Election Day Sadness

It's Election Day.

That means that by the end of today (hopefully) we'll know who the next president of the United States will be. There are going to be a lot of really ecstatic people and a lot of really sad and/or angry people depending on the results.

For me, I'm going to be either somewhat sad or in a stupor for the next four years. Why, AJ? Shouldn't you only be sad if Romney wins? Why wouldn't you be one of the ecstatic people if Obama wins?

Well, it's because of my friends. Not all of them, but some of them. Particularly the ones that I consider(ed?) myself close to who voted for Romney. Even if he doesn't win, it still means that people I value as close friends, people that I've shared some of the most personal parts of my life with, people who've shared personal stories with me, people whose defense I run to without a second thought, voted for a man thinks of me as a second-class citizen not worthy of equality. It means that they supported a man who thinks that single-parent homes like the one I come from are a disgrace to our great nation and are a leading cause of gun violence. It means that they care more about them keeping a little extra money per year over equal rights for everyone. It means that might rights as a gay man come second to everything else. That hurts. Immensely.

How dare my friends say "AJ, I love you and support you and will always be there for you" with their mouth but then mark away the chance I have at living an equal life to them with their hands? "I'm just voting this way because I like Romney's economic plans." Without getting into the details of that statement (To be honest, I don't know the first thing about economics and don't really believe that any person has the *right* answer on how to fix our situation), you just said that your family keeping a few extra dollars per year is more important than someone you call one of your "closest friends" being able to marry who he wants and have the same benefits as when you marry your wife and being able to see his husband in the hospital etc. "I mean, I agree that you should have equal rights but I'm really worried about the economy." EXCUSE ME?! So you're more worried about your family only being able to spend 5 days versus a week in the Hamptons next year than my rights being restricted from me for the next 4 years? Oh, you're not that wealthy? So, how's Romney plan going to help you that much anyway? I just don't get it. I, as a person, could never vote for someone who wants to limit rights for others while also making sure that those with money remain the only people with money.

But, AJ, if you voted based on social issues, why are you getting upset at others who voted based on economic issues? I'm upset because I fear that some people just use economic issues to mask how they really feel about issues. I've heard it so many times from so many people that I care about that I can't help but wonder about it. I've spent several nights staying up all night crying about things going on in my life and theirs. We've been there for each other's darkest moments and our brightest. How can we be so close yet my rights mean so little? How can they say they support me but then vote against me?

It just doesn't make sense to me and it hurts. If voting a certain way isn't going to affect your life but has a huge impact on the life of someone you say you care about, then why not vote to support them? That's what a true friend would do.

So, I'll be sad either way tonight. I'll either be sad because the person elected will do everything in his power to make sure that I'm never treated equally in this country or because people I considered friends will be upset because that man didn't win.

WOMYN Magazine Release and Editor Elections

Are you a LGBTQ Woman? Come to the WOMYN Release Party TODAY, from 5:30-7pm in the Center for LGBT Life! There will be food, Tegan and Sara music...and copies of Duke's FIRST PUBLICATION FOR LGBTQ women and their allies! We welcome all other members of the Duke community to pick up a copy the following morning:

WOMYN magazine will be out Monday evening after the Release Party! Pick up at copy at the newsstands in Perkins Library, the Bryan Center, the Marketplace, Wilson Gym, or check out the copies on reserve in the Center for LGBT Life and the Women's Center.

(You can view a teaser of the magazine here at Develle Dish, Duke's newsest blog for women's issues on campus: Develle Dish WOMYN teaser.)

Editor Elections

Are you looking to help promote LGBTQ women’s visibility on campus?

Are you interested in LGBTQ or gender issues on campus?

Are you sick of the status-quo?

Become an editor of WOMYN!

WOMYN is a yearly publication for LGBTQ-identified women and their allies at Duke University, published each Fall. Editors of the publication have the ability to influence campus culture and the lives of students in an extremely meaningful way by providing an outlet for a passionate and vital part of our Duke Community. As an Editor of WOMYN, you will have the ability to significantly shape the final product of the magazine.

There are two editorial positions that are up for election (the Senior Layout Editor position requires an application later in the semester). These elected editors are the positions of Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for holding all organizational and editorial board meetings, and coordinating the submission review process (Review Board and submission promotion). The Managing Editor serves as the Treasurer and is expected to attend all editorial board meetings, along with the Editor-in-Chief and the Senior Layout.

