Our President-elect Donald Trump has been spewing hate for the last year-and-a-half. Now that he has been elected, and Republicans control Congress, many people are at risk of losing rights and protections.
When Pres. Obama won, a lot of conservatives became very paranoid and started stockpiling food and guns and just panicking in general. We’re not going to panic. We’re not trying to be alarmists. But remember: unlike Obama, Trump specifically said he’d do some terrible things that should be concerning for everyone.
Here are some suggestions on things you may want to do to prepare yourself.
1. Get a new passport.
If you are transgender and have officially changed genders, get a new passport and/or ID. Passports last 10 years, so they will expire after a Trump presidency. You will need to bring documentation such as a letter from a doctor to prove your gender. You should also change your name legally if you haven’t done so already. There is a new hashtag, #TransLawHelp on Twitter to help transgender people find attorneys willing to help them pro-bono.
Even if your not facing the challenges that transpeople have, make sure your official documents are easily accessible and renewed where applicable.
2. Renew DACA.
President Barack Obama created a program for undocumented youth to allow them to go to school and find work without having to worry about deportation. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) . If your DACA expires in the next six months, request a renewal immediately.
3. Sign Up For ObamaCare.
If you do not have health insurance with your company, apply for ObamaCare right now at healthcare.gov. If the Republicans take it, you should be able to use it through 2017. Also, we need more people to sign up, so it will be more difficult for the Republicans to yank it away from people.
Don’t believe the lies about high prices. Many people qualify for subsidies, and you may live in a state with expanded Medicare. Go through the process and you may be surprised at how easy it is, and how affordable the insurance is.
4. Get Your Green Cards or Naturalization Forms Filed
These forms take months to process. If you are eligible for a green card or naturalization, file the forms. If you can become a citizen or a permanent resident, do so immediately. This will help if Trump starts deporting people.
5. Political Asylum
There are many countries who discriminate against people in the LGBT community. People who are seeking political asylum for that or for any other reason should file those forms. If you have been persecuted because of your religion, sexual orientation, race, or political opinions, you can request asylum here.
6. LGBT Parents
If you have a child, but don’t have a legal right to them, you should file adoption paperwork. Putting your name on the birth certificate may not be enough. Get adoptions or dual-adoptions immediately. Unfortunately, some states don’t allow LGBT couples to adopt children. This list will tell you what the laws are for your state.
7. Personal Protections
This can apply to anyone. For hospital visitation privileges, protect your family. Get your Last Will and Testament, Healthcare Proxies, Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney, and living wills. Finding a lawyer and getting these things can be complicated depending on what state you live in.
8. Know Your Rights
If you are part of a minority, you should be aware of federal and state-level discrimination laws. This includes race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. On the federal level, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects people from discrimination:
“…On the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin (including membership in a Native American tribe).”
This applies to employees and applicants for jobs. There is also the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Equal Pay Act (EPA). There are other discrimination laws on the state level as well.
9. Birth Control and Other Contraception
Ladies, our right to choose is in jeopardy. Get an IUD or something else semi-permanent if you know you don’t want kids. Trump could take away birth control or make it too expensive. He also once said that women who have abortions should be punished.
Heavily research your options. The old IUDs of the past that had serious side-effects have been replaced with very safe options. A ParaGard, for example, works without using hormones.
It’s going to be a rough four years, but we will make it.
Featured image via Twitter
