ???? pic.twitter.com/n8naDKfF1u
— Taylor Renae (@tayrayholla) November 9, 2016
In other good news, Governor Pat McRory – the face of HB2, AKA the “trans people cannot use bathrooms” bill, AKA the worst thing ever – was defeated by his Democratic rival, Roy Cooper. In classic Republican fashion, though, McRory is refusing to concede.
ALSO, recreational marijuana use has been legalised in Nevada, Massachusetts, California and Maine. We don’t even need to despair, folks. We can just relocate to one of these states, smoke up, and have a super chill life.
How’s that for a silver lining?
Photo: @IlhanMN / Twitter.
