A Few Words From a Lesbian About a Post-Roe America

Congrats. Roe has officially been overturned.

I have a uterus and that means that safe abortions are no longer legal for me to have in my home state and around half the states in this country. Contraception is next, then LGBT rights, then race-related civil rights. Seeing the only country I have always known descend into fascism is horrifying.

I’m also a lesbian who came out 9 months ago. I’m still very much in the “baby gay” era of my lesbianhood. I’ve written about some of the ups and downs of that experience so far. I wanted to take a break from writing during pride month because I was in between homes, but after this, I couldn’t stay silent.

It’s easy to think that because I only date women, this decision doesn’t affect me. But it does. Not only because there are opportunities to get pregnant (hello, trans women), but because I could be assaulted. In a world where my sexuality is sexualized by men and as a survivor myself, I am not as safe as I thought. What if my partner gets assaulted. What then? What about my incredibly straight sister?

I think of these scenarios and the ones down the line based on potential SCOTUS decisions. Will I be able to marry my future wife? Will I be able to sleep with her in private without the state getting in my business? I have an IUD, if something were to happen to me in my home state when I visit my family and it has to be removed?

It’s safe to say that things out here are looking bleak. It’s looking dark and like there’s no way out. However, if history serves us correctly, there has always been a way out. Donate, march, fight. Rest, recharge, release, and rage.