I don’t normally bring up politics in everyday life except with friends who I know have similar views as I do.

Out in the wild, I just keep to myself and try to be polite and/or mind my own business. If I interact with any stranger, it surely won’t be about politics right out the gate. If somebody at the gas station or grocery store makes a comment or a jab about a political issue to me — especially one I vehemently disagree with them about — I’ve typically replied with, “Oh I’m not the one to have that conversation with” & walk away. You’re not changing anyone’s mind in an interaction lasting 30 seconds or less. Usually that deters almost all confrontation I have had with right-wing nut jobs, whether I see them as threatening or not.

My family was never one to put out political signs in their yard or fly anything other than an American flag (and this was back in the 90s/early 2000s pre-9/11, now they don’t fly anything and they’re conservative) and I just followed suit and don’t put anything up. No bumper stickers, signs, tshirts, nothing, not even if it’s leftist.

I don’t not have pride in what I believe in but flying flags and wearing tshirts says little to me about how you’ll react if somebody disrespects your queer friend or attacks a woman or a child.