Why We Should Be More Scared of Donald Trump’s Right-Hand Man

We live in the “land of the free.” However, from slavery to police brutality, Americans have never truly been “free” of prejudice and discrimination. Every four years, a new president is elected; every four years, someone’s candidate wins and someone’s candidate loses. People say, “Well, he really can’t do much. That’s what checks and balances are for.” I’m not upset, or scared, or worried because of what Donald Trump will do. I’m upset, scared, and worried because of what Donald Trump has already done: selected Mike Pence as his Vice President.

Mike Pence has taken charge of the transition team, meaning he is in charge of the time period between the end of a presidential election and the new president’s inauguration. Donald Trump has made controversial picks for members of his transition team and Cabinet. Although there are a lot of decisions and plans being made during this time, the president-elect has zero power to institute any policy.
Mike Pence, Vice President-elect, has a record of marginalizing human rights. Pence has always been open about being “pro-life.” While he was governor of Indiana, Pence signed a bill to add more restrictions to the abortion process. He even went as far as saying, “I long for the day that Roe v. Wade is sent to the ash heap of history.” In 2011, Pence led the fight to completely defund Planned Parenthood and “threatened to shut down the federal government over Planned Parenthood funding.” In 2015, he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law in Indiana. This makes it easier to discriminate against people in the Muslim, Jewish, divorcee, and LGBTQ communities because it allows businesses, religious institutions and landlords to refuse to hire or house people in these marginalized groups. Mike Pence declares himself “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican — in that order.” Last time I checked, in the U.S., church and state were supposed to be separated. Pence has a difficult time separating the two of those and often lets his Christian faith dictate what he believes should be law in the U.S. Having Pence as part of the Trump administration could set back LGBTQ rights and present a potential harm for women’s rights.
Women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community have always experienced life in America differently than white men: they’ve always had to speak louder for their voices to be heard. More than ever, people in these communities need white males who are in a position of power to step up and be allies. People in leadership positions need to realize the privileges that come with their identity. Not everyone can stand up and say, “I am a white male and I have a voice,” but after November 8th’s election, I certainly wish I had that power and privilege, so I wouldn’t have to worry about my rights as a Latina woman in America. I want to stand up for other people’s rights without having to fight for my voice to be heard.
Vice President-elect Pence, how are you going to use your power and privilege to help those who feel voiceless? Being a white, straight man in a position of power, have you ever considered the privilege you enjoy in our country? If you are blind to it, it’s not your fault, but in today’s society where the president-elect is Donald Trump, you need to see it. You need to use your position to make others see it. Use your powerful voice to speak for those of us who struggle to be heard.