Buy Bling
Get a t-shirt, jewelry, lanyard, pin, button, sticker…something that lets people know where you stand. I recently complimented a rainbow-flag peeking out from a doctor’s busy lanyard. She was so pleased and said she wasn’t sure anyone noticed. I assured her anyone who needs the reassurance, notices.
Normalize progressive messages! Flood the zone with symbols of the resistance. Make it cool to dissent!
How to do it:
How you proceed depends on your personality, identity, and safety. While a t-shirt loudly proclaiming you stand with trans kids is wonderful (do it if you can!) you can also take much subtler steps. People in vulnerable communities scan everyone for signs. We review tattoos, glance at jewelry, and scan the buttons on your purse or lanyard. We don’t miss much, because our safety depends on it.
Collect an arsenal of symbols, and wear them according to your comfort and safety:
- Buy t-shirts, totebags etc. from places like NPR (National Public Radio), the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) or EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation).
- Buy jewelry or pins with symbols: RGB’s dissent collar, rainbow or pride items (look for a local queer artist.)
- Choose “generic” indicators like peace symbols or multi-denominational “Coexist” stickers.
- If you need to be subtler, consider local indicators of politics: in the PNW this might be a Cascadia flag. What says “progressive” where you are?
- You can also wear something to display as-needed. For example, a rainbow-bead bracelet you can intentionally flash, or the inside of a phone-case that opens.
