Talk about stirring the pot and flushing it too. A student organization at the University of Massachusetts Amherst successfully raised awareness of the need for gender-neutral bathrooms by holding what was colorfully termed a “shit in.

It’s a watershed year fraught with turmoil for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Across the American South, queer, trans and gender-nonconforming people are facing wave after wave of legislation that threatens our safety, well-being and very existence.

Many media reports claimed Donald Trump affirmed support for LGBTQ equality in his “60 Minutes” interview the other night. There were headlines that claimed he is now an “ally” of LGBTQ peopleand others that blaredTrump said he is “fine” with same-sex marriage and changed a prior position. He in fact did nothing of the kind.

”How to Get Away with Murder” star Jack Falahee responded to Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the U.S. presidential election by coming out as straight. The 27-year-old actor plays Connor Walsh, an openly gay law student on the hit ABC series, and has engaged in plenty of steamy, same-sex love scenes on the show. He’d previously dodged questions about his sexuality in interviews, noting that the subject seemed “reductive.

Only two calendar months currently stand between us and the ascension of Donald Trump and Mike Pence to the highest government offices in the developed world. And despite recent claims by the president-elect that the LGBTQ community does not need to fear the repeal of same-sex marriage rights ― the truthfulnessof which is questionable ― the threat of a political backlash aimed at the LGBTQcommunity is real, and a slew of other queer issues remain up in the air.

One of many emotions that LGBTQ people are navigating and grappling with is a very distinct and cutting sense of betrayal. Despite repeated attempts by veteran activists , countless writers and influential organizations to warn about the radical dangers for the LGBTQ community under a Trump/Pence administration, 14 percent of our voting community reportedly aligned themselves with the Republican ticket.

In a recent interview with the Washington Blade, Hillary Clinton described me as a “role model” and a “truly remarkable woman: smart, feisty and very brave.” While I am obviously so honored by her remarks, I actually think that the person those words best describe is Hillary herself. Hillary has been a role model her whole life.

I’m not going to sugar-coat this at all. We are in for a full-blown assault on LGBTQ rights the likes of which many, particularly younger LGBTQ people, have not seen. Progress will be halted completely, and probably rolled back. And it’s already underway.

I went to bed last night before Donald Trump was officially the named the next president of the United States because I didn’t know what else to do with myself. The anxiety was too palpable. The dread was too real. I felt like my soul had left my body and was repeatedly banging itself against my living room ceiling in an attempt to knock itself unconscious.

On this eve of the most impactful election in our lifetimes, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer people ― a group that has made enormous strides, but is facing brutal backlash and setbacks ―must take stock right now of what is a very critical moment in our own movement for full equality.