Some nights, I stay awake, unable to escape the weight of it all—the fear, the grief, the exhaustion. I wonder if there will ever be a place where I truly belong.
I was born in Somalia, but I can never go back. Not because of war. Not because of distance. But because of who I am. My identity alone makes me a target. And yet, even here, in the country I once believed was the land of freedom and opportunity, I find myself under attack.
And now, it’s happening again. Trump has been re-elected and is in office!
Intersectionality: When Your Existence is a Protest
It is one thing to be marginalized. It is another to exist at the intersection of multiple forms of marginalization.
I am Black. LGBTQIA+. A refugee. Living with HIV. Each of these identities is already enough to face systemic discrimination, stigma, and exclusion. Together, they do not just add up—they multiply. They create unique barriers that make survival an ongoing fight.
Intersectionality is not just a theory—it is my lived experience. It means that I do not face racism in isolation, nor do I experience homophobia in a vacuum. It means that when anti-Blackness, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and HIV stigma collide, they do not just stack on top of each other; they create new, specific ways to push me out, deny me access, and make me feel unwelcome.
It means that in my own Somali community, I am ostracized because of my queerness and because I live with HIV. It means that in LGBTQ+ spaces, I often have to fight to be seen as a Black, Muslim-raised, immigrant person whose struggles are different from those of white queer people. It means that in healthcare settings, I have to navigate not only medical bias against Black people but also the layered stigma of being HIV-positive.
It means that in America, a country that prides itself on being a beacon of freedom, I am told that my very presence is a problem.
And now, with Trump back in office, all these realities have become even more dangerous.
The First 10 Days: A Preview of What’s to Come
We didn’t have to wait long to see what was coming. Within his first 10 days in office, Trump has already begun dismantling protections for LGBTQ+ people. His administration wasted no time rolling back civil rights policies, sending a clear message: we are not welcome, we are not safe, and we are not protected (ACLU).
We’ve seen this before.
Last time, under Trump, there was a systematic effort to erase LGBTQ+ people from public life:
- He banned transgender people from serving in the military (ACLU).
- He attempted to define transgender people out of existence under federal law (ACLU).
- He gutted anti-discrimination protections in healthcare, education, employment, and housing (ACLU).
- He allowed religious-based discrimination, justifying the right to deny LGBTQ+ people basic services (ACLU).
And now? He’s doubling down.
His administration has already announced plans to eliminate federal LGBTQ+ protections. This time, it’s not just about rolling back progress—it’s about actively enforcing discrimination. The ACLU has reported that his new policies will:
- Mandate discrimination at the federal level, ensuring LGBTQ+ people are systematically erased from legal protections (ACLU).
- Cut off gender-affirming medical care, blocking access even for adults under federal healthcare programs like Medicare and the VA (ACLU).
- Weaponize federal law to override state-level protections, forcing even progressive states to comply with anti-LGBTQ+ policies (ACLU).
- Make it easier for employers and landlords to discriminate, ensuring LGBTQ+ people face more barriers to jobs, housing, and healthcare (ACLU).
He is not just undoing protections—he is building an infrastructure of discrimination (ACLU).
What This Means for People Like Me
People who exist at the intersections of oppression—Black trans women, queer immigrants, disabled LGBTQ+ folks, people living with HIV—will feel these policies the hardest.
For me, it means that the home I built in America no longer feels safe. I already cannot return to Somalia because of my identity. But now, I am watching the country I sought refuge in turn against people like me.
For the first time, I am truly afraid that there will be nowhere left to go.
For LGBTQ+ people—especially Black, immigrant, and refugee LGBTQ+ people—the stakes have never been higher. Transgender adults face twice the mortality risk of their cisgender peers (ACLU). We experience higher rates of poverty, homelessness, and unemployment (ACLU). HIV stigma continues to limit access to care, housing, and employment, particularly for Black and LGBTQ+ individuals (ACLU).
And now, the little protections that kept us afloat are being ripped away (ACLU).
I know what it’s like to be left without options, to have doors slammed in my face, to feel like I am screaming into a void, unheard and unseen. And yet, despite everything, I refuse to be silent.
We Fight, Because We Must
I am not alone in this fight. There are countless BIPOC leaders, grassroots organizations, and activists doing the work—pushing back, building safe spaces, making sure that people like me survive. But we cannot do this alone.
We need people who are willing to stand with us—not just in words, but in action.
That means partnering with and supporting BIPOC-led organizations that are on the front lines. That means investing in our survival. That means making sure we are not erased.
How You Can Take Action
💡 Amplify our voices—Share this message, share our stories, and refuse to let hate win.
💡 Engage with local BIPOC organizations—Find out how you can support their work, whether through volunteering, collaboration, or direct investment.
💡 Support us financially—Resources keep this work going. If you believe in protecting marginalized communities, partner with us to ensure we can continue.
Together, We Will Rise
Hate thrives when people look away. Let’s refuse to look away.
We are at a turning point. Either we let the world silence us, or we fight back—louder, stronger, and more united than ever. The future must be one of inclusion, equity, and justice.
I believe in that future. I hope you do, too.
💛 Stand with your local BIPOC organizations. Support. Partner. Invest. Because when we fight together, we win together.
For more details on the dangers ahead, read the ACLU’s full report:
🔗 https://www.aclu.org/trump-on-lgbtq-rights#download-pdf
A Message from the Owner of Authenticity Speaks LLC
For years, I have dedicated my life to advocating for marginalized communities, breaking down barriers, and ensuring that people like me—Black, LGBTQ+, a refugee, and living with HIV—are not erased. Through Authenticity Speaks LLC, I have worked to build spaces where people can be seen, heard, and supported.
But the reality is, the next four years will be some of the hardest we’ve ever faced. The policies being pushed forward are not just political decisions—they are direct attacks on my existence and the existence of so many others. They make it harder for people like me to work, to have healthcare, to have safety.
This work cannot continue without real support.
If you believe in what I do, if you believe in protecting marginalized voices, if you believe in fighting back against the forces that seek to silence us—I ask for your partnership.
📢 How You Can Support Authenticity Speaks LLC:
✅ Partner with us—Whether you’re an individual, organization, or business, your collaboration helps expand this work.
✅ Invest in our mission—Your support ensures that we can continue educating, advocating, and providing resources.
✅ Share our work—Visibility matters. Help us amplify our message.
These next four years will test us, but we are stronger together.
💛 Thank you for standing with me, for standing with us. Let’s fight for a future where authenticity isn’t just tolerated—it’s celebrated.
– Jet, Founder of Authenticity Speaks LLC
📩 Want to connect? Email me at [email protected]
🔗 Learn more about our work: https://authenticity-speaks.com/about-page/