A Tale of Two Perspectives
Or: What can Project 2025 do to me?
What follows is an imaginary conversation between the fictional characters Austin and Jay Coleman, brothers. Austin, 29, is married to his husband, Casey Drake, and they are working with a surrogate in the hopes of becoming parents. Jay, 35, is married to his wife, Lena Coleman. They have two children. Casey is Black; everyone else in this scene is White.
It’s late August of 2024, and the brothers have met for lunch at an upscale restaurant in Seattle, something they do from time to time; their respective spouses do not get along.
The brothers have placed their lunch orders, and their server (male, young, attractive almost in a pretty way) has brought each of them a glass of wine. So far, the conversation has been light and superficial. But now, after a moment of silence in which each man stares into his respective glass, they raise their eyes and exchange a glance full of tension.
Jay: Before you say anything, yes, I did see the speech Kamala Harris gave last week at the convention. But I’d rather not talk about that.
Austin: Okay, so instead let’s talk about where the election stands.
J: [After a long exhale] Do we have to? I’d rather not.
A: Because?
J: Because I’m sure you’re going to vote for her.
A: And you’re not?
J: [Shoulders drawing in protectively] I just don’t think the country is ready for a woman president.
A: [One hand dramatically pushes closed his jaw, which has dropped] Well, unless you have a write-in in mind, she’s all that’s going.
J: Well, no.
A: No? NO? You’d vote for Donald Trump? Again? Four years of chaos and lies from that narcissistic sociopath wasn’t enough?
J: See, now, this is why I didn’t want to talk about this.
A: [Leans back in his chair, fingers of one hand around the stem of his wineglass] Just tell me this. What has he done to earn your vote?
J: It’s more what the other side is doing to discourage it.
A: This has nothing to do with electing a woman. You actually like this guy.
J: [Clearly exasperated] It’s not that I like him. I don’t, actually. But I like what he stands for.
A: You mean, like, Project 2025?
J: He’s had nothing to do with that.
A: Horse patootie.
[They fall silent as the server places salad plates on the table and leaves.]
A: I repeat, horse patootie. Everyone involved in funding, creating, and publishing that document is in Trump’s inner circle. Russ Voight, one of the main architects of that heinous “battle plan” as he calls it, has gone so far as to say Trump is very supportive of what they’re doing.
J: [Apparently skeptical] And you know this how?
A: There’s a recording of an interview with Voight. You can hear it in his own words. I’ll send you the link.
J: Okay, but what’s so bad about wanting to pull back from some of the crazy shit coming from the AOCs of the world?
A: You think that’s all Project 2025 is? Seriously? Voight has said for the record that he opposes the Department of Education because he thinks it’s the Department of Critical Race Theory. His words. He wants to eliminate Education.
J: Okay, well I think that’s a reaction to some of the far left crap.
A: Crap? You mean like being honest about how too many systems were designed in ways that make it harder for Black people than for White people to succeed? That crap?
J: Don’t get testy. I said “some” of the far left crap. I’m sorry if it affects Casey.
A: It affects Casey and me! And that isn’t all Project 2025 would do. Did you know it’s only a policy statement? There’s another document, called The 180-Day Playbook, that outlines the strategy and details the tactics that would go into effect as soon as Trump’s back in D.C. It’s being kept secret and unpublished, specifically to avoid being subject to anyone asking to see it under the Freedom of Information Act. They don’t want anyone to know what they’re doing.
J: So how do you know about it?
A: Like I said, I’ll send you a link. If you haven’t read the “Project,” you should; I’ll send you a link to that, too. They’re giving the office of president all the power of a dictatorship, as though they’re counting on no more elections at all.
J: That’s ridiculous.
A: Read it, then tell me it’s not what they’re counting on. Another thing is they’re going to do everything they can to make abortion unavailable, eventually outlawing it altogether.
J: Yeah, well, Lena and I aren’t exactly against—
A: I’ll remind you that women with ectopic pregnancies, which are never viable, are likely to die without a way to terminate. Young teenage girls raped by their stepfathers or whoever are forced to carry babies to term.
J: That girl’s baby could be adopted by a worthy family.
A: Okay, I’m not gonna touch “worthy.” But how would you feel if a child of yours were out there in the world, somewhere, living with people you didn’t know, maybe or maybe not being treated well? And that child—your child—doesn’t even know you exist? How would you feel? Cuz I gotta tell ya, I’d feel pretty shitty for the rest of my life.
J: [Lets out a quiet snort] Something you’ll never have to worry about.
A: Shows what you know.
J: What’s that supposed to mean?
A: [Throws Jay an arch look as he sips his wine.] What makes you think I’ve never been with a woman?
J: [Blank stare]
[Server appears, takes away partially-finished salads, places lunch plates on the table.]
A: Anyway, that’s only one thing. They also want to eradicate marriage equality.
J: [Looking uncomfortable] Wouldn’t it take the Supreme Court to do that?
A: Okay, two things. Trump hand-picked enough justices that the majority of them are catering to him. And no, SCOTUS interprets law. It doesn’t make law. And here’s something else. Would you be upset if all pornography were outlawed?
J: [Still uncomfortable] What’s that got to do with marriage equality?
A: Now? Nothing. But all they have to do is redefine pornography to include two people of the same sex—or any two people who aren’t het-cis and two halves of a mixed couple—being seen together in a romantic relationship, and Casey and I are in jail. How would you and Lena like that? Hmmm? Your own brother and his husband, in jail for unmentionable sexual reasons? How would you explain that at parent-teacher conferences?
[The server appears and asks whether there’s any interest in dessert. He smiles at Austin.]
A: Thanks, no. I think we’re ready for the check.
[The server nods, turns his smile to Jay, winks, and walks away.]
J: [A stunned look on his face] Did you see that?
A: No; what?
J: [Leans forward, forearms on the table, hands outstretched; speaks in a hoarse whisper] He winked at me!
A: [Raises one eyebrow, sucks in one cheek; before J can move, A takes J’s hands in his and winks. J yanks his hands away from his brother’s.]
A: Oh, right. You wouldn’t want to end up in jail, too, would you?
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Another well-crafted piece, Robin. And "right on the money," as my Dad used to say. Trump is scary business, and I don't think people realize just HOW scary! Socially, he and his cronies will set our country back by at least 100 years, and democracy - as we know it - will come to an end. We ALL have to gather together and put our support behind Kamala!
Project 2025 scares the shit out of me. A second Trump presidency scares the shit out of me. I was pro-Kamala from the very beginning, and I'm supporting her campaign as best I can. Especially with my vote!