Out, Out, Good Spots

In terrible times, people often show us who they really are. Some people rise to the occasion, others disappoint just as terribly. So one of the few positive things to come from our new national hellscape is the stars who have risen to the occasion.

While some people scoff at celebrities entering the political sphere, I’ve never understood the inclination. The famous and rich are still people. And many of them are even good people. Sure, others are terrible people who become President of the United States. Man, is to going to be a long four years.

Anyway, my point and I do have one, is there are still bright spots in our new, terrifying world. And two of them to celebrate and feel good about are Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui and “Scream” actress Bex Taylor-Klaus. Late last week both women came out publicly, one through an open letter and another through Twitter, as queer in the wake of Trump’s election.

I recommend, in particular, reading Lauren’s impassioned and articulate open letter to Trump voters. I highly recommend you give the whole thing a read yourself. So very highly. But, if you must skim, some of the best bits include:

Your words are worthless, because your actions have led to the single-handed destruction of all the progress we’ve made socially as a nation…

That’s the “politically correct” behavior you wanna get rid of? You wanna restore America to a world where the human beings around you feel scared to be themselves and live and love freely?...

I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it. I am proud to be part of a community that only projects love and education and the support of one another….

We are not "whining" about our presidential choice losing, we are screaming battle cries against those whose political and personal agendas threaten our lives and sanity. We are making sure you hear us, no matter how much it bothers you, we EXIST.

Yeah. What she said. Look, I’m a little on the old side to be a big Fifth Harmony fangirl. But with members as smart and fierce as Lauren, I will happily sing their praises from now on.

Also very praise-worthy is Bex, who TV fans will remember as the queer/genderqueer characters on shows like “The Killing,” “House of Lies” and “Scream.” Before a livestream chat with fans she tweeted this:

hello my name is bex and yes the rumors are true I am v gay

Live on YouNow in 10 minutes

— Bex Taylor-Klaus (@IBexWeBex) November 17, 2016

The actress, who has identified as straight before to the public, told fans in her livestream she was coming out was a reaction to Trump’s election – thanks to voters in geographically weighed regions based on a system meant to prop up the institution of slavery. (Fine, I added that last part because, Jesus fuck, why do we still have an electoral college?)

According to NewNowNext she said she was “terrified, absolutely terrified” to come out, but:

“Part of why I’m coming out is because there’s so much hate and fear in and around the LGBT community right now and it’s important for us not to halt progress out of fear.

Yes, it’s a scary time, but we need to stand up and say, even if you are afraid, I’m not afraid, or even if I am afraid, I’m strong. I am who I am and you can’t take that away from me.”

And, right there, is the crux of why coming out – especially now, when it might seem even scarier – matters so much. The more people see us, know us, realize we’re everywhere and everyone, the harder it will be for them to legislate away our rights. The harder it will be for them to sympathize with a politician entering the second-highest office in the world who believe you can electro-shock the gay away. The harder it will be to deny our lives. Sure, they’ll still try. But, never forget, there really are more of us than them. Hillary won the popular vote by 1.7 million and counting.

Bravo Lauren, bravo Bex. When people show you who they are, believe them. Sometimes, it might just be wonderful.