Presidential Primary election | march 5, 2024
At election time I put together the Queer Agenda Voting Guide with the help of some of my friends and community members whose opinions I trust.
It's as challenging as ever to be optimistic about the political landscape. We are witnessing atrocities in our world and country that have left us feeling helpless, even when we have shouted from the top of our lungs for justice. Some news outlets and social media platforms continue to be full of disinformation, extremism, and distraction. And politics has an overwhelming, unfair influence from big money.
For a moment, I thought about giving up on sending out my annual Queer Agenda Voting Guide. Participating in the political process is challenging in a divisive climate. We're at war at home and abroad, and the last thing I want is to stoke conflict in our community. I spoke to some folks that insisted I put it out. They reminded me that people trust, depend, and appreciate the work I’ve done for the community over the last 30+ years.
I've said this before: I'm just one drag queen without a political action committee or big money backing me. We can't afford to sit on the sidelines. I'd be happy if my voice inspires my community to get involved and rise for Democratic victories or volunteer a few hours weekly for phone calls or texts on critical issues.
I've always considered myself a problem-solver. Problems can be very stressful for most people, so my mind lights up and switches to finding a solution to resolve the issue. I am lucky to have access to many resources in our community, and I am glad I have a platform that allows me to share them broadly. So I'll continue. However…
A considered reminder: If you don't agree with something I've suggested, you can always skip following or using this voting guide. Please avoid sending me an email reply that is full of expletives. Try to respond in a way that sparks conversation on why our opinions differ. I'm willing to listen, engage, and discuss our views when you approach me respectfully.
On the issues where I haven't endorsed: The most apparent non-endorsement here is for President Biden. Rest assured, I am not choosing Trump. This is the Democratic Party primary election, and President Biden will win because he has no credible challenger––don't start with the Marianne or RFK Jr. chatter. That apple fell too far from the tree. In uncontested primaries, particularly where I have strong disagreements with the candidate, the best use of my platform is to continue holding them accountable. I do not wish to concede my voice or advocacy - nor should you - when withholding an endorsement as it may facilitate movement on critical issues that matter to our community. We will knock on doors and make calls into the Swing States. Let's use what little leverage we have in the bluest state in the nation to move the dial where we can.
An exciting expansion to this year's guide: While working on the guide, I started to take note of the growing list of LGBTQIA+ candidates running for offices across the country. It's extensive and impressive. I don't know all their stories and may not want to endorse some of them, but the queer representation inspired me to list them regardless. Queer representation isn't everything in the age of George Santos, but seeing queer people run for office gives me hope for a better future for all of us.
So, let's do this! And, please remember that the kind of democracy we want is up to us—we must choose, we must vote, and we must keep it queer.
Loads of Love, Juanita