The importance to not stay silent

Hi Friends!

For years, it weighed heavily on me that my inactions and ability to properly engage in both politics and civil rights were causing me to take a backseat to the legacy that I want to leave behind one day. In that realization, I’ve long sat silently and have been one of those individuals who would just post pretty pictures online, but never actually advocate for the work that was needed to bring those issues to light. While I advocated and supported in other ways, it’s never enough and we should use the platforms we are given to give back to the greater good.

In this very understanding, I am acting.

With this most recent election, I have learned there are many voices that are contributing to campaign messages that are sometimes causing inaccuracies and for folks to be led down the wrong paths. I vow to never be that person, but I will vow to always share facts. My mission forward is to fight for the LGBTQ+ community and be a contributing voice in a growing atmosphere of online influencers and micro influencers. We can choose to use our platforms to spread fear, get people to buy products they maybe don’t really need, or we can choose to use our platforms to lift up society and spread awareness to the things that matter the most. To be clear, not all things will matter most to you, but the fundamental civil rights of many should matter significantly, and that is why we’re here.

In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll be growing my contributions here significantly both through columns and other forms of media, including a podcast and YouTube channel. I’m really excited about this new journey ahead here, and look forward to the conversations that it will bring.

Thank you for your years of following along on my journeys. I would hope by now you know that our connections with each other mean the world to me. I would hope that if you were to find anything helpful that you would share it with others so we can help drive the messaging, my only ask.

We have a lot of work to do, it’s very clear, and I’m willing to do it and I’m excited to do it. The next few years will be a challenge, yes, but it won’t be impossible. Get involved locally however you can, use your platforms however you are able, and when you feel down on your luck just know that there are millions of supporters out there willing to be the shoulder to lean on. I know what we’re all feeling at the moment, and don’t discount the feeling at all. Take the time you need, but remember, in strength and unity, we will move on and prosper.

-Mike