Earlier this week, President Donald Trump posted a bone-chilling message on Truth Social threatening to exterminate the entire civilization of Iran if a deal on the Strait of Hormuz wasn’t reached by a self-imposed deadline. He later walked back the remarks, as he often does, but not before putting his governing style on full display: violence (and threats of violence) before anything else.
For many queer and trans Americans, this behavior is hauntingly familiar. Trump’s political playbook, which is rooted in intimidation, spectacle and domination, mirrors forms of bullying we’ve spent a lifetime navigating.
But it has also, for some, sharpened coping skills: Queer people are particularly equipped for survival when the world feels like it’s falling apart, whether that’s by consuming queer art, surrounding themselves with their local community, or turning inward.
We spoke with queer and trans people across the country (and provided limited identifying information out of caution) about how they’re processing these displays of power, what feels at stake, and more importantly, where they’re finding moments of relief.
Croix (She/Her), New York City
