I am a woman. I am a feminist. I am a Bernie Sanders supporter.
Apparently the first two statements require me to explain and justify the third. First and foremost let me say that just because I love Bernie Sanders, does not mean that I hate Hillary Clinton. I admire Hillary, as a person and a politician. I believe she is incredibly qualified, genuinely dedicated to public service, and an inspiration to women everywhere. I believe in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. I also believe in a single payer healthcare system and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. I believe that climate change is the biggest security threat of our time, and that if a bank is too big to fail, then it is too big to exist. I believe in Bernie.
I understand that as a feminist it would make sense for me to get behind Hillary. I know that having a woman in the White House would be a defining moment for the feminist movement. I want the next generation of little girls, and boys, to grow up watching a woman lead the world, eliminating completely for them the question of whether or not she can. As I watched Hillary after the results in Iowa and in New Hampshire, I was moved. Listening to her speak about women's rights as human rights, pay equity, and a woman's right to choose - I was immensely proud to see a woman of her caliber on a national and international stage. I am deeply grateful to Hillary for everything she has done for women. I appreciate every single crack she has made in the glass ceiling, through which I will be able to climb. What I do not appreciate is being told that I am a bad feminist, a bad woman, and that there is a special place in hell for me because I happen to prefer another candidate. Right now I support Bernie Sanders. Not because he is a man, or because it is on trend, but because my political ideologies align far more closely with his than with any other candidate. Isn't that the factor upon which should we base our decision?
If Bernie does not win the nomination, I will be disappointed. But that moment of disappointment will pass, and I will throw all of my support behind Hillary Clinton. Not because she is a woman, but because without Bernie, she will be the candidate in the race whose political ideologies are most like my own. I will cross that bridge if I come to it. Until then …
I am a woman. I am a feminist. I am a Bernie Sanders supporter.
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