The voters have spoken: more than 74 million voters have chosen to move forward with new leadership in President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. While court challenges to the election may continue indefinitely, it now appears that there will be a new Presidential administration come January.
The issues at stake in this election were significant and deeply relevant to our mission at Fenway Health. Equity and justice for LGBTQIA+ people, immigrants, and BIPOC communities; the continuation of the Affordable Care Act; and the nation’s response to the COVID pandemic will continue to be critical in the months to come. The arrival of a new Administration will significantly impact these and a host of other critical matters.
It is also worth celebrating the historic milestone that occurred this week. Kamala Harris is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American elected to the Vice Presidency in U.S. history. A generation of young people across this country will grow up seeing someone who looks like them leading our nation. Representation matters.
Democracy can be messy, and this election season was particularly passionate. Many in our community have felt deeply about the current administration and its policies. While some celebrate this outcome, others feel disappointment. Regardless of how any one person voted, it is our hope that Fenway and our partner organizations will be able to work with the new administration to address the needs of those we serve.
The election is not the end of the work, of course; it opens the door to more work ahead. At the end of the day, when all the partisan politics subside, our mission serving and advocating on behalf of our community continues.
Ellen LaPointe
CEO, Fenway Health