I’ve Got Alot to be Mad About
Written By: Victoria Von Blaque
As I sit here watching cartoons with my cat, smoking a joint, and reflecting on the holidays, the elections, and community, a quote from a kids' show called “Phineas and Ferb” sent me into a rabbit hole of why I love villains and antiheroes. The quote was, “A hero is a hero, but everybody loves a great villain.” As a Black, non-binary, Trans feminine person, my existence is often used as a scapegoat for ignorance and justifications of people's rage, without them knowing who I am and only being concerned with what I am. How long must all of my communities endure this? Let’s not forget that intersectionality is real; I’m not just fighting racism; I’m fighting sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, and the list goes on. Like many people in marginalized communities that I share space with, all we want is to live a happy and free life. The reality is that most of us are surviving, and the few of us who are thriving are told we should be grateful for the bare minimum that many of our counterparts take for granted.
I’m finding it increasingly difficult to receive the attention of white cishet men who find me attractive and attempt to validate my work. Yet, when I do a little research on them, they turn out to be proud Republicans excited to make America great again. Speaking of MAGA, I know that the 2025 manifesto says, "Pornography should be outlawed. The people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders. And telecommunications and technology firms that facilitate its spread should be shuttered." It’s so confusing how they can say such things when their First Lady is a former sex worker! At this point in my life, I’m not even considering potential
friendships or partnerships with white individuals unless they are in their “white abolitionist” or “white trader” phases. And since I’m an equal opportunity offender, please don’t think my cishet Black and Brown people are exempt from this. I understand that hurt people hurt people, but targeting the the most marginalized populations is not going to make your plight any easier. Don’t claim to be an ally while allowing ignorance to spew unchecked from your friends and family. In April 2018, Goldman Sachs analysts asked, “Is curing patients a sustainable business model?” Many Transgender and non-binary individuals face significant barriers in accessing affirming healthcare. A 2021 report by the National Center for Transgender Equality revealed that 23% were denied healthcare due to their gender identity. Additionally, a 2020 study found that around 30% reported their insurance did not cover necessary gender-affirming treatments. Provider competence is also an issue, with 50% of respondents feeling their healthcare providers lacked knowledge about Transgender health needs. Furthermore, the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey indicated that 33% postponed medical care due to discrimination, and 23% experienced negative reactions from providers. These statistics highlight the ongoing challenges and discrimination within the healthcare system for many in the Transgender community. This doesn’t even touch on the fact that there are other intersecting identities that further impoverish marginalized communities.
Mary Shelley said, "The history of villains is much more entertaining than that of heroes because monsters are not born; they are created."
She went on to say that villains are shaped by the wounds of the world around them and reflect the depths of human pain, rejection, loneliness, and misunderstanding. With that being said, look at what’s happening in the world right now: marginalized communities like Black and Trans people have been begging for affirming healthcare for as long as I can remember, and repeatedly, we are denied this basic human right to live—or rather, to survive. Because of structural oppression, we are giving birth to more and more radical changemakers like Luigi Mangione.
With all that being said, we have a lot to be mad about. The revolution is coming, whether you like it or not. How do you want to be remembered in history?