Many Americans are rightfully scared shitless of Donald Trump; in particular marginalized people. But for many of us, we do not have the privilege of it being the first time we are truly afraid for our lives.
And because I am afraid of Donald Trump, I am expected to vote for Hillary. As if I am not scared of Hillary Clinton as President. But I am; in fact, many marginalized people are rightfully horrified of Hillary Clinton.
Hillary Clinton’s presidency will entail imperialism, colonialism, neoliberalism, and militarism reaching every inch of the world. The entire global south, is threatened with the presence of Donald Trump. But no safer is the global south under Hillary Clinton’s reign of terror. For many marginalized people, we are always scared and horrified, worried for our safety — electing Democrats like Obama and Hillary have not and will not make us safer. We do not have the privilege of feeling or being any safer under Democrats opposed to Republicans.
I guess I, as a trans woman coming from a family of immigrants, is “mega-privileged” for not voting for Hillary. All of my friends, queer, immigrants, People of Color, folks with disabilities and otherwise marginalized, will not be voting for Hillary Clinton because she poses a threat to our existence and the existence of other marginalized people.
All statistics are from reuters polling
68.2% of women are not voting for Hillary Clinton.
48% of People of Color will not be voting for Hillary Clinton.
57% of non-heterosexual people will not be voting for Hillary Clinton.
68% of marginalized religious folk will not vote for Hillary Clinton.
66.6% of working class people will not vote for Hillary Clinton.
The vast majority of marginalized people, as you can tell, would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly fuck off with the rhetoric that you are privileged if you don’t vote for Hillary.
If you feel safe under a Clinton administration, you are coming from a stance of privilege — while disregarding the oppressions of other marginalized people. If you cared about marginalized people, you wouldn’t be voting for somebody that puts many of us at risk.
The whole “vote for third parties will cause Trump to win” makes as much sense, and has as much validity, as saying: “A vote for Hillary is a vote for Trump because it takes votes away from Jill Stein.”
The idea that not voting Hillary causes Trump to win only makes sense if you believe she’s entitled to win. I’m as horrified of Hillary as I am of Trump because Hillary poses a direct danger to me, my family and other communities of marginalized people in America and around the globe.
And with y’all voting for Hillary because you put yourself above others, I’ll be worrying about my safety and protection. Stop pretending like you’re voting for Hillary because you care about other marginalized people — you fucking don’t. You’re voting for Hillary because the other proto-fascist, Trump, threatens you directly. You’re voting for Hillary because you’ll get yours and you don’t care about the other marginalized people that it will come at the expense of — that will be severely harmed and put in danger under a Clinton presidency.
This is not the first election that has made me fear for my life and it will not be the last. Any discourse that says “If you don’t vote for Hillary, you’re privileged” ought to be tossed out the door. Because for many of us that are marginalized, it is not privilege that causes us to not vote for Hillary, it is our fear of the violence and disempowerment that will be caused by her. So let’s be clear, you’re not voting for Hillary to protect marginalized people, you’re voting for Hillary because you want yours and you don’t care about any of the people that will be disempowered, exploited and killed due to a Clinton Presidency.
If you’re going to vote for Hillary to stop Trump, at least be fucking honest and stop pretending like you’re some heroic person while you vote for somebody that is going to destroy marginalized communities, put marginalized people at risk and murder marginalized people around the globe.