When the results rolled in on November 5, many of us felt sadness, fear, and rage at the results. The LGBTQ+ community was one of the few demographics that did not swing to the GOP, but we will still bear the brunt of the country's far-right shift.

For the last three years, in LGBTQ Nation's Queer State of the Union series, we have sought out LGBTQ+ thought leaders, elected officials, organizers, artists, and activists for tough and energizing conversations about the issues that are most important to us, and a candid look at the challenges ahead.

And the challenge is clear: the country is no longer being led by the most pro-LGBTQ+ president in the nation's history but by someone elected into office on the back of a massive campaign targeting our community. This year's edition of Queer State of the Union assesses the current state of the LGBTQ+ equality movement, offers calls to action for what comes next, and, most importantly, gives us hope.

Alex Bollinger
Editor-in-Chief