What does the & mean as it relates to politics?

It means people are exhausted. Exhausted by the outrage. Exhausted by the division. Exhausted by the nonstop 3-ring circus our political system has become.

Somewhere along the way, we stopped seeing each other as human beings and started seeing each other as political opponents. Red vs. Blue. Left vs. Right. Us vs. Them.

But who benefits from that?

Seriously…get curious.

Who profits when neighbors hate neighbors? When families stop speaking? When strangers dehumanize one another over headlines, politicians, and talking points? Division is profitable. Fear is profitable. Outrage is profitable. And we are feeding the machine with our energy, attention, and humanity.

The & is my way of stepping out of that game.

It’s my way of saying I’m not interested in hating people over political affiliation. From either side.

I believe we can hold multiple truths, identities, experiences, and perspectives all at once. We are allowed to be layered, nuanced, and human.

Human & White & Woman & Heterosexual & Mother & Democrat &
Human & Hispanic & Man & Homosexual & Brother & Independent &
Human & Black & Woman & Bisexual & Daughter & Republican &
Human & Asian & Man & Heterosexual & Father & Non-Political &

The point is not the labels.

The point is the HUMAN holding them.

Before politics. Before race. Before gender. Before sexual orientation. Before ideology.

We are all human first.

That’s what the & represents.

Connection over division. Humanity over propaganda. People over politics.