Tender hearts, hopeful outlooks, and a blue wave

||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND PRIDE |||

Today, our hearts feel tender, holding both hope and heartbreak.

As election results arrive across Washington, Initiative 638—a cruel attempt to exclude transgender girls from school sports and force invasive exams on young athletes—is leading in early returns. This is just one of many anti-trans measures across the country designed to fracture our communities and sow fear.

At the same time, Washingtonians stood together to defend our millionaire’s tax, and millions across the country rose up against bullies, bigots, and billionaires. We are living in a moment of both possibility and heartbreak.

Initiative 638 deepens the climate of fear and hatred that too many young people, especially our trans and gender-diverse siblings, face every day. One billionaire’s money fueled this measure, persuading far too many.

But here on our islands, our voices rang out strong. The vast majority of San Juan Island County rejected 638, affirming that the rights, dignity, and belonging of young people are not up for debate.

To our trans and gender-diverse youth: you belong.

You are cherished, and you are worth every ounce of our struggle. You belong in your schools, on your teams, and in this community. You deserve to live all the beautiful, messy moments of growing up, without your existence being put on trial.

No election can change that.

To parents, caregivers, educators, friends, and allies feeling scared, angry, confused, or heartbroken: we see you. There is space for your feelings here.

Even as we celebrate victories, our grief is real.

We are all worth fighting for—every day.

We know that real change rarely comes from a single election or court decision. The ACLU will sue if 638 passes, immediately. And, most importantly, all of us are ready to keep fighting. Win or lose, 638 is a wake-up call. We build safety and belonging by showing up for each other, every day.

So where do we go from here?

• We pay attention. Ballots are still being counted; check VoteWA.gov to confirm your ballot and follow results. Over a million votes remain.
• We show up locally. Schools, programs, and leaders must ensure every young person is treated with dignity. Ask questions, join school boards, advocate for real anti-bullying protections, and help make schools safe.
• We support the organizations leading the legal and policy fight. Follow and support groups like No Hate in Washington State and the ACLU of Washington. Legal challenges require coordination, resources, and time—and our solidarity.
• We build bridges beyond those who already agree with us. This may be some of our most important work. We must be willing to have conversations with neighbors, families, and community members whose understanding is different from our own—not by asking trans young people to defend their existence or compromise their dignity, but by building relationships rooted in our shared responsibility to care for every child.

Above all, we ensure young people at the heart of this struggle never carry its weight alone. Young people should not have to be activists just to be safe. They need adults willing to step up.

Orcas Island Pride believes our responsibility goes far beyond a weekend. Pride is ongoing work—creating belonging, supporting each other, and organizing when the world tries to silence us.

Join us in that work.

If you are an educator, parent, coach, organizer, advocate, or community member who wants to help strengthen the web of support around our LGBTQIA+ youth, please reach out. We welcome your resources, skills, and ideas.

We may not have every answer today, and we don’t need every next step figured out today. But we can begin, as we always have, with one another.

We can be heartbroken and still be powerful. We can be tired and still be committed. We can name our fear without surrendering to it.

Our belonging is bigger than any ballot.

Our dignity is not up for debate. And our work is far from over.

With love, resolve, and a deep commitment to this community.