Why I Marched (& Which Signs I Liked Best)

Why I Marched (& Which Signs I Liked Best)

Sunday, January 21, 2018

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"This is what democracy looks like!"

I was proud to march in the Cleveland Women's March on Saturday with three of my friends & 7,000 others Northeast Ohioans. We marched alongside sisters (& brothers & non-binary folks!) who were Black, white, Latinx, Asian, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, trans, gay, disabled, young, old, fat, thin...

I'll be honest: Based on some of what I'd read, I went into the event more than a little skeptical of the movement's commitment to diversity & inclusivity. I read that Black Lives Matter, in particular, was in disagreement with Women's March coordinators in a number of cities, including D.C. & Cincinnati. I also read a piece written by one of my dear friends, titled, "Getting intersectional means showing up when there are no pink hats," that had me questioning my motives for attending & wondering whether it was OK for me to participate.

Ultimately, I decided that participating in this march was just one piece of my broader activism efforts - & I need to remember that throughout the year! One march does not an activist make - so I've (we've!) got to keep it up.

Overall, I was really proud of our city's turnout & of the speakers on the docket, who spoke about everything from reproductive choice to violence against Black women to climate change to LGBTQ equality to education reform. The speakers themselves were diverse & representative of a variety of organizations across the Cleveland area. I did note that there were not nearly as women of color as I would've liked to have seen at an event in a Black-majority city - but I wonder if the aforementioned concerns kept potential participants of color away.

It seemed, to me at least, to be a day quite representative of the many issues & intersections that impact today's women - & indeed, all of us. (Side note: If you have a case against this, though, I'd love to know more, as I know there was a lot of discussion before the marches about whether they appropriately centered marginalized women.)

There were, of course, some incredible signs. A few of my favorites are rounded up here, but keep scrolling, because beneath the photos, i'm also sharing some important resources!

So, yes, it was a very powerful morning. But now what? Now let's keep it up! 

Whether or not you marched on Saturday, find ways to get involved this year. Figure out what matters to you, & take action. Looking for local organizations to support & get involved in? Here are just a few great ones:

• American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio
• Badass Teachers Association 
• Black Lives Matter Cleveland
• Cuyahoga Democratic Women's Caucus
• Equality Ohio
• Fair Districts Ohio
• Imperial Women Coalition
• NAACP Cleveland
• National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland 
• Reform Ohio
• Refugee Services Collaborative of Greater Cleveland 

May this be the year that we all choose how to become more involved - & may this be the year we trust women.

...that we listen to Black women.

...that we stand with trans women.

...that we support immigrant women.

...that we defend Muslim women.

May this be the year that we believe in women.

In 2018, the blue wave is coming. And next time, I'm bringing a damn sign to the rally.

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It's Really, Really, Really Freaking Important That You Call Your Senators This Week

It's Really, Really, Really Freaking Important That You Call Your Senators This Week

Sunday, June 25, 2017

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I shared an Ohio-centric version of this post on Facebook today, but it felt too important not to share as broadly as possible.

Have you called your senators to ask them to vote no on the GOP health care bill? 

Call your senators' offices now! Thank your Democratic senator for opposing the American Health Care Act , & ask/urge/plead with/beg your Republican senator to vote no on this harmful piece of legislation that would jeopardize the lives of millions of Americans.

You can find the phone number for your senators' D.C. office here (& if you're an Ohioan like me, you can call Senator Rob Portman's D.C. office at 202-224-3353). When you call, be sure to say your name & your city; clearly state your opposition to the bill & ask him or her to vote no, for the well-being of residents of your state & for all Americans.

Never done this before or feeling scared? Call after hours (like today!) & you'll get an answering machine instead of a real person. Your opinion will still be heard & documented by members of the senator's staff. Don't let phone anxiety prevent you from calling!

Here are a few quick facts about the AHCA, which you are welcome to quote in your call... or share with every single goddamn person you know because, in the words of American hero Gwen Stefani, "This shit is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S."

