The words hurt, sure. It’s gross to know my elected officials are legitimately shocked I dare to continue to exist in the 405, and that they’re talking trash about people like me in public spaces in front of my neighbors. But it hurts queer folks again when we seek help for mental illness, domestic abuse, substance abuse and addiction – all things we suffer from at disproportionately higher levels than cishetero people – and we get turned down or inadequate care because the bigots in charge have the power to move dollars and sense away from genuine help. This is a problem in red states that can’t be ignored. You might not live in a state where someone can compare queer people to cockroaches at a public town hall meeting and get away with it, but we all live in states affected by the legislative trends shaped by bigotry.