These were veteran patients in the waiting area, waiting to be called for their appointments.
It is not the hats that bother me, it is what they represent. And you are correct that I am prejudging them by what they are wearing. However, given what the hats represent, that causes me concern.
In Germany, it is illegal to wear a swastika. Why? Because of what it represents. One person, the leader of a country, who committed a multitude of atrocities on innocent people.
Here, we have people who are proud of being part of a movement whose leader is a convicted felon and has committed numerous civil rights violations during his first term. A leader who has stated publicly that he will end gender transitions and other "gender ideologies". By himself, he is powerless. But I saw what happened on Jan. 6, 2020, at our nation's capitol caused by his supporters. And now, he has the power of the Senate behind him and possibly the House as well.
I'm not worried about the Average Joe on the street. He doesn't care. I'm not worried about the people who know me. As you said, they know I am a good person. I worry about a group of red-hat fanatics who want to strip my right to medical care and who wish us physical harm. Most of them will not physically attack me personally. But it only takes one to end my life.
Most will attack us through the media and legislature. It has already started, and with their hero in the White House, they will only feel more powerful. The FBI Hate Crime statistics do not lie. I am currently in a place that ranked worse than Texas or Florida for violence against transgender people.
What is that old saying, "It's not paranoia if they really are after you."
