A Thank You To The Feminist Men

This is for every man who has raised his voice for those who felt silenced.

This is for every man who has listened with open ears to his female friends and family members.

This is for every man who put his own needs and wants aside so that he could support women.

This for every man who has respected the ideas and choices of his female counterparts, without question.

This is for the fathers and brothers, the uncles and sons, the boyfriends and husbands and grandpas and friends who have been there, who have cared, who have not taken ‘no’ as an answer and stood with us.

Even if it seemed like it wasn’t their fight—this for every man who knew it was.

This is for every man who has built women up, who has stood behind or beside us, who has believed and fought for our independence, strength, and equality.

This is for every man who carried a sign, who held hands, who walked, side-by-side, arm-in-arm with us in the march, wanting nothing more than to show us that we are loved and supported.

That they are here.
That we matter.
That together, we are unified.

This is for the feminist men. The men who do not feel threatened by women stretching their lungs and speaking out for themselves. The men who do not feel challenged by female strength, but empowered by it. The men who want us to know that we are fierce and wonderful and should not be ashamed.

This is for every man who has opened a door for a woman, but knows that we are capable of doing that on our own. The man who does not want to outshine us or shelter us, but instead, wishes to push back against a world that doesn’t let us grow.

This is for every man who has loved us, who has never taken advantage of us, who has been tender with us, gentle with us, and passionate with us, and for us. This is for every man who has had conversations with us, who has been interested in our perspectives, who believes they should be heard.

This is for every man who has taught us to love ourselves, in all our shapes and forms and flaws and inequalities, and encouraged us to never stop fighting.

Thank you.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your voice. Thank you for your heart. This may feel like it’s ‘our’ fight, but thank you for reminding us that this is and always will be your fight too. We appreciate you.