The last few months have been harsh on someone like me. I’ve felt like I’ve spent them defending minorities, and people that don’t have the same rights I do. This election has brought so much hatred to our Country, and quite honestly, I’m exhausted.

You see, I’m an Empath. According to Merriam-Webster, that is “one who experiences the emotions of others”. I’ve read every journal article there is about being an empath. I’ve taken every quiz out there. I’m a Type 2 Enneagram (the Helper). In Myers-Briggs I’m an INFJ. I don’t want to be an empath. I don’t want to feel what others feel. I don’t want to be the person in the grocery store line that strangers like to unload on. I don’t like that I spent too many of my younger years with a manipulative narcissist simply because it’s in my nature to heal. I don’t like that I’m a natural introvert because public outings suck all my energy. But I am all of that.

I’m so lucky in my life, I’m a white female raised in a household where my parents were happily married. I could go to college and get a good education without worrying about what I would be eating for dinner. I am privileged, and I recognize that. I don’t have to worry about my rights because I work for an amazing, progressive company that will always emphasize equal pay (did I mention they appointed a female CEO the same week as the election), and although I would love to have a baby one day, my focus is my career in tandem with the fact that I don’t necessarily feel that inherent need to give birth like a lot of women do (hello adoption).

However, that doesn’t mean I have to be blind to those that aren’t as lucky as I am. Or who don’t make the same life choices as I do. Everyone is different, and not one person is “right”. Age does not always equal wisdom, your wisdom stops progressing when you choose to stop listening and learning. Just because you “turned out fine” does not mean the next generation will, our world is always changing.

I’m not normally a “political” person, but I am very vocal on my beliefs in equality and humanity. I won’t get into it, because I want everyone to read this without having an immediate bias on my beliefs, but let’s just say as *most* millennials are, I’m “progressive”. As our species should be, because…well, we would still be living in caves if we didn’t progress.

Being an empath has been a key term as of recent – I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because in a world where there’s a lot of evil, people want to claim to have empathy to feel like a good person. A lot of people associate being an empath with being a kind person, and although being kind is part of empathy, they are not the same.

An empath will ALWAYS put others before themselves. Sometimes (a lot of times) to their own disadvantage (see: narcissistic ex boyfriend). But sometimes, it’s necessary.

NOW I will talk about these *controversial* topics (although in my opinion, as an empath, they shouldn’t be). I hope no matter your beliefs, you’ll stay and listen.

1. LQBTQ+ rights. This one hits close to home as I have someone I love very dearly in this group. As well as many friends. DT has openly opposed the Equality Act (yes it passed, but it doesn’t change the fact that he supports companies being allowed to discriminate against someone for being LGBTQ+). He has appointed MULTIPLE anti-LGBTQ+ judges (looking at you Kavanaugh and Conan Barrett). Has even joked about the fact that his VP wants to hang everyone in this minority. It’s no surprise that this community is terrified of him.

2. Children at the border. Must I say more? Yes, I’m Pro-Choice, but in that, I’m Pro-Life for people out of the womb. Including these innocent children. Did Obama keep people in cages too? YES, and although it makes me uncomfortable, he did it for no longer than 72 hours as a holding until he could relocated the families. Oh, and he didn’t split the children from the parents, to keep them in those cages for months without proper hygiene, care, or nutrition. Children are dying.

3. Reproductive rights. These aren’t about being “Pro-Life” or “Pro-Choice”. This is about the fact that DT rushed to appoint Amy Conan Barrett, who actively disagrees with Roe vs. Wade, as well as multiple other Supreme Court Judges (again, Kavanaugh). Remember when I said I don’t *need* to have a baby? This is part of it. I worry for my access to birth control, and I worry even more to my access to reproductive health if I ever become pregnant. What if I lose a baby? What if I miscarry? What if I have a still born with a placenta still in utero? (Sorry if this sounds graphic, but if you don’t want to hear about this, you shouldn’t have an opinion on my body). Because Roe vs. Wade protects me for all of that. The minute abortion becomes illegal, so does all the healthcare around female reproduction. Unless you’re having a healthy baby. So excuse me if this is terrifying for a lot of young women.

4. Women’s rights to equal pay, again, I mentioned this one. DT has openly blocked laws that promote equal pay in the workplace. Need I say more? I’m so glad I went to the same colleges, got the same job, and have worked just as hard to make less than my male counterparts (spoiler: this has happened to me in my past).

5. Do I even dare bring up the fact that he’s a racist? Because POC used to be hidden from him in his casino. And he literally had a court case against him for refusing to rent apartments to POC. So everything else aside, yes, he’s racist.

There are SO many things I can touch on. I didn’t even get into accusations, these are all literal facts. All I know, is how can I, as an empath, support a man that has so many diverse groups of people terrified for their basic rights?

I often hear, “they already have those rights, the chance that they’ll be taken away are slim,” but rights have been revoked in the past. And as someone who has never had her rights threatened, I don’t feel like I can have a say on how people feel in that situation.

I have to support ALL people, from all backgrounds, and all types of life. And I do. I support you for you. I won’t judge you, because it’s not my life. All I can do is help, heal, and nurture, and hope that you feel as safe as I do on this land we call home.

How can an “empath” vote for a man that is inherently discriminatory against so many of his peoples? I’m not saying people are wrong for voting for Trump, sure, there’s probably personal benefits and reasons. Heck, I’ll even go as far to say that personally, I could probably benefit from some of Trump’s platform (see: good, successful career). But that’s not me. I’m an empath. No matter what happens to my taxes, or finances, I’ll still be okay. But you know who won’t? The people discriminated against.

Money doesn’t make me happy. It never has. People having the same opportunities as I do, and the ability to feel safe in this country, that’s what is important to me. As an empath, I will put others before myself, and in this election, that meant not supporting a man who actively supports suppression of people in the country we call home.

I’m not saying you’re a bad person for voting for Trump, I’m just saying that if you did, you’re not an empath. If that sits wrong with you, maybe you need to reassess your morals and priorities.