The American Institute of Architects has long been a leader in creating sustainable and resilient communities. In nearly 30 years of practice, I’ve seen continued growth in the use of greener building products, advocating for more energy-efficient design and codes, and creating buildings with a longer lifespan. Bear in mind, I’ve also worked with clients who couldn’t care less. However, as architects, we’re always aware of what products we can utilize in a project that help promote sustainability and resiliency.
In the last almost 30 years, I’ve also become more and more aware of what has become a sustainable practice among Republican politicians. Find a social issue centered around a marginalized group or groups—because there’s nothing wrong with multitasking—and spend an election cycle hammering away at their dignity and self-worth to maintain their seats and power.
I don’t think this is the kind of sustainability AIA had in mind.
But the Republican party has become quite adept at utilizing this plan every election cycle, regardless of who they malign in the process. I remember when George W. was wailing about same-sex marriage during one of his election campaigns. Because clearly, my getting married was going to somehow hurt the already 50% divorce rate among straight couples.
Add to that, over the years, transgender children and their families; drag queens and story hours; queer-oriented (or seemingly queer-oriented) books in schools and public libraries; pronouns; gender identity; parental “rights”; and, as always, immigrants. We’ve seen what that has done to communities across the US. In Texas, this year alone, 200+ bills were filed that impact the queer community. And I fully expect to see our state and national legislators utilizing those during the 2026 election cycle.
Unfortunately, their actions toward marginalized groups will likely sustain their electability. That’s been proven time and again. And it’s the reason every election cycle, the queer community is rehashing the same fights we’ve been having for decades. Even as we’ve moved forward, new obstacles are presented that work toward diminishing our right to exist as we are. To have equitable futures.
We would hope there’s a quick fix, but history hasn’t been kind in that regard. Our best hope is to show up at every election and vote for people who are allied with the queer community. People who know strong public policy is not centered around hate and vitriol. For the upcoming midterm elections, Republicans are supposedly centering their campaigns around transgender issues, although after the last few days, I suspect the economy will play a bigger role than who is transitioning.
But we still have almost two years before election day, which means the queer community must remain resilient in the face of overwhelming negativity coming from state and national legislatures. We must sustain our own sanity and not get bogged down in the negativity. Queer rights didn’t happen overnight. Neither did queer liberation, or marriage, or life-saving AIDS medication. Everything has been a fight and will continue to be, even as we take steps forward.
On their website, the AIA states:
Our members are leading the way, acting as a force multiplier for sustainable, resilient, equitable communities around the world.
We could say the same about the queer community. We have proven over and over that we are sustainable. We are resilient. We have the power to create equity for our community.
Perhaps the key to sustaining ourselves over the next few years is holding on to the belief that better people are out there. That mankind isn’t as hateful as they appear. That the voices being elevated don’t represent the majority of the country.
And that the fight for queer rights itself is sustainable.
