“We’re with you, and you’re with us. We are bigger than bigotry, louder for love.”
Fifteen words, sent out on Twitter to the account of a political figure at 9:00 AM, accompanied by a picture of my partner, our son Leo, and me on the day we finalized our adoption. It was the happiest moment of our lives.
By noon, that tweet had racked up over 5,000 interactions. By 3:30, it surged to over 90,000 impressions. But by 4:00, I found myself in a work bathroom stall, feeling a tightness in my chest, realizing I had been naively optimistic about the progress of love and acceptance. I was tragically mistaken.
Despite the likes and hearts, my Twitter feed turned into a battleground, filled with vitriol and threats. It was exhausting; for every hostile message I reported, another twenty popped up. I had become a target for the alt-right.
I’m sharing these quotes to illustrate the backlash that comes from voicing support on topics that matter, especially in this digital age where people hide behind screens to unleash their insecurities and anger. To help you navigate this hatred, I’ve categorized the responses I received:
Anti-Political Tweets
These were the most common, often filled with incoherence.
- “smh you do realize that person is the biggest liar and hypocrite, right? She just wants your vote.”
- “Happy to have another Saudi-funded leader? #boughtoff”
- “All she does is blame others for her mistakes. What planet are you on?”
Xenophobic Tweets
Our family picture apparently sparked the ire of anti-immigrant trolls.
- “Don’t show that photo to incoming Muslim immigrants; they won’t approve.”
- “Most donations come from countries that execute LGBTQ+ folks, right?”
- “Gotta import those Syrian, anti-LGBT refugees! LOL!”
Benghazi Tweets
Our day of joy was twisted into accusations.
- “Hillary won’t admit she got 4 Americans killed and leaked top-secret info. Unqualified and should be in prison.”
- “Congrats! Just be careful around Muslims for your safety!”
- “Except for the soldiers she left behind in Benghazi, right?”
Family Tweets
These were the ones that truly broke my heart.
- “The only thing you should feel is a rope around your neck, pederast.”
- “This isn’t a family; it’s a social experiment… Enjoy it while it lasts. #FourthReich.”
- “Someone call child protection services. That kid is going to get molested.”
- “Disgusting. Odds are these degenerates will harm him. Therapy for life!”
I’m all for civil discourse, truly. I miss the days of engaging in real conversations about politics without fear of hateful backlash. I used to enjoy discussing issues with my friend Kate, who supported a different candidate. Those debates were enlightening. But this was far from a civil conversation; it was a stark reminder of the hate that festers when leadership fails to diffuse it.
We’ve created a world where sharing a family image can ignite a flood of hatred, bigotry, and misogyny. I’ve thoroughly examined the policies and public service of my candidate, and it’s disheartening to think that our family’s future hinges on voter turnout. The thought of these hateful voices potentially occupying the White House is overwhelming.
So yes, we love you, Hillary, and we’re still in your corner. But days like today are tough on the heart. Fight for us, okay?