Letters

Previously, I had an op-ed published with the Washington Blade back in June, Pride Month, about the importance of queer Leftist gun ownership, especially in the current U.S. political climate. This is only proving to be more and more true.

Providing further evidence that satire is truly dead, the Department of Justice has openly floated the idea that there should be a ban on transgender individuals from firearm ownership. The idea is so absurd that even historically conservative firearm organizations, including but not limited to the National Rifle Association, have seemingly come forward in support of “all law-abiding individuals” being guaranteed their gun rights, calling the DOJ move “blatantly unconstitutional.”

Personally, I’m queer, both in sexual orientation and gender identity. Here in New York State, for now, I continue to be able to purchase firearms and ammunition with an “X” marker instead of “M” or “F” for the “sex” designation on my driver’s license.

With this, I wanted to include the thoughts and perspective on this possible ban from a fellow leftist gun owner, Victoria Coding, a trans woman:

“The proposed trans gun ban is another escalation by the fascist Trump administration against what it knows is a vulnerable minority, with the trans community not being and won’t be legitimately defended by the so-called ‘opposition’ [Democratic] party. Attempting to remove the right of a minority group to defend itself is obviously not a precursor to anything good, and it goes without saying that any trans person should be exercising their right to acquire firearms and [hormone replacement therapy] for as long as it’s still legal. …

“Just as we have always existed, we will always continue to exist. … Stonewall was a riot, and what will follow will be a revolt. You cannot kill us all, and if you try, you’d better be willing to die for it.”

I couldn’t agree more. The Democratic Party offers little more than hollow gestures of “concern.” They will tweet rainbow flags in June, and then quietly vote for bloated police budgets in July. They will decry “authoritarianism” abroad while enabling it at home.

What they will not do, what they have never done, is step in to materially defend queer people, trans people, or anyone outside of their donor base from the very violence now openly threatened by state power.

Queer and trans gun ownership, then, is not a cultural quirk or a political provocation. It is survival.

Though, of course, symbols of “safety” for many, rainbow flags and hashtags will not save us. The cops certainly won’t. But a community that refuses to be disarmed politically, socially or literally has a fighting chance.

And make no mistake: We intend to fight.

Max Micallef

Schenectady

Micallef is a former resident of Sag Harbor — Ed.