If one thing has changed about me lately, it's that I've become very vocal on where I stand with certain political debates. If you've been following me on social media, then you know I'm going to Washington D.C. on January 21, 2017 to participate in the Woman's March. Since I've announced I'm going, I've been asked on several occasions why I'm marching. Here's just a couple of the reasons:

I think it's absolutely unacceptable to have a leader that doesn't understand the impact of sexual assault.

In high school I was sexually assaulted and I remember that day like it was yesterday. That is something I will continue to live with, and struggle with for the rest of my life. The damage that puts someone through is very very very hard to overcome. The feeling of being used, damaged and disgusting doesn't end some days. Having someone lead our nation who thinks sexual assault is no big deal, will not prevent that from happening in the future. It is simply making it socially acceptable. It shouldn't just receive a shrug of the shoulders.

I march for those who fought for my rights before I was able to.

Amelia Bloomer, Mary Wollstonecraft, Simone de Beauvoir, Alice Paul, Lucy Stone, Carrie Chapman Catt, Susan B. Anthony, Elisabeth Stanton, CoCo Chanel, Gloria Steinem, Maya Angelou and several other empowering women did not risk everything they had, for us to just give up now.

Because women's rights are human rights.

If you think that women are treated equally, you are naive. The wage gap is real, and it's an issue. In 2015, women working full time on average made 80 cents for every dollar earned by men. That makes the wage gap a whooping 20%. We need to continue to work to close that gap. If a man and woman work the same job, with the same experience, they deserve equal pay.

For those without a voice, or that are unable to march.

For those that haven't been on media lately, one of the very first things Trump has put into place is the start to repeal the Affordable Care Act. To sum that up for you, this will leave thousands of American's without insurance because they have pre-existing medical conditions. So if you have family members with heart conditions, dementia, cancer, or another life threatening medical condition, they'll essentially be left for dead.

Planned Parenthood rocks my damn socks off.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Planned Parenthood does phenomenal things for this country. They provide a variety of services to not only women, but men and families as well. If you have low income, they will help you and make something work. Yes, you are able to get an abortion there, HOWEVER, tax dollars are NOT spent on this. The only time it would be an exception is if the mother is in danger and it becomes a medical emergency. Otherwise, it is illegal to use tax dollars towards abortion, which is only 3% of what Planned Parenthood does.

I've been oppressed, abused, assaulted, and demeaned.

I get treated poorly for being a woman nearly every day. While it is my choice to work where I do, as a manager, I have been called a cunt, bitch, and several other derogatory terms simply for doing my job correctly. Because I told someone no, even if I was polite or compassionate towards them. I have been told I'm not a real manager because I'm not a man. I have had my ass slapped, had men follow me, and try to flirt with me in hopes I'll give them what they desire. It's rather disgusting, but this typically happens on a daily basis. I REFUSE to allow this behavior be normalized because people with power act similarly. I am a human being, and I sure as hell deserve to be treated like one.

Women shouldn't be afraid to speak their mind.

While sometimes it's so much easier to just sit back and let people talk their talk, it can be rather degrading. And quite frankly, I'm sick of sitting back and allowing people to talk shit on my beliefs simply because they can. You won't agree with everyone all the time and that's okay! What's NOT okay is all the stereotyping, and being disrespectful because someone sees things differently. I'm all ears when it comes to learning different perspectives. However, I will fight for equality no matter the circumstances. Being mean to another human being is not and will never be acceptable. I'm done being talked over, interrupted, or ignored. Women, take your seat at the table. Our time is now.

Love.

When it comes down to it, I'm fighting for humans to be treated equally because I love people. And I think that everyone should have the same rights I do. Oh, you want to love another human being? Who cares what the gender/sexual orientation is. That's dope! Please do! The world could use a little more lovin'.

Love trumps hate. Every time.