Elections will be held November 17th in the Center for LGBT Life at 6pm. Contact past editors Megan Weinand ’12, Editor (megan.weinand@duke.edu), Jack Grote ’11, Managing Editor (jack.grote@duke.edu) or Summer Puente ’11, Senior Layout Editor (summer.puente@duke.edu) for more information on the respective positions. Any undergraduate student at Duke may run for these positions (including first-years)! There is no "WOMYN experience" necessary-just a desire to create campus change.

Still not convinced you should run? Here's what past editors of WOMYN had to say about their experience:

Megan Weinand, '12 (Editor)

"Being an editor of WOMYN was such a gift. I just kept thinking back to my first year at Duke and wondering how different it would have been if I had something like WOMYN magazine to affirm me. The fact that incoming first year women at Duke will have a publication like this...already in existence...I'm so jealous! But I'm also so, so happy-it would have completely transformed my world to know we had such an amazing community of queer women...from Day One of my Duke experience. I wouldn't give up my experiences with WOMYN for anything."

Jack Grote, '11 (Managing Editor)

"Being an editor for WOMYN has been the most rewarding experience because of all the amazing conversations I have gotten to have with people on campus. Literally EVERYONE on campus knows what WOMYN is and to know I helped with that is such an amazing feeling."

Summer Puente, '11 (Senior Layout Editor)

"Working on WOMYN was the most affirming experience I have had while at Duke. Although I do identify as a queer woman, this magazine brings together many communities that transcend gender, faith, ethnicity, sexual preference, academic interest, ability, relationship experience, and creative outlet. Everyday, I couldn't help but think about how much silence was being broken."

The Importance of November's Election for Our Community

[Ed. Note: Say hi to our newest blogger, y'all :) 2014 continues to rep.]

For those of you who do not know me, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dan Wood. I am a first year student at Duke and I intend to study Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences. I am gay and open about it to everyone who wants to know. I love running, music, and good literary and intellectual discussions. With out much further delay, let me begin my first post.

Allow me get a little patriotic. It is not only your right, but your duty, as an American citizen to vote. This pertains not only presidential elections, but the Congressional mid-term elections as well. In order for crucial bills, such as ENDA (employment non-discrimination act), to be signed into law, the United States Congress must be composed of a majority of LGBTQ supporters (and technically a 60% 'super majority' in the senate to break a filibuster which usually results in a bill's failure).

If LGBTQ supporters are elected into office this November, a rippling mandate will quake through Washington, one which informs Congress men and women that their constituents support the LGBTQ agenda. It matters not whether you would take a bullet for Obama or rather have a raging herd of red elephants march through Washington. If you support the LGBTQ movement (which I assume most of you do if you are indeed reading this), your political affiliation does not matter for this upcoming mid-term election. Issues such as marriage equality and gay military service will likely be addressed in the 111th Congress. We must elect supporters of our movement into office this November.

If you do not know whether or not your incumbent representatives and senators voted in favor of the LGBTQ agenda, the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) has conveniently created a scorecard of the 2008 congress. This scorecard tallies all of a Congress man or woman's votes on LGBTQ issues and gives them a score in the form of a percentage. The higher the score, the more supportive that given representative or senator is. I have provided a link to the scorecard at the end of this post. I know it may look big and time consuming to read, but for the sake of the movement, please at least look at the congress men and women in your district.

WOMYN Update!

Hello WOMYN! Thank you to everyone who submitted a piece to the magazine for this year’s issue. We recieved well over 35 submissions and we are getting really excited for the finished product.

We won’t have anymore “WOMYN Wednesdays” this semester, but stay on the look-out for our upcoming “WOMYN Release Party”, where we’ll distribute the magazine and celebrate this year’s accomplishments. We are planning on publishing the magazine in late October/early November, and we’re working on Layout and applying for funding in the meantime.

Lastly, two weeks after the Release Party we’ll hold elections for the new editors of WOMYN magazine for the following year. Anyone with an interest in working on WOMYN is qualified (first-years too!), and elections are open to all Duke undergraduate students for the positions of Editor-in-Chief and Managaing Editor. Talk to one of us for more information if you’re interested! (Note: The position of Senior Layout Editor is application-based since it requires knowledge of Layout software.)

Thanks for your support, and stay tuned!
-Megan, Jack and Summer