I'll keep this short, mostly because I'm already tired of saying this and it's been less than a week.

If you are practicing optimism in this tragedy, you are practicing privilege.

By all means, be optimistic. Cope however you choose. Write post-it notes on subways. Share self-care tips and tricks. Organize support groups and peaceful protests. Do whatever you want in the wake of this failure.

But don't ever sit down next to me again, unwarranted, and begin preaching to me about how things may not be as bad as they seem.

Don't ever approach me without my permission just to look me in the eyes and say "He's actually pro-LGBT."

Don't ever tell me that, just because he's a notorious liar, no harm will come from his presidency.

Your optimism is ignorant and inconsiderate of those who have already been put in danger, have already experienced direct-result violence, and have already suffered enough for a lifetime in less than a week. People have already died.

Let our pessimism fester. Let our anger grow. Let our violence cause change. Riots make history, not condescension.

I refuse to behave optimistically. I refuse to get complacent. I am infuriated by the incredible drop in the number of posts, articles, and stats about the election already. It has been less than a week and the majority of my social circle has already moved on from anger, motivation, and determination to acceptance, complacency, and normalization.

This shit isn't normal. And acting like it is will not help. I'm disappointed in many of my peers.

If I see one more offering of "We survived Reagan; we can survive this!" or "He won't get anything done!" I might just snap my laptop over my knee.

You know who didn't survive Reagan? Hundreds of thousands of LGBT+ individuals during the AIDS crisis. Civil rights activists and protesters. Disproportionately low income nonwhite individuals. Undocumented immigrants. Incarcerated humans. Women seeking reproductive care.

You know who doesn't need your optimistic bullshit right now? Read the above.

You know what has already been done? Hate crimes. Assaults. Vandalism. Arrests. Harassment. Bullying. Threats. And he hasn't even taken an oath.

You know who will still bleed even if "nothing gets done?" Read the above.

I don't care if he goes and fucks 40 men on stage in front of the entire nation; LGBT people are endangered by his supporters and the anger he has awakened and pardoned in them.

I don't care if he goes all 4 years without enacting a single policy. Black and Muslim people are endangered by his supporters.

I don't care if he fills his administration with binders full of women. Women are endangered by his supporters.

These demographics and their intersections screamed and bled for justice in the 2016 election and were exiled by the American people.

We are not optimistic. Fear and fury are justified and blind optimism is uncalled for.

Be optimistic in protests. In petitions. In fights. In riots.

Not stress balls and glitter jars.

Let's get shit done.