With January and a full year of the Biden administration firmly in the rearview, I’ve been thinking a lot about the president’s promise to Build Back Better.
Social media makes it impossible not to. Especially since I’m an Ohio native but Florida resident, two states that turned as red as his predecessor’s horrible hat.
As any Ohio-turned-Floridian can likely attest – and thanks to I-75, we are legion – that means I have quite a few loved ones in my orbit who don’t share my respect for the occupant of the Oval Office, or Democrats in general.
I hear their concerns when they’re tactful, and even as a Democrat agree with a few of them. Of the many differences between the political party I belong to and that of modern day Republicans, particularly the most passionate among us, I think the ability to criticize our leadership ranks pretty high.
Speaking of, Mr. President, how about some action on student loan debt? Or more pressure on Congress about the Equality Act?
Biden wasn’t my first choice in the crowded presidential primary, he was pretty consistently my third, but I never doubted he would be an effective leader. He was an incredible and inclusive vice president, so I knew he would be a sigh of relief for both our community and country.
Whatever his faults, which are certainly exacerbated by D.C.’s unwavering congressional gridlock and two members of the Democratic party in particular, I think he has been. The LGBTQ community has a national support network again, our country has an actual strategy to combat COVID-19 and we don’t have to worry about international incidents stemming from Twitter. I’ll take those wins.
There are even days I don’t think about the president at all, which isn’t easy to do in my profession. I hadn’t realized how much I missed that until Jan. 20, 2021.
On most days I’m happy to think about Biden, however, like when news of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement surfaced Jan. 26. After four decades of service on the nation’s highest court, where he helped champion LGBTQ civil rights with cases like marriage equality, he and the president formally announced it the next day.
I can only imagine who Donald Trump would have nominated given a fourth chance. The effects of his conservative-stacked Supreme Court have only begun to make themselves clear.
Thankfully the choice of Breyer’s successor falls to Joe Biden, a man of his word.
“The person I will nominate will be someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity,” Biden confirmed Jan. 27, “and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court.”
It’s a commitment he first made on the campaign trail, one the president confirmed he would proudly uphold. “It’s long overdue in my opinion,” he added, and he’s more than right.
Black women are often called the backbone of the Democratic party, and for good reason. They are.
The president vowed to name Breyer’s successor by the end of this month, a timely reminder as we move toward the midterms that elections have consequences. I’m proud to have a president that understands that in all things, especially something as critical to this country’s success as the Supreme Court, representation matters.
In this issue we showcase why that is. As conservatives nationwide work to ban LGBTQ-focused literature from schools, we detail five books by Black, LGBTQ authors that you should be reading.
We also reflect on representation with Broadway legend Audra McDonald. The longtime LGBTQ ally and actor discusses her many roles with us ahead of her concert in Sarasota, including that of activist.
With Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature kicking off an anti-LGBTQ legislative agenda, we also look at the response from organizations and advocates. In State News, Equality Florida prepares to take the fight for civil rights to Tallahassee and in Tampa Bay news, they unveil a new LGBTQ-focused mural.
We also preview the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus’ winter conference, their first in St. Petersburg since 2008 and Project Pride prepares to lobby the City of Sarasota to make its PrideWalk permanent.
Pride news continues in Central Florida, where Come Out with Pride announces it will now operate independently of Orlando’s Pride Chamber. We also detail shows coming to the area, including the immersive “Dragons & Fairies” and a production of the celebrated “Angels in America.”
Watermark strives to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. Please stay safe, stay informed and enjoy this latest issue.
