Let’s pretend for a minute that you’re in your dorm room, then you leave for class, but you know that by the time you get back to your room, you might no longer be able to get married in the United States.
Now imagine it’s election day and you go up to vote, and you get turned away because your driver’s license doesn’t match the name on your birth certificate. Now take a second and realize these are real things that people have to think about.
For many queer people, politics isn’t a distant or abstract concept—it’s personal. The decisions made by lawmakers shape everything from access to healthcare to the ability to exist openly in public spaces. While some argue that LGBTQ+ rights shouldn’t be “politicized,” the reality is that they already are. Policies determine whether transgender individuals can access gender-affirming care, whether same-sex couples can adopt children and whether schools can create safe, inclusive environments for queer students.
Personally, I think about the government every day. My goal is to work in government, but as a queer person, I often doubt the reality of that happening. As I progress through college, I’m reminded time and time again that knowledge is the most important weapon anyone can wield; without a proper education, or one that is current, you open the door to ignorance, which leads to oppression.
Recent years have made this especially clear. Across the United States, debates over legislation affecting LGBTQ+ communities have intensified, with some laws expanding protections while others restrict them. These policies don’t just exist on paper—they influence people’s daily lives, mental health and sense of safety. For young queer people in particular, the political climate can shape whether they feel supported or targeted in their own communities.
At the same time, political engagement has been a powerful tool for change. From local school boards to federal elections, civic participation has played a key role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights. Progress has never been accidental—it has come from people speaking out, organizing and voting.
So when I say “let’s get political,” it’s not about partisanship for its own sake. It’s about recognizing that for queer communities, politics is inseparable from lived experience. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away—it just leaves decisions in the hands of others. So register to vote, talk to people who are asking you to sign petitions, pay attention to the news and go out and experience the world; figure out what you want to change and work towards making it happen.
Get political.