• "The Congressional Budget Office predicts that the AHCA would cause 23 million people to lose insurance by 2026, according to The New York Times."*
• "Insurers would be allowed to apply for a waiver to opt out of covering essential health benefits in order to charge higher rates for those with preexisting conditions - something that 70 percent of Americans oppose, according to a survey conducted by Langer Research Associates."* 
• "A poll from Quinnipiac University found that 62 percent of Americans disapprove of the Republican’s bill, while 66 percent are unhappy with President Donald Trump’s handling of the nation’s health care.*

Let's let Republicans know that we mean it this time: They can't mess with our health, with our wellness, with our lives. Their jobs are at stakes.

This is a critical time. Please don't just stand by & watch.

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Marching Isn't the Only Way to Fight

Marching Isn't the Only Way to Fight

Thursday, January 19, 2017

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I can't be at the Women's March on Washington on Saturday; in fact, I can't even attend the Women's March here in Cleveland on Saturday because I'd already purchased tickets to another event long before I knew what the day would be.

In truth, I know that such a loud, crowded gathering would likely overwhelm my anxiety, anyway, but I still have deep guilt about not participating in this momentous & important day of action. I am grateful & honored that my friend Stephanie has offered to write my name & the names of others who cannot attend literally on her body to carry us with her while she marches.

And I am trying to remind myself that there are a great many ways to be an activist; marching is certainly not the only one. Though I can't participate on Saturday, I pledge to continue to participate year-round, for the next four years & as long as it takes, in acts of advocacy, protest, education, intersectionality, solidarity, & beyond.

I will write to my members of Congress.

I will vote my conscience.

I will stay up-to-date on what's happening.

I will speak, debate, argue, write.

I will not be ashamed to be a liberal, a Jew, an America, a woman.

I will not go quietly into the night.

Whether or not you're marching on Saturday, I urge you to think about what you will do for these next four years. Will you pay attention? Will you fight? Will you educate yourself & others? Will you do more than simply wait?

Where will you begin?

 

*If anyone can identify the source of this gorgeous image, I'd love to give proper credit. 

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This Blog Was Featured in the Washington Post!

This Blog Was Featured in the Washington Post!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

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I forgot to share this exciting news when it happened a few weeks ago, but whoaaaa, this is awesome. When I came home from my big trip to Peru last month, I wrote about how some of my conversations there about the upcoming Trump presidency inspired me to make charitable donations back home. I published that post on #GivingTuesday, a designated day of global giving, in the hopes that it would inspire others to do the same.

Later that day, I got an email from a writer for the Washington Post's Inspired Life section, dedicated to weeding out & raising up positive stories - stories about compassion, caring, giving, & all the good things in the world that we sometimes forget to look for now that we're despairing about a fascist future. The reporter, Colby, found my blog post (no idea how!) & wanted to know if she could interview me about the giving practices.

The result of that conversation was an article titled "‘It’s unprecedented in our history’: Trump’s election inspired millions in nonprofit donations," & it's since been shared on social media by Planned Parenthood, CAIR National, The Trevor Project, & even my favorite author, Celeste Ng. The piece begins:

When Kate Bigam left for a vacation in Peru days after the election, she knew there’d be no avoiding questions about Donald Trump. So she decided that for every Peruvian who asked her about the new U.S. president-elect, she would learn a bit about that person and then donate to organizations inspired by those conversations.

Like many Americans, Bigam, a 32-year-old from Cleveland, felt compelled to do something tangible in response to an election that she feared left many groups and many issues vulnerable. On her personal blog this Giving Tuesday, Bigam shared the eight groups she’ll be contributing to and why. She’ll be donating to the National Alliance on Mental Health after meeting a psychiatrist. She’ll be donating to the Immigrant Legal Resource Society on behalf of a Latino immigrant living in California. She’ll give to EarthJustice for the tour guide who took her up Machu Picchu.

Read the whole thing online from The Washington Post - & then go forth & donate! I'd still love to hear what nonprofits are getting your hard-earned dollars this year & in the year to come. 

P.S.: On a related note, this afternoon, I won the "Get to Know Yours Coworkers" quiz that my boss hosts every year as a part of our departmental Hanukkah party. Instead of a prize, the winning employee asks the rest of our team to donate to a nonprofit of his or her choice. It was my honor to play today for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland, which I've just gotten involved with. Stay tuned for more about my experiences with my new "little sister," N, a 14-year-old from Cleveland Heights. So excited to get to know her!

