BansOffOurBodies

On Saturday I did something that I don't normally do these days. I went to downtown Boise. I felt it was important to show up, in Boise, Idaho, for women's right to necessary healthcare, including abortion. 

I don't really like going out in crowds, but I wanted to be there. 

Hard to get out the door, but when I arrived, I was glad I had taken those steps and biked myself downtown. There were more people than I expected, and I kind of wandered around the perimeter to try and find a good place to take a picture of the stage from. 

I made it to a spot on the grass and turned around, totally focused on getting a picture of the speaker at the podium instead of just a bunch of the backs of people's heads. Then I heard my name. 

I don't know a lot of people in Boise, but I had just happened to plant myself right next to one that I did know, and I completely didn't see her when I walked by. I think I was generally avoiding eye contact. A smug looking white guy walking around with a sign reading "Planned Parenthood Is Black Genocide" gave me an early case of the creeps. 

So I ended up staying at that spot with my acquaintance during the remainder of the rally. Then when we went on the march, I stuck with them and we hung out talking for a while after. Mingling with the crowds from a distance. 

I'm glad I went, in part because it was good to see so many people come out - the estimate I found on the news was 5000. And it was very interesting to run into someone that I knew, in a nearly literal sense. I mean, I almost stepped on her toes. 

I read that there was a rally in support of banning abortion at the Capitol later that afternoon, but it must not have been well attended, because I can't find any mention of how many people showed up, or even anything about that rally other than it existed. That's also heartening. 

And yet, it doesn't really matter. Because the women (and men) who showed up to support abortion access are not in charge in the state of Idaho. We can be loud and we can show up, but it does feel like we'll just be ignored by those whose interest lies in preventing women from being fully endowed with rights. 

The Vote

I voted in the Democratic primary yesterday.

I'm disappointed that Elizabeth Warren had already exited the race before I had the opportunity to vote for her. She was my plan. And while her name was still on the ballot, I voted for a candidate who remains in the race instead.

I think it's hard for people who have always seen themselves represented to understand how it feels not be represented. I, deeply, want a woman to be the president of the United States. Heck, I was excited when my local university finally got a female president.

I do believe that it helps when I can see someone doing something that I want to do, and I can know that they are like me. For example, I look for women to follow on Instagram who are doing awesome fitness things in part because I want to find one who comes from a similar background to my own (that is, being absolutely unathletic until late twenties). That helps me see that I can accomplish my own fitness goals. That what I'm striving for isn't actually impossible, even if it's very difficult.

While I'm proud to take part in the democratic process, I wish I could have been voting for a woman whose plans and passion I believed in.

The Welcome

When my husband comes off the trail, he comes off hungry. And when he is hungry, he is irritable.

I know this. And yet, knowing this, I could not support a business that hung a sign I found problematic. I'm a consumer, and I have a right to choose with my wallet. Even if that means my husband is cranky for several hours in the car while we drive to the next nearest town with services.

See, this particular establishment, in an Idaho town small enough that there aren't other dining options, found it necessary to hang on their outside wall a sign. It's a simple sign, with a background of an American flag and the phrase, "Deplorables Welcome!" emblazoned upon it.

We ate there once, and it wasn't bad. The service wasn't great, and they did try to give my food to someone else, but I don't think it was intentional. They were busier than they had staff for at the time. But I got to thinking after that.

In a county that went over 68% for Trump, this establishment, the sole establishment selling eat and drink in this unincorporated community, feels the need to call out the fact that "deplorables" aka Trump voters, aka mostly white republicans, are welcome.

Honestly, I can't think of a single place in the entire state of Idaho where a so-called deplorable would be unwelcome. Idaho is a majority republican state and a majority white state. Perhaps these deplorables would feel uncomfortable in a gay bar in Boise. But they wouldn't necessarily be unwelcome by the establishment itself.

Why the call out, here, of all places? I mean, aren't these the kind of people that like to respond to the "Black Lives Matter" movement with "All Lives Matter? And if all lives matter, then why not a sign reading, "Everyone Welcome!"? Are there so many radical leftists controlling this community that the downtrodden deplorables need a "safe space"?

Of course! As someone who completely supports safe spaces for those who feel they need them, it seems that I have no choice but not to support this establishment with my dollars, because I would be disturbing their safe space. Sure, my husband was hungry and cranky, but some people need their safe spaces, especially deplorables in Idaho.