10 Things Progressives in Texas Understand

February 9, 2016

Being a progressive in the south can be hard, especially in Texas. I know that it’s rough feeling like you’re always met with opposition, but we can get through it all AND affect change if we stick together. So I’ve compiled a little list, with the help of some fellow progressives, of the stresses, trials, and joys that we can all understand.

You are, more often than not, one of the few (if not the only) members of your family that have progressive views.
And we all have that one family member…you know who I’m talking about.
We get called names…a lot.
Ranging in intensity & creativity. Some of my faves are “dirty hippie,” “damn liberal,” & often some variation on the word “communist.”
Wendy Davis is a queen for her famous filibuster.
“Ya’ll” is an inclusive/gender neutral term that is apart of everyone’s vocabulary.
You say things like “God bless” and “Thank the Lord!” whether you’re religious or not.
You were taught abstinence-only sex education and had to sign a weird document in middle school swearing yourself to abstinence.
When you meet another progressive and you instantly become friends.
Our reproductive freedoms are constantly being attacked.
And we’re always ready to fight back.