Listen, there is no equality without the loss of power. Someone

In the grand narrative of human history, where the struggle for justice and equality has been fought by the many and the powerful, there comes a truth spoken by Bob the Drag Queen, a voice that cuts through the layers of comfort and denial: "Listen, there is no equality without the loss of power. Someone is going to have to lose power. That is really uncomfortable for some people to actually think about, but in order for marginalized people to gain power, white, cisgender, straight people are going to have to lose some and that’s just how it is." These words, while uncomfortable to some, resonate with the clarity of a truth that has echoed across civilizations—true equality does not come without the redistribution of power, the balance that must be achieved for justice to prevail.

In the ancient world, power was seen as a commodity, something that could be hoarded by the few, passed down through bloodlines, wealth, and military conquest. The great empires—be it Rome, Greece, or Persia—were built on the subjugation of others, on the idea that some were born to rule and others to serve. The slaves and conquered peoples had little to no agency over their lives, their fates determined by the whims of the rulers. The Roman Empire, for instance, maintained power through the use of slavery, a system that was not only economic but also social and cultural. The Romans believed in the natural order of things—that some were meant to lead, others to follow. This deeply ingrained hierarchy existed across cultures, reinforced by traditions and the belief that to give up power was to disrupt the natural order of life.

Yet, the idea of equality—that all people should have the same rights, opportunities, and dignity—has always been an ancient dream, one that was often stifled by entrenched power structures. Socrates challenged the Athenian democracy, not because he opposed the idea of democracy, but because he saw that it did not fully include the voices of all people, particularly women and slaves. Socrates believed that equality in thought and voice was vital for the growth of society, yet his own time was far from realizing that ideal. Even in a society that prided itself on democratic principles, true equality was reserved for only a select few. Bob the Drag Queen’s words remind us that the fight for equality—whether for women, racial minorities, or LGBTQ+ individuals—requires not just the lifting up of the marginalized but the acknowledgment that those with privilege must be willing to relinquish some power to make space for others.

In the modern age, the fight for civil rights and equality has seen similar struggles, where the loss of power has been a bitter pill to swallow for many in positions of privilege. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States, led by figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was not merely about securing legal rights for Black Americans; it was about forcing society to redefine power itself. King’s famous "I Have a Dream" speech did not just call for freedom; it called for the redistribution of power—for the freedom of Black people and other marginalized groups to share in the privileges that were once reserved for a select few. White Americans, who had long enjoyed societal privileges, were asked to look beyond their own comfort and recognize that equality meant sharing some of the power that had been hoarded for generations. It was uncomfortable, as Bob the Drag Queen said, but it was necessary for the realization of a more just society.

This truth also echoes through the story of the women’s suffrage movement, where women fought for the right to vote in a society that believed the power to determine the nation’s future was a privilege reserved for men. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, among others, led this charge, but it was not an easy victory. The men who held power were reluctant to relinquish any part of their control. Yet, despite this resistance, women pressed forward, understanding that true equality could only come when the balance of power was more evenly distributed. Their struggle culminated in the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States. This victory was not only a triumph of the women's rights movement but also a recognition that equality requires the willingness to share power.

In our own time, Bob the Drag Queen’s words are a stark reminder that equality cannot be achieved without disrupting the existing power structures. For LGBTQ+ rights, the struggle has been one of visibility and legitimacy in a society that has long seen heteronormative values as the norm. To achieve equality, those with power—the majority—must be willing to let go of their exclusivity. This includes not only legal rights, such as the right to marry, but the cultural shift that must take place to recognize and respect the full humanity of marginalized people. Bob the Drag Queen’s message is clear: equality is not just about gaining rights but about a deeper restructuring of society, where power is shared, not hoarded.

The lesson we must take from Bob the Drag Queen’s words is one of courage and action. True equality is uncomfortable because it requires those in power to give up their privilege and share that power with others. But this is not a loss; it is an opportunity for growth, a chance to build a society that is truly just and inclusive. We must actively fight for equality by not just demanding rights for marginalized groups but by examining and addressing the power structures that keep us divided. Whether in our workplaces, our homes, or our communities, we must ask ourselves: how are we contributing to the redistribution of power, and how can we share the power we hold to create a world where equality is not just an ideal, but a living, breathing reality?