Everybody wants a revolution, and it turns out, a whole lot of amazing humans also want to do the dishes

A famous quote often ascribed to my fave Dorothy Day goes something like, “Everybody wants a revolution, but nobody wants to do the dishes.”

I am so happy to say that more than 100 trans folks and their family members showed up at a First Universalist Church of Minneapolis pancake breakfast—even through the snow!—AND so, so many cis allies did the dishes.

We truly had an all-ages turnout, with trans folks and fam ranging from babies to grandparents and all generations in-between. We created powerful trans-affirming art for our Sanctuary, had meaningful conversations in small groups, and embraced trans joy in community. I heard from all sorts of folks how powerful this gathering was for them and their families, and I agree—in the face of so much that is hard right now, it was such a beautiful act of resistance and solidarity to eat some tasty treats, be together in belovedness, and dance it out together (to HOTTOGO, of course).

And. None of it could have happened without the people who did the very un-sparkly ministry behind the scenes: the (mostly) cis volunteers—and their partners, and their kids—who donated a griddle, bought the sprinkles, made pancakes, led a breakout group, supervised kiddos, 3D printed amazing trans-flag-colored heart tokens, helped set-up art supplies and furniture, created gorgeous flyers and signs, wiped down the sticky syrup-full tables and mopped the snow-soaked floors, and scrubbed the griddles when it was all over. Everybody wants a revolution, and, it turns out, a whole lot of amazing humans also want to do the dishes.

I’m no prophet, but there’s likely a lot more revolution to come, bringing a lot more dishes, too. But I’m reminded today that when we do them in community, nothing—not even the syrupy-est, water-colory-est, glitter-gluey-est mess of all—can get in our way.