Included

Today I woke up to see that Trump has probably won the election. My first feeling: the US government is not God, and my sense of safety and belonging in this world does not come from anyone or anything else. Then, I felt tremendous joy and gratitude for all the love, unity and goodness these past months have shown, through every person who spoke up for others with no platform, and for those who have been rejected. You showed me a world where everyone is included.

As I ate breakfast, I listened to an interview with Brenee Brown on vulnerablinity and realized that it is time for me to show up as my full self. I will no longer hide who I am out of fear of rejection. I’ve been excluding myself from this human conversation, and it is time to finally present myself loud and proud.

I have a Republican Christian brother (son of my mother), whom I’ve listened to patiently for many years, and with whom I’ve never shared the truth of who I am. I am everything he rejects and judges as sinful. In “sparing” him from fully seeing me, I internalized his toxic beliefs.

Today, I believe Creation loves everything and everyone, including me: a gay, gender non-conforming woman who has taken 51 years to love herself.

It is good to meet you here, where we all belong!