OUT ON THE HILL is the official blog of the Victory Congressional Interns. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Learn more about the internship at victoryinstitute.org/vci.
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The rings come in one after another and I hesitate to pick up, scanning the “numbers to avoid” list so I do not fall victim to one of our frequent callers. More often than not, the call is not of substance, instead, a litany of insults, slurs, and degrading comments are made about the Congressman.
Working on the Hill has been a mixture of joy, learning, and disappointment. These past few weeks have uncovered an understanding of the path I would like to pursue and I have met people with interests and passions that align with my own. However, I have found disappointment in the American public.
I have grown up in the D.C. area, living in Maryland and Virginia throughout my life, and am typically situated within progressive environments. Therefore, these harsh comments on the characteristics of the Congressman rather than his policies, which can be respectfully opposed, has been disheartening. I am disappointed in the general public and the comfort they have in unseating a progressive who stands for equality and justice for marginalized communities. I have not let this discourage my want to engage in this sphere professionally, but I find it personally difficult to reckon with the horrifying statements and lack of empathy expressed by the public.
I am fortunate that the office fosters an inclusive and supportive environment with each staff member engaging with our team of interns. I feel welcome in the office as a queer person and our differing backgrounds and perspectives are embraced. The office, the halls, and the tunnels feel like spaces where I can show up as myself, but once I answer the phone, that solace shifts. In an office with a constituency of 85% Democrats, I had anticipated the calls to be more monolithic. But between the out-of-district callers and those who disagree with the Congressman’s foreign relations stances, hatred and anger permeate through.
In my eyes, this division has accentuated the disjunction within the Democratic party between progressives and the mainstream. I am soured by the fact that the Democratic LGBTQ+ community in which I find support, can turn against progressives and the values of love and acceptance that they promote. I feel frustration that Representatives who co-chair the Equality Caucus, such as Ritchie Torres, speak against the Congressman and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Or when other Democrats and Equality Caucus co-chairs such as Chris Pappas and Angie Craig join Torres in this movement against progressives by voting to hinder discussion of the death toll statistics provided by the Gaza Health Ministry.
At this halfway point in the program, there has also been a shift around Washington. Talking to friends and family recently, all I can say when asked “how I am doing,” is that “it’s been a hard week in U.S. politics.” Between the vote regarding the concealment of the death toll in Gaza, the first 2024 presidential debate, the release of the SCOTUS decisions on Chevron Deference and Grants Pass, and the Congressman’s primary loss, I am overwhelmed by these compounding defeats.
Despite these disappointments and the comments the callers hurl, I am so lucky to come home to the other 15 VCIs who provide a space to talk about grievances and share in this unparalleled experience. It is a great fortune to have a community that can understand my struggles in the office and D.C. in this current political climate. The Hill has been welcoming, but the VCI community has felt like home.
