I am very disappointed to not be physically able to attend the march.  Political activism and social justice are important to me, and I have attended rallies and counter-protests with my older son when I was healthy enough to do so.  I’m really grateful to make my voice heard, even if it’s not in person.

I’m terribly concerned about this new administration and the threats it presents to me as a disabled person who absolutely needs adequate healthcare in order to stay alive.  I’m disabled, and a single parent, and I don’t want to leave my children without a mother because of some greedy policy, or because some petty politicians didn’t like the last guy’s idea.  Spite doesn’t make good policy.

I’m also concerned as a woman, an intersectional feminist, an LGBTQAI ally, and an atheist humanist.  I want my voice to be heard.  I want to live in a nation that values all of its people, that works to remove the barriers between us, and that lends a hand to those with less access, fewer opportunities, and less privilege.

I have children with special needs, and I’m fearful that the resources they need to overcome their difficulties will be cut, leaving them resourceless, disempowered, and less productive members of society.

I ‘march’ for every person who believes the future can hold hope, progress, and growth.

I march for every person who lives at a disadvantage, but fights like hell to get through their days.

I march so that my children can know a future without racism, sexism, misogyny, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and other such abuses.

I march for a future with less violence against women, less police brutality, and fewer abuses of power.

I believe if we join together, this future is still possible.  I will not give up.

I’m a single mother, an intersectional feminist, and a survivor of abuse and multiple rapes.  I’m a progressive liberal with Fibromyalgia, IBS, Hashimotos, an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder, and a few other things that forced me to resign my career as a doula, childbirth educator, and lactation specialist.  I rely on the ACA for medical benefits.

I have a special needs toddler that relies on government programs to address developmental delays due to prematurity, SPD, and Apraxia.  My older son relies on his IEP to grant him the accommodations he needs to learn according to the restrictions of his learning disabilities.