Representation matters, and it isn't identity politics

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At the school I am at now, and at the school previous to this one, I was the only openly gay teacher. A couple of stories to illustrate the importance of representation. In 2010, there were many suicides of LGBT students nationwide, so many that there wound up being a campaign called It Gets Better to try to stop the madness. At the height of these suicides my school had a suicide prevention meeting at which being LGBT didn't come up at all until I brought it up. LGBT students are still 4 times as likely to attempt and commit suicide than non LGBT students. At my current school I am on the school improvement team and have numerous times been the person to bring up issues about LGBT students. Conversely my current school had an issue with headbands for girls (they were banned). While I felt the rule was stupid, I had no idea how racist it was until some black female coworkers explained that to me. Sometimes it takes a member of a minority group to bring concerns of that group forward.

That said, representation doesn't trump everything. Pete Buttigieg is the openly gay mayor of South Bend who is running for President. I would love to see a gay President. But he is 37 and mayor a mid sized city with some military experience. In a few years after he becomes a senator or governor or a cabinet member he will be a great choice.

The fact is those of us who are minorities are minorities 24/7. I have no idea whom I will choose when I vote in March of 2020. But yes it matters to see a woman President. It matters to see a gay President. It matters to see a black President. It isn't identity politics. It is representation. It isn't the only thing that matters, but it matters.