Not to be controversial but I’m happy I didn’t leave New York.

Besides stopping the spread of the virus, I have my friends, organizing community, I don’t have to fight over resources (currently) and I also have mental health because I am around people that respect my gender and pain.

This is my home. I want to stay and fight for it. This doesn’t mean that I think everyone who left is “bad” just that I’m happy I did not. I thought I would maybe have regrets but I don’t at all.

I’m looking at the networks and work that has been done in over a month, and thinking about what comes next as we navigate The Bad Thing.

If I went back to Georgia (where my family lives), I wouldn’t be able to organize tbh because my brain would be so distracted and also because I haven’t spent the last year building with people I know and trust.

And other people can do that virtually, but I know myself and I cannot.

And for the people writing threads and essays defending themselves from New Yorkers being mad that they left cry me a River.

You made your choice. Everyone made their choice. And some of us had access to more choices than others did. So make your choice. Don’t ask others to have to affirm it for you!

People are allowed to complain about the things that are happening in their community. My neighbors are allowed to complain about my presence. It doesn’t matter if it hurts my feelings. That’s life.

“It hurts my feelings when you acknowledge that I have a second home or access to my parents financial support” repeat that back to me.

Like @ceaweaver said for many people this is an organizing moment of our lifetime. Okay. So you left. What are you going to do from your new location to help others?