On November 8, 2016, Republican Nominee Donald J. Trump became President Elect Donald J. Trump along with Vice President Elect Mike Pence. Ignoring his views on taxes, free speech, the environment, women’s rights, immigration, and health care, there is one key area in which I have profound concerns: Trump wants to legalize discrimination against LGBT+ people and has been a consistent opponent to marriage equality, and Pence is strongly supportive of conversion therapy.

As an LGBT+ individual, this is horrifying.

My mental health on November 9 ranged from shaky at best to broken at worst. Our country will be run by a duo that is clearly against LGBT+ rights, and I am terrified not only for myself, but for the others in the community that I must endure this with. One week later, fear, anguish, and disappointment are still running rampant inside of me.

To begin with, Trump has opposed marriage equality throughout his campaign, which was only made legal in America less than two years ago. He has supported traditional marriage since before his candidacy. Though Trump announced on Sunday that same-sex marriage was “fine,” his history of changing opinions means that I’m not yet convinced. Not only do civic unions not give the same benefits as marriage, it is the symbolism of marriage that is so important. That important symbolism should be open to any and all people who would like to participate. Marriage is a beautiful and sacred thing and, while Trump may not agree (given his three marriages), I don’t think that same-sex couples make it any less cherished.

Not only that, but Trump has promised to sign an anti-LGBT+ law that would make it legal for employers, businesses, landowners, and even doctors to discriminate against LGBT+ individuals. I’m a high school student who will be entering into the workplace sooner rather than later, and I don’t want to have to accept discrimination about something that I cannot control and about something that will not affect the person who is discriminating against me.

It has also been affirmed that Trump wants to take away the protections for transgender students that the Obama administration pushed so hard for, and wants to leave transgender rights up to the states.

Donald Trump isn’t even the biggest problem. His Vice President, Mike Pence, has a nasty history of opposing rights for LGBT+ people. He opposes same-sex marriage, citing it as a sign of “societal collapse,” and voted against a law that would work towards ending homophobic discrimination in the workplace, and is an avid supporter of conversion therapy.

For those who don’t know, conversion therapy, also called reparative therapy, is the practice of attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation from homo- or bisexual to heterosexual, or attempting to changing a person from transgender to cisgender (identifying with the gender assigned at birth). Basically, conversion therapy is the practice of forcing people to abandon their sexual orientations and gender identities to become “normal” and non-LGBT+. Conversion therapy has the possibility of creating serious mental health issues for patients, including depression, anxiety, and suicide. The most important thing to note: it doesn’t work. Multiple organizations, including the American Psychological Association, have proclaimed that conversion therapy is more often harmful than helpful and is not based off of actual science.

Not only am I scared for myself and grieving for the rest of the community, but I am ashamed that it has come to this. I am ashamed that, after an African-American president and great strides for marriage equality, Trump’s main message is that America needs to be “great again.” I am sick to my stomach to think that people don’t find his beliefs on LGBT+ issues a deal breaker when it comes to electing him. The idea at the root of America itself is the idea of freedom — freedom of religion, freedom of education, and freedom of expression. I believe that part of freedom of expression is the freedom to express your love for someone — whether they be male or female, and whether that expression is marriage or just holding hands. Having a president who will not uphold that most important concept is disgusting. That is basic human rights, and he will not permit it. I am disappointed.

During a rally on Sunday, October 1, Trump held a rainbow flag with the words “LGBTs for Trump” written on it. He also claimed that he would protect LGBT+ people as president, while speaking at the Republican National Convention on July 21. However, Trump has done nothing so far to show how he will protect this community, and has instead supported discrimination by choosing a homo- and transphobic governor as his Vice President. If he truly wants to support and protect LGBT+ people, then he is going about it all the wrong ways.

I am disappointed, frustrated, and fearful for the future of LGBT+ individuals in America. The one solace that I have is that these four years will, ultimately, bring the community closer together. It will be a struggle for our rights and a challenge to meet hate and disrespect with love. My hope is that the community will be able to push against discrimination and continue enjoying our natural rights despite living in a country ruled by a president who opposes us.