In the wake of Trump’s reelection, there’s a palpable dread among LGBTQ+ Americans. His previous administration systematically chipped away at queer rights and made a point of being cruel to marginalized communities, and this time, with an even more polarized and hostile climate, many in the community are grappling with what comes next. For some, leaving the U.S. seems like the only option. But for those who stay, leaving isn’t feasible—or isn’t an option they’re willing to entertain. If you’re choosing to hold your ground, here’s a guide to resisting repression, supporting one another, and staying ungovernable in 2025 and beyond.
1. “Do Not Obey in Advance”: Refuse to Self-Silence
Timothy Snyder opens his book On Tyranny with a powerful principle: don’t comply in advance. Fear can push us to self-censor, hiding our identities or softening our language to avoid attention. But compliance doesn’t always start with laws; it starts with the personal concessions we make to avoid conflict. Authoritarianism feeds on this.
For LGBTQ+ people, this means claiming the space to live openly. Wear that Pride pin, ask for your pronouns to be respected, talk about your partner. By refusing to dim our visibility, we challenge the silence that repressive regimes want to impose. Every public act of queer visibility—however small—is resistance to those who hope we’ll disappear.
2. Know Your Rights (Before They’re in the Crosshairs)
Even under an authoritarian regime, knowledge is power. Knowing exactly what legal rights remain is crucial for identifying when they’re threatened and when to push back. Stay connected to resources that can help you navigate this uncertain terrain.
- Get Friendly with the ACLU: The ACLU has extensive resources on LGBTQ+ rights and will be on the front lines of any rollback. Sign up for alerts and familiarize yourself with your current protections.
- Look Local: State and city protections can sometimes provide a stronger shield than federal laws, especially in progressive areas. Connect with local advocacy groups and know the protections specific to where you live, and spread the word to those in your community.
3. “Defend Institutions”: Stand by LGBTQ+ Organizations and Safe Spaces
LGBTQ+ organizations—whether they’re community centers, healthcare providers, advocacy groups—are not just resources; they’re bastions of resilience. In times of repression, these institutions become lifelines.
- Support Queer and Ally-Owned Businesses: Every dollar is a ballot. Spend intentionally, supporting businesses that align with your values. Queer-owned and ally-owned businesses provide safe spaces and strengthen community resources.
- Donate to Local Defense Funds: If you’re able, support organizations like Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign, or contribute to local LGBTQ+ legal defense funds. These groups are already preparing for the onslaught; they need all the backing they can get.
4. Strength in Numbers: Build a Community that Won’t Crack
Authoritarianism thrives on fear and isolation. A strong support network can act as a shield, a sounding board, and a source of practical help.
- Join Mutual Aid Networks: During the pandemic, mutual aid networks showed how communities could pool resources to support each other. These networks offer practical help, solidarity, and security in an often-hostile climate.
- Guard Your Digital Security: Use encrypted messaging apps like Signal and consider a VPN for online protection. Staying connected is essential, but protecting your privacy is just as critical in a climate where dissent is increasingly surveilled. Read TML’s Guide to Digital Privacy if you don’t know where to start.
5. “Take Responsibility for the Face of the World”: Reclaiming Public Space
Public spaces are powerful battlegrounds. When authoritarian regimes push anti-LGBTQ+ narratives, they use symbols, language, and even art to create an atmosphere of hostility.
- Fill the World with Queer Symbols: From chalking rainbows on sidewalks to public murals, every visible symbol of queer pride pushes back against a climate of fear. Art as resistance can’t be overstated—it disrupts authoritarian narratives and asserts our right to exist in public.
- Occupy Public Spaces: Simply being visible in public spaces asserts your right to be there. Show up at community events, participate in Pride gatherings, and frequent inclusive spaces. Reclaiming visibility in public spaces reinforces that we won’t be erased.
6. Stay Informed (and Stay Sane)
Under authoritarian regimes, the media landscape can become a dizzying mix of propaganda and panic. Staying informed is essential, but so is maintaining boundaries around news consumption.
- Follow Trusted LGBTQ+ Media: Outlets like TML, The Advocate, them, and Washington Blade provide balanced queer perspectives without plunging you into doom-scrolling.
- Be Social with Purpose: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are full of grassroots updates and firsthand insights. However, approach information critically—misinformation spreads fast in times of fear, and not all sources are reliable.
7. Protest Smart, Protest Safe
Protesting is a powerful way to resist, but authoritarian regimes are quick to paint protesters as “threats” or “agitators.” This means showing up thoughtfully, with safeguards in place.
- Have Legal Backup: Know your rights to protest and connect with organizations like the National Lawyers Guild, which provides legal support. This preparation is crucial if protests face heightened scrutiny or repression.
- Stick to a Buddy System: It’s dangerous to go alone! Protesting with a friend creates a sense of solidarity and safety, especially if things escalate.
- Embrace Nonviolent Disruption: History shows that peaceful protest is harder for authoritarian regimes to vilify. Sit-ins, vigils, and marches are visible yet non-threatening ways to demonstrate resistance.
- Avoid Engaging Fascist Counter-Protestors: In direct-action circles, it’s standard to avoid engaging with fascist provocateurs. Confrontation only fuels their narrative, painting LGBTQ+ activists as “violent” agitators. Keep the focus on unity and safety.
8. Stay Creative, Stay Visible
Visibility has always been central to LGBTQ+ resistance. Art, expression, and celebration of queer identities are powerful acts of defiance.
- Art as Resistance: Art provokes thought and disrupts authoritarian narratives. Create, share, and support queer art in all its forms—whether that’s painting, music, or storytelling.
- Pride as Protest: Never underestimate the act of showing up in all your queer joy. In a climate that aims to erase us, visibility itself becomes a revolutionary act.
9. Believe in Truth: Stand by the Reality of LGBTQ+ Existence
Authoritarianism often denies or distorts reality, dismissing queer lives as “ideology” or “propaganda.” (for example, the Right’s use of the word “transgenderism.”) Snyder’s reminder to believe in truth is a call to stand by the lived experiences and identities of LGBTQ+ people.
- Support Queer Journalists: Amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ writers and journalists who document our stories accurately. Share and celebrate queer stories as a way to combat erasure.
- Reject Dehumanizing Language: Stand against language that diminishes or stereotypes us. Reclaim the words that define us, and use language that affirms queer lives and experiences.
Why Resist? Because Our Visibility Is Non-Negotiable
The choice to stay and fight in the face of authoritarianism is a brave one. By refusing to disappear, by living authentically and defiantly, we remind those in power that we are ungovernable. This fight will be tough, but LGBTQ+ communities are forged in resilience. We’ve seen governments try to silence, erase, and break us, and yet we remain. Every act of defiance, every embrace of solidarity, and every refusal to be invisible is a continuation of our legacy.
So, if you’re here for the long haul, know this: you’re not alone. You’re part of a lineage that refuses to back down, one as bold as it is boundless. Staying ungovernable is about more than survival; it’s a statement of joy, courage, and love that no regime can suppress. When we resist, we stand up for every queer person who comes after us. The fight is personal, but it’s also collective—each of us a vital link in a chain that authoritarianism will never break.
Essential Resources for Resistance
- ACLU – Know Your Rights
- Lambda Legal – LGBTQ+ Legal Defense
- National Lawyers Guild – Legal Support for Protestors
- The Advocate – Reliable LGBTQ+ News
- TML Resource Index – U.S.-Based LGBTQ+ Supports