The struggle for civil rights is far, far from over

Over the past few decades, America’s political divides have grown starker. Nowhere has that been more evident than in the 2016 presidential campaign. In the months leading up to the election, the violent alt-right dredged up racist rhetoric that had been socially unacceptable since the 1960s, giving it new power. And our current president has curried favor with such radicals every step of the way.

Most of the ugliness that’s reared its head over the past couple of years has been focused on African Americans and immigrants, but there’s been plenty of hatred pointed in the direction of LGBT communities, too. And it’s very, very important to remember that it all stems from the same place: fear of difference.

And so, as we celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, it’s important to remember these words from King’s late wife, Coretta Scott King:

“Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood. This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group.”