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#GivingTuesday: A Look at My Post-Election Donation Plans

#GivingTuesday: A Look at My Post-Election Donation Plans

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

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When I left for Peru, I knew I was likely to get questions from locals about the recent U.S. presidential elections. I was already planning to make donations to a few progressive organizations in the wake of the results, but as I headed abroad, I promised myself I'd donate to a different progressive organization in honor of each Peruvian who asked me how I felt about having Donald Trump as president (I still can barely write that).

On #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving, I wanted to share with you the donations I'll be making & the people whose stories inspired them. 

For Victor, the friendly, outdoorsy tour guide who led us up Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world, I'll be donating to EarthJustice.

For Nadia, the Cusco-born tour guide & mother of two who's looking for a job that will let her spend more time with her family, I'll be donating to EMILY's List.

For Joaquin, the twentysomething Mexican immigrant who's now an American citizen living in San Diego, I'll be donating to the Immigrant Legal Resource Society.

For Joaquin's mom, who lives in Mexico & worries that a border wall would impact her ability to travel for work, even on her legal worker visa, I'll be donating to Border Angels.

For the Frenchman whose name I didn't catch, who is scared for his daughter living in Florida & who, separately, insisted that American food is disgusting, I'll be donating to Feeding America.

For Francesca, my brother's 8-year-old niece who is now afraid to visit Disney World after learning of a hate crime against a Latino American man, I'll be donating to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

For Belein & Pablo, the psychiatrist & her boyfriend who sat next to us at the wedding, I'll be donating to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI).

And finally, I plan to donate to Planned Parenthood on a regular basis, with others rotating dependent on current events & my liberal whims.

Am I rich? No, not at all. Some of these donations may be as small as $10, & they won't all come out of my wallet on the same day. But I'm committed to making sure I do my financial part, no matter how small, to contribute to the ongoing strength & success of progressive organizations doing important on-the-ground work, especially in the scary era of President Donald Trump.

If you're looking for an organization to support, check out Jezebel's incomplete but very worthwhile "A  List of Pro-Women, Pro-Immigrant, Pro-Earth, Anti-Bigotry Organizations That Need Your Support."

What organizations get your hard-earned dollars? Did you make any special donations for #GivingTuesday... or in the wake of the election results?

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5 Things to Do for Yourself the Day After Traumatizing Election Results

5 Things to Do for Yourself the Day After Traumatizing Election Results

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

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Like so many Americans, I woke up this morning hoping it was all a dream - a nightmare, really. I slept restlessly, & I woke up with a jaw sore from clenching in stress. I've yet to eat today. Truly, the only way to explain it is that I feel consumed with grief, with trauma.

I posted this on Facebook earlier & thought it might be worth sharing here, as well, while so many of us are struggling. I've already heard from friends whose workplaces have brought in counselors to deal with the stress & fear of the future, & I find myself wishing I had similar access.

I made this short list of things to do for yourself today - things I'm doing for myself today - & I hope that it will, in some small way, help bring you any comfort. Today is so difficult - & the days to come will be worse, I suspect. But we are not alone.

1. Turn off social media. Turn on music, soothing white noise, or a beloved favorite movie.
2. Pet a cat. Or a dog. Or hold a baby. Basically, make contact with anything that is soft & physically comforting.
3. Seek out wisdom & guidance from a rabbi or a pastor or an imam or a therapist or all of the above.
4. Do something - anything - that brings you happiness, so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. Eat your favorite food or light a scented candle or do yoga or take a nap or write out all your damn feelings.
5. Above all: Be kind to yourself & to one another.

As scared as I am for our world, I am also terrified by all the language I've seen about suicide, about self-harm, about utter despondency. And as much as I understand - because truly, I do - I want you to know that however you are feeling today, tomorrow, & come January, you are not alone in it. If you need help, please seek it out, & if you see someone in need, please take their pain seriously. You can call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386.

In this frightening & unpredictable time, please take care of yourselves & of each other. We are still, after all, stronger together.

I love you.

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10 Reasons Why #ImWithHer in This Presidential Election

10 Reasons Why #ImWithHer in This Presidential Election

Sunday, November 6, 2016

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We're two days away from Election Day, & if I'm telling you the truth, I've been kept awake at night with my worry about what will happen on Tuesday. I've tried to do my part - donating, phone banking, talking to friends who are undecided or third-party - but I still lie awake at night wondering how the chips will fall & who will become our next president.

