Concerns for LGBTQIA+ Rights in Winthrop and Beyond
Dear Editor,
As a member of Winthrop’s LGBTQIA+ community for the past eleven years, I felt it was really important to share what many of us in community are feeling given all that is happening in America right now. We have fear. Outright fear as transgendered people are further marginalized by the current administration and many of their supporters. We are worried about Project 2025, which is obviously an initiative of the current regime. Many same-sex couples are worried about their future in the US in regard to the right of marriage under the federal government and the benefits, and rights that come with it being taken away from them. My husband and I are deeply concerned and have been trying to map out our future both the Commonwealth and the United States. Justices Alito and Thomas made it crystal clear where they stand on marriage equality. I would suspect the other conservative justices appointed under Trump’s last stint in the White House fall in line with Alito and Thomas.
When the president of the United States through his proclamations of “Only two genders” disparages transgendered citizens of this country through rhetoric, that instills fear. When a political and societal climate of hatred and disenfranchisement is created which makes members of the LGBTQIA+ community feel unsafe, unwelcome and outcast, that creates a toxic environment. For anyone reading this letter who has not taken the time to read Project 2025, I urge you to do so. You will see for yourselves these atrocities being directed at specific populations in this country. I am deeply concerned for the safety, well-being and legal rights of people in my life circle, but none more so than in the LGBTQIA+ community. Please understand that I am worried about anyone who is being marginalized by the actions of this current administration in Washington DC, and those who support it.
I personally have friends who are transgendered that have already relocated outside this country. It is an absolute shame they had to take on such an endeavor, but unfortunately remaining here was not an option. When your personal safety and life are at extreme risk, you do what is necessary. I have friends in the broader LGBTQIA+ community who are leveraging their options right now in regard to remaining in the USA. The push to roll back DEI in the workplace and other areas of engagement opens up LGBTQIA+ citizens to opportunities of workplace discrimination and more. That is fact.
The hardest thing I have processing is the ignorance, vitriol and violence exhibited towards people who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and especially transgendered people. But that is being fueled by the president and others in his orb. And it is being embraced by people who lack empathy and caring towards other human beings. My ‘trans’ friends are scared and worried, and I am worried for them, for my husband, and for the country as a whole. LGBTQIA+ people need to unite together with our allies and stand up for and on behalf of anyone being marginalized and whose rights in this country are under fire from people like Donald Trump, JD Vance, Elon Musk and so many others. There is something to be said for resiliency and perseverance. We are a strong community of amazing people who are supporting and helping one another in these incredibly troubled times, and we will not relent.
To any transgendered citizens and the broader LGBTQIA+ Winthrop community, we can prevail if we work together. There are many legal resources out there at our disposal to assist, answer questions and navigate through these dark waters. Do not give up nor give in. Not now, not ever. That is what they desire us to do; give up and give in to their ill will. Now is not the time to lay down in fear. Now is the time to rise up in courage, fortitude, determination, strength and empowered. We will not go backwards.
Scott Mahoney-Wright
ON TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Dear Editor,
I am sorry I missed last week’s edition where I understand you expressed the view that speed-detecting cameras are ill advised. If we want to address the traffic problem I can’t imagine why we would turn our back on this tool. Let me relate a recent experience.
I had the pleasure of driving around New Zealand and Australia for a month last year. When you pick up your rental car you are clearly warned that cameras are in wide use and you will be ticketed; everywhere! City and country.
As I left Melbourne heading west (think leaving Boston on the Mass Pike) I was struck by a strange observation. Everyone was going the speed limit. No one was passing on the wrong side, no tailgating or excessive lane changing. There was an unfamiliar civility about the entire driving experience.
Compare that to home where for 25 years I have been walking my dogs on Commonwealth Ave. It has become a drag strip. High speeds, constantly seeing red lights ignored. And don’t get me started on the new scourge: that of the wrong way, unlit, sidewalk driving food delivery motorbikes.
By the way, I’ve never seen a traffic stop of a passenger vehicle on Comm Ave by the BPD.
So to those charged with making our world safer, let’s use cameras to address the speeding and red light infractions. Let’s use traffic calming devices seen elsewhere such as city street style speed bumps.
Oh and by the way, Australia, with a road system profile similar to ours, has 40% of the per capita driving deaths we have.
Michael Gallup