By the end of tomorrow, we will know who our next president is. I'm filled with both excitement and fear. Either history could be made, and the idea that girls can do anything too could be reinforced for generations to come in our country; or, a man who wants to limit the basic human rights of at least a dozen different communities that are already marginalized could take office, with consequences that will likely be disastrous. I'll beg you to vote for Hillary Clinton for me--because I am a woman, because I am a lesbian, because I am an ally of those with races other than my own, because I believe I am a good person and I believe you can make the choice to be one, too. I'll beg you to vote for her because no one deserves to be treated the way Donald Trump plans to treat every person who is not white, male, straight, and cisgender. But I don't have a lot of faith that you're going to listen to me if you're not already on my side. I think most people who oppose me will not take the time to really listen and understand the very real danger I and so many of my friends and so many people who are strangers to me will face on a daily basis if Donald Trump is elected. Some of those people who oppose me will even tell me that I deserve to face that danger. I hope that anyone who is a real-life acquaintance of mine will not choose to tell me that. I hope that those people, at the very least, will realize that a vote for Donald Trump tomorrow means a vote against my right to happiness and safety as a woman and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and so does a vote not for Hillary Clinton. This is not necessarily meant to alienate anyone planning to vote third-party; however, it is to remind you that by not voting positively for Hillary Clinton, you are putting actual individuals' lives at stake.
However, since I think the vast majority of anti-Clinton or pro-Trump readers of this article are not truly willing to listen to me, I am hoping that perhaps the array of celebrities that have gathered in support of Hillary Clinton in recent weeks may be able to convince them more.
1. The Cast of "Will and Grace"
Recently, Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing and Megan Mullally reunited to create a short "Will and Grace" reunion sketch about how important it is to vote, and vote for Hillary Clinton. Messing in particular, that I've seen, has been very vocal on social media about her support for Clinton, and this clip of the characters discussing this election is demonstrative of that, as well as being hilarious.
2. Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Voting Booth is "The Room Where It Happens"
This is one of a series of videos created by the cast of Hamilton to inspire Americans to go out and vote. What is especially remarkable is that none of these videos actually tell viewers who to vote for; they're merely asking that you do your civic duty and exercise your right to vote.
3. ¡Voten mi gente!
Another video in the #HAM4VOTE series. This time cast members ask in Spanish that citizens make the choice to vote.
4. "You get to choose who participates in the sequel"
Finally, in my favorite of the #HAM4VOTE videos created by the Hamilton cast, Renee Elise Goldsberry and other cast members explain that by voting, you get to choose who our next president and other officeholders are--"who participates in the sequel." And I, personally, would take just about any advice from Renee Elise Goldsberry.
5. The Cast of "Submissions Only"
This video has a bit more of a niche audience, but tons of Broadway fans will recognize cast members from "Submissions Only," the industry-centered web series created by Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger. Granted, it's too late to register to vote as far as I know--but you can still take their advice on complacency and GO OUT AND VOTE if you're registered. The clip is witty whether or not you're a fan of the show, and it might even draw you into watching it!
6. "Holy Sh*t (You've Got To Vote)"
Be advised, there's some strong language, but Rachel Bloom and lots of other celebrities including Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch, Patti LuPone, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Naya Rivera teamed up to create this video about how important it is to vote, and to vote for Hillary Clinton. It even includes a really spot-on explanation of the huge similarities between Adolf Hitler's policies and campaign strategies and Donald Trump's, without minimizing the horrible atrocities Hitler already committed.
For me, the moral of this story is that if you're registered to vote and aren't planning to cast yours, especially for Hillary Clinton, it is so, so important that in this crucial moment of history, you find it in your heart to understand the very real danger so many of your people will be in if you vote for Donald Trump. I don't think most of you are bad people. I just think you've been a little misguided, and maybe these fancy names and faces can steer you back a little better than I can.