Two weeks ago, it was my honor to take advantage of Ohio's opportunity for early voting & to cast my ballot for Hillary Clinton to become the next president of the Unites States. I know I won't tell you anything you've not already heard or read, but I'd like to take a moment to explain why I voted the way I did & why Hillary Clinton is the candidate for me.

1. Her opponent is bananas. Let's get the obvious out of the way: I could write an entire list of reasons I'm not with the villainous, hateful Donald Trump, but let's keep this list upbeat, shall we? He will get just one bullet point here, noting that he is, in literally almost every single way aside from being a human being running for president, the exact opposite of Hillary Clinton. I do not agree with his policies (or lack thereof), his temperament, his views, or even his taste in reality TV.
    
2. She's a woman. I would never vote for a candidate simply because she is a woman & I am a woman who is for the advancement of women. But the fact that, in this case, the smartest & most qualified candidate is, in fact, a woman, makes me beyond proud to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton, our first ladyprez.
    
3. She's the most qualified. Hillary Clinton is indeed the smartest & most qualified candidate for president. She has a law degree from Yale & significant experience advocating for women & children. After her time as First Lady, she went on to serve as a senator & was secretary of state for four years, arguably one of the next most difficult jobs in the U.S., aside from, you know, being president. The idea that she has to defend her qualifications against a repeatedly bankrupt billionaire reality TV star is laughable at best & misogynistic at worst.
    
4. She has extensive foreign policy experience. And as a reminder: Her opponent has none. Having served as Secretary of State, Clinton is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, holding China accountable, standing up to Russia, supporting Israel's right to defend itself, & fostering a positive relationship with Cuba. She has a proven history of negitiation, relationship-building, & fighting terrorism.
    
5. She knows taxes are vital. Look, I don't like paying taxes. Nobody likes paying taxes. But I believe that we are all responsible for one another, & that in paying taxes to fund social services, we raise one another up & look out for the poorest & most vulnerable in our communities. Hillary Clinton believes in making sure the wealthy, Wall Street, & corporations pay their fair share - while her opponent brags about avoiding his.
    
6. She's committed to gun violence prevention. Every day in the U.S., 90 people die from gun violence. Hillary Clinton has a record of advocating for commonsense approaches to reduce gun violence, including supporting legislation to end the gun show loophole & enforce stricter background checks. She has the endorsement of key anti-gun organizations, including the Brady Campaign & Everytown for Gun Safety - & the NRA hates her.
    
7. She's pro-woman. Hillary is fighting to close the wage gap & to promote paid family leave policies. She's proudly pro-Planned Parenthood & supports a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body. She's fought against sex trafficking domestically & abroad.
    
8. She cares about social issues - & the people behind them. Hillary Clinton knows our country's struggle with race is far from finished, & she's committed to reforming our criminal justice system & protecting the right to vote. She's pro-disability rights, promising to fulfill the promise of the ADA & to continue to expand opportunities for people with disabilities. She believes LGBT Americans deserve to live free of discrimination & supports passage of legislation that would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
    
9. She supports compassionate immigration reform. Hillary Clinton believes in humane immigration laws that respects immigrant as human beings, supporting comprehensive immigration reform with pathways to full & equal citizenship. Her opponent wants to card Muslims & build a wall between the U.S. & Mexico, for starters.
     
10. The Supreme Court is serious business. We've been without nine Supreme Court justices now for the longest stretch in American history, all because our Senate refuses to hold hearing on President Obama's nominee. They say it's up to the next president - & if you believe in progressive values & justice like I do, we simply can't afford for that president to be anyone but Hillary Clinton.

This list isn't enough; I could go on for two dozen more bullet points, easily. But these are the issues that are tops for me, & I hope you've thought about what matters most to you - & which candidate is truly most qualified & best positioned to lead our country forward. And don't just vote for president! There are so many people on the ballot, vying for so many important positions - & they all matter, every single one of them.

Want to know more about Hillary Clinton on the issues? Stop reading articles posted to Facebook & start reading her position statements in her campaign's own words. This is what Hillary Clinton stands for. 

This is up to us, America. Let's do it right.

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