Earlier this week, I sent a message to you expressing my optimism for the future. While I do remain optimistic about the future of LGBTQ equality here in Missouri, and in PROMO’s role in changing the hearts and minds of Missourians, it’s clear that we have a long way to go.

We watched in horror as our U.S. Capitol was taken under siege by insurrectionists and domestic terrorists that were operating with the encouragement of our president, our own Sen. Josh Hawley, and with the participation of one of our lawmakers from the Missouri General Assembly. They should resign immediately.

We have much more work to do. White supremacy continues to divide communities, including our own. It’s impossible not to watch what happened Wednesday and recognize that had these individuals been Black, LGBTQ, Muslim, or foreign-born, they would have been subjected to far worse. In fact, we’ve seen that time and again here in our own state.

Despite this orchestrated attack, democracy prevailed – lawmakers went back to work hours later, continuing on the path to a peaceful transition of power undeterred.

Likewise, we will continue to defend democracy. We will stand for those in our community who are most marginalized in Jefferson City and around our state. We will work to dismantle white supremacy when and where we see it – including within our own organizations and movement.

We will hold our elected leaders accountable. Any elected official who sides with those seeking to dismantle our democracy must go.

We can achieve our goal of equality here in the Show Me State.

In equality,

Stephen Eisele
Executive Director, PROMO