Oh no, not I, I
will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay
alive
I’ve got all my life to live
And I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive
I will survive
-Gloria Gaynor
Many of you probably recognize this chorus from the song “I
Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, which has become one of the anthems of the LGBT
community. The song itself is about a break-up, but I think the essence is very
applicable to us today. Right now it feels like the world is out to break us.
First was the Covid-19 virus, then racial inequality became a problem we can no
longer ignore, and finally yesterday we learned that gender identity is no
longer protected within healthcare. I’ll be honest; yesterday when I learned
about the change in protections within healthcare, I was about ready to give
up. I kind of felt like I might crumble, like I might lay down and die…
But you know what? I think I’d rather survive. Sometimes
hope feels a little slippery, and I struggle to hold on to it. I don’t know
what the solutions are to the problems we are currently facing. I do believe
that dismantling racial inequality, in all the various ways it manifests, is
probably going to take years, so I’m strapping in for the long haul. I don’t
know how the virus and discrimination around gender identity are going to play
out, but I plan to be around for it. Right now, every day, I will put one foot
in front of the other, do what I need to do in the moment, and survive. Some
days are going to be hard and scary, and that hope is going to be flopping all
over the floor, seeming just out of reach. Other days will seem easier, with
hope solidly in my heart. I’ll reach out for support and assurance as I need
to, and provide these to others as I can. I’ve still got some life left to
live, and there’s still some love in there left to give, so I think I’ll stick
around and survive. Will you join me?
