MADISON, Wis. — Jessica Jones, the co-owner and brewer of Giant Jones Brewing in Madison, opened the brewery with their wife in 2018.
Reviews online describe Giant Jones Brewing as a “very inviting place to go” and say that “Jessica has the whole idea of beer dialed in.”
Which is the exact atmosphere that Jones and their partner were aiming for.
“I am a trans woman and there are plenty of places in the world where I don’t feel safe or comfortable,” Jones said. “When you start making spaces safe for one group, you tend to keep going and making them safe for other groups.”
Since opening the brewery, Jones said while some things have changed, others have stayed the same.
“In 2018, it was not that easy to be a