Gen Y on D&I: We Are The Future

I had a hard time getting out of bed the day after the election. I contemplated taking off work or working from home, but I made myself get up.

I found ways to cope. To make a statement, I put on my all black attire, reminiscent of some of those who had come before me: my black dress and tights adorning the things that make me biologically a woman, my black boots making me feel grounded in standing up for what I believe in, and my black lipstick setting it all off to make it clear that I was in mourning. Not to mention the black music in my ears.

I strolled into the workplace and sat at my desk. My boss called me to ask if I was okay. My co-workers left me be, as they could tell I wasn’t in the mood to chat yet.

I watched a post-election live webcast my alma mater hosted. I heard Hillary’s concession speech. I joined a virtual session The Winters Group put on in order to create a space for inclusion-related dialogue. I went for hot chocolate with a friend of mine. I left the office and texted everyone I could think of to tell him/her, “You are loved and valued. I just want you to know that.” I went home and talked to others I cared about. I watched funny things on TV. I coped the best way I could.

The above is just a piece of one story, but it’s one of many. Learning the results of this election very negatively affected many people. Whether you’re one of them or not, we all need to support one another…that’s the spirit of diversity and inclusion. This election has brought negative feelings toward people who identify as LGBTQ, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants, women, etc. to the forefront. Many feel threatened, scared, shocked. With that being said, we have to find ways to move forward, including employing coping mechanisms and supporting one another.

The majority of Millennials voted differently than our older American counterparts. We are not our parents or grandparents. We are the future. This isn’t the last election we will be part of. We have the power to be the change we want to see…Trump, Hillary, third party supporters and non-voters alike. And we don’t have to wait until 2020 to do it. We can start by trying to deal with the 2016 election results the best way we can…whether that’s celebrating a win, yet still extending support to those who are mourning a loss, feeling indifferent yet finding ways to join in paving a path forward, or mourning yet turning that emotion into action (and so on). The onus is on us… Gen Y…to create the United States of America that we want to live in, as we are next in line for leadership (although the other generations can and should definitely help). It’s pretty hard to create a more ideal USA if we’re not united.