Moving Forward: The Arts Community Responds Following the 2016 Election

Amidst heightened fears and and raised tensions of every sort following the presidential race of 2016, many people have begun searching for methods of greater engagement in our political process. From widespread protests to internet campaigns designed to motivate citizens toward unity, if no other positive has been gained from this election, it has proven to be an effective motivator toward a greater understanding of the nuances of the political system and a movement toward more focused grassroots efforts.

Though many of these gestures may seem small, and perhaps even meaningless to some, the idea that politics do not begin and end with presidential elections now weighs heavily in the hearts and minds of many. For those interested in protecting the hard won rights of individuals across the nation and a rejection of the hateful and violent rhetoric of this trying election cycle, the need to act has become a foremost priority and the time for complacency has come to an end.

In the days following our most recent presidential election, the arts community has played no small role in engaging fans and motivating our community toward peaceful and effective resolutions. Though the arts themselves have proven to be an effective sanctuary in the haze of what is now a deeply controversial and frightening moment in American politics, many in the arts community have taken their opposition off the stage and into the streets, while others use their visibility to bring awareness to the many ways fans and citizens can engage in overlooked areas of our political process and use their voices to speak out against injustice and bigotry wherever and whenever they appear.

Though the power of art as an agent for healing and change cannot be overstated in times as uncertain as these, the time of resting on one's laurels and merely doing one's job is past. From dance to comedy to direct political engagement, here are some of the ways in which the arts community has mobilized to engage in constructive conversation and embrace actionable personal efforts to ensure the continued rights and protections of all Americans.

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This week, the Village Voice ran a piece entitled, "No Sleep 'Til 2020" in which they consulted leading activists and artists on their next steps going forward following the election results. Broadway's Lea DeLaria (On the Town, The Rocky Horror Show) and Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Tony Kushner, added their voices into the mix, representing both the interests of the LGBTQIA+ community and the ways in which they intend to lead the charge of engaging in conversation, re-considering our political process, and encouraging others to become more politically active in their day to day existence.

Lea DeLaria: "I'm a 58-year-old butch dyke. When I came out it was illegal to be gay in every state in the union. I have spent nights in jail in Illinois and in Missouri - once for holding hands with a girl in public and once for kissing a girl in public. So let me just say I've been one of the people who's been on the front lines trying to change things. And I am not a f-ing liberal; I'm a radical. I've never preached tolerance [of despotism] in my life. I've always taken an outsider view in the way I do my politics. I don't work within the system to maintain the status quo. So when I wake up and find an American Pol Pot in a really bad combover has been elected president of the United States - a person who is threatening to take away all the rights I have spent my entire life working for - one can understand my feelings of frustration and rage. When I feel frustration and rage, I put it into comedy and the rest of my work...We need to have that conversation (and maybe one about finally getting rid of the Electoral College - it made a lot of sense in the nineteenth century when people were riding horses, but it makes absolutely no sense now)."

Tony Kushner: "I have a very deeply cherished belief in democracy, and I have seen in my lifetime over and over again that the will of the people when expressed on a national level can sometimes be badly mistaken. On the other hand, we won the popular election, and 2018 is already on the way. We have a lot of work cut out for us. We know what is coming up and the midterms should not take us by surprise. We have to make sure there is no voter suppression. It takes time to make sure people are registered, and have a way to the polls, and don't deal with the polls closing early and changing locations and confusing people. We need to make sure that people have access and we have to start giving ourselves assignments noW. Maybe we can make a difference that way. I honestly think I do my best work when I hate the president in the White House, but I try to keep my activism such as it is and my writing such as it is - they're distinct. If something that I write makes a difference in some way to a number of people, great. I'm happy about that. I'd like my work to be of value to people. But my job as a playwright is to try to tell the truth as much as I can figure out a way to do it and to entertain. And my job as a citizen is to expand the franchise and protect the democracy and keep the democratic experiment going. As of yesterday, I think I have a new idea for a play. I intend to keep going. I see a lot of really amazing people doing incredible work."

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In addition to the efforts of these organizations and individuals, here are some simple ways to get involved:

Call: Your voice can be a powerful tool in the fight against damaging legislation and concerning public servant appointments. Visit www.senate.gov for a full list of state representatives. Make yourself heard.

Donate: Offer your financial support and make tax-deductible donations to organizations fighting for the continued well-being of our nation and all of its citizens. Suggested organizations include: NAACP, Planned Parenthood, the Southern Poverty Law Centre, Council on American-Islamic Relations, American Friends Service Committee's US-Mexico border programme, and nonprofit journalism organisations like The Centre for Investigative Reporting and ProPublica.

Act: Some 46.9 per cent of Americans failed to make it to the polls this year, according to the United States Election Project. Volunteer with organizations designed to get out the vote and help to end voter suppression. Engage in politics on local and state levels. Speak out within your own community and engage in thoughtful, productive debate. Work on active listening and political education within your sphere and embrace opportunities for open and civil dialogue with those outside of it. No start is too small.