Love Still Wins

We were barely done celebrating the signing of our State’s first fully-inclusive nondiscrimination Executive Order before the Attorney General started undermining and challenging it. On Tuesday, many in our community were preparing to celebrate history but instead witnessed (or woke up to) a very ominous outcome, as progressive candidates were defeated throughout the country. We now have a Vice President-Elect who has advocated to spend taxpayer dollars for conversion therapy, to “pray the gay away.” If it feels like we are not moving in a direct line towards progress, we feel it too.

We know you are concerned, and we know you may fear what this will mean for our community. One thing you need not fear for even a moment is our renewed commitment to building a full state of equality here at home. We know that people like the Attorney General will feel emboldened by the results of this election, but there are plenty of rays of light in races across the country as well: Oregon elected the nation’s first openly bisexual governor, North Carolina’s Governor McCrory, who signed the horrible House Bill 2 “bathroom bill” appears destined for defeat (too close to call at the moment), and Georgia elected its first openly gay male general assembly member, to name just a few victories in a sea of turmoil and surprises.

Even so, we know this is a difficult time for our community. I would ask you to please consider renewing your membership or providing a new one-time or sustaining donation – let your donation prove once and for all that #LoveSTILLWins. Your continued support ensures the fight will continue.

Yours in Equality,
Chris Otten
Chair, Forum for Equality Louisiana