Then they came for me...
The poem, “First They Came”, from German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller, is a powerful indictment of those who stood by and did nothing as the Nazis systematically persecuted various groups. It has become a widely quoted and powerful reminder of the importance of moral courage and social responsibility.
So as we “celebrate” Trans Pride on Saturday, let it be a stark reminder that our LGBTQ+ rights are under attack. It won’t stop with trans athletes and bathroom bills. Marriage Equality is cued up for reversal.
But the attacks are also on the CEOs of car manufacturers who trump threatened with sanctions if they raised car prices after his tariffs. And on high powered law firms who employed lawyers who “did him wrong” during the Biden years. And against health organizations like dap Health who serve our community.
Our KGAY radio ad for “Trans Pride: Empower and Employ” brilliantly provides the call to action that we all should heed this weekend: “The erasure is real. Trans people are fighting for dignity, the right to exist while others look away. But looking away is complicity…. posting isn’t enough. Showing up matters”.
So, I hope you’ll support by coming to the event on Saturday. Because the poem serves as a stark warning about the consequences of indifference and the importance of speaking out against oppression.
The poem ended like this:
“Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Does it have to end this way for us?
