Sarah Longwell

And people who aren't trans don't know what it feels like to be trans. And for me, the closest thing that I can compare it to was a constant feeling of homesickness, just this unwavering ache in the pit of my stomach that would only go away when I could be seen and affirmed and live as myself. And while I thought for so long that if I grew up, it would go away, it only grew with time.

And people who aren't trans don't know what it feels like to be trans. And for me, the closest thing that I can compare it to was a constant feeling of homesickness, just this unwavering ache in the pit of my stomach that would only go away when I could be seen and affirmed and live as myself. And while I thought for so long that if I grew up, it would go away, it only grew with time.

I thought if I... You know, my interest in politics was rooted in that crisis of hope. And to some degree, my path toward politics was rooted in this notion that, like, if I can just, if I can live a fulfilling life professionally, if I can make my life in the closet so worth living for other people, then it will make it worthwhile to stay in the closet.

I thought if I... You know, my interest in politics was rooted in that crisis of hope. And to some degree, my path toward politics was rooted in this notion that, like, if I can just, if I can live a fulfilling life professionally, if I can make my life in the closet so worth living for other people, then it will make it worthwhile to stay in the closet.

And at a certain point, I had to go through different stages of grief. And it was only when I accepted the loss of any kind of future, I was able to then accept myself. But I think, I don't think my constituents benefit from me going out there and regurgitating the stuff that I've done for the last 10 years.

And at a certain point, I had to go through different stages of grief. And it was only when I accepted the loss of any kind of future, I was able to then accept myself. But I think, I don't think my constituents benefit from me going out there and regurgitating the stuff that I've done for the last 10 years.

But what I do think is beneficial to both my constituents and the trans community is for me to be seen as a full human being. People might not be able to understand it. I might not be spending my time talking about that homesickness. But if people can see trans people beyond the caricature of unfair caricature of a self-obsessed inherently political being, I think that benefits the community.

But what I do think is beneficial to both my constituents and the trans community is for me to be seen as a full human being. People might not be able to understand it. I might not be spending my time talking about that homesickness. But if people can see trans people beyond the caricature of unfair caricature of a self-obsessed inherently political being, I think that benefits the community.

And I think it helps to at least implicitly fill that knowledge gap.

And I think it helps to at least implicitly fill that knowledge gap.

When I announced in June of 2023, I knew that trans issues were going to be at the center of politics, but I did not anticipate that. that we would see a $200, $300 million sustained campaign, that you'd have a Republican trifecta that they feel like they built on the backs of attacking trans people. Like I said at the start, I sort of entered within a perfect storm on these issues.

When I announced in June of 2023, I knew that trans issues were going to be at the center of politics, but I did not anticipate that. that we would see a $200, $300 million sustained campaign, that you'd have a Republican trifecta that they feel like they built on the backs of attacking trans people. Like I said at the start, I sort of entered within a perfect storm on these issues.

And I'll start by saying I'm not always going to get it right. There are going to be times where I don't respond that I should respond and times when I respond when I shouldn't respond. The way I have thought about it is that broadly speaking, if I am the topic, then it is my job to make the people who are trying to make me the topic seem small.

And I'll start by saying I'm not always going to get it right. There are going to be times where I don't respond that I should respond and times when I respond when I shouldn't respond. The way I have thought about it is that broadly speaking, if I am the topic, then it is my job to make the people who are trying to make me the topic seem small.

If my constituents who are trans are the topic, then I will fight back. I don't, I think it clearly Some of my colleagues are treating me the way they are treating me for a couple of reasons. One, it's because they want attention, right? They want to employ the strategies of a Bravo TV show to get attention in a body of 435 people.

If my constituents who are trans are the topic, then I will fight back. I don't, I think it clearly Some of my colleagues are treating me the way they are treating me for a couple of reasons. One, it's because they want attention, right? They want to employ the strategies of a Bravo TV show to get attention in a body of 435 people.

And the way to do that is to pick a fight with someone and throw wine in their face. They want to clout chase off of me. And I'm just like part of my power is not giving them attention. as much opportunity, because I got to tell you, the media coverage when I respond versus when I don't respond is night and day.

And the way to do that is to pick a fight with someone and throw wine in their face. They want to clout chase off of me. And I'm just like part of my power is not giving them attention. as much opportunity, because I got to tell you, the media coverage when I respond versus when I don't respond is night and day.

So I'm giving them what they want when I respond in a way that might feel viscerally comforting to me and the community, but I'm giving them precisely what they want. And my power is not giving them that. That is how I take care of myself. It is how I think I slowly remove some of the incentives for coming after me.

So I'm giving them what they want when I respond in a way that might feel viscerally comforting to me and the community, but I'm giving them precisely what they want. And my power is not giving them that. That is how I take care of myself. It is how I think I slowly remove some of the incentives for coming after me.