So, as I am writing this, it is the day before the Knox County Mayoral election. Many people either already have or will be casting ballots with their choice to succeed Mayor Glenn Jacobs. However, I was left unimpressed with the two leading candidates, Betsy Henderson and Beau Hawk. Mainly with their stances on queer issues, which I feel are performative at best. I have read both of their manifestos, and I saw no mention of LGBTQ+ people or issues anywhere. Not even in a hateful way on Betsy Henderson’s manifesto. While I know that Beau Hawk was spotted at local pride events, I don’t feel like he has a concrete plan on helping the queer community in Knox County. This comes at a time when queer people, especially trans people, are increasingly getting thrown under the bus by the GOP and many of the moderate wings of the Democratic Party. We need people who will protect the queer community anywhere we can, and the only people who can defend us is ourselves. That is why I am running for Knox County Mayor in 2030.
While I do understand that I risk splitting the Democratic ticket with this run, I feel as though I have a responsibility to make sure that, at least indirectly, queer people are protected and integrated in this county. I feel as they could really help with Knox County’s infrastructure. After all, which is the more fun option of raising funds for more walkable suburbs, raising taxes or a giant drag show at the Tennessee Valley Fair? Knoxville and Knox County has a thriving queer scene, and we need to make sure that they are protected and thriving in this county.
I want to also start a political party, The Tuca and Bertie Party. I want this party to become two things. First, I want this party to become a queer-run party to focus on queer issues. Like I said, as this county is seemingly becoming more hostile to queer people, we need a party that will speak for us, nd the only way we can do that is through a party run by queer people. Secondly, I want this party to, indirectly, become a turbocharger for the progressive movement, taking the best ideas for more traditionally progressive parties and organizations, like the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Democratic Socialists of America, the Working Families Party, the Progressive Parties of Washington and Vermont, the Justice For All Party, and, yes even parties that have suffered from decay in my opinion, like the Green Party of America and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Taking what is right from these parties and making them better, I think, will help the queer movement ten-fold.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward for what could be a Guinness World Record for longest mayoral campaign: One-thousand, four-hundred and sixty-four days, or four years and three days, assuming the next mayoral election in Knox County is on Thursday, August 8, 2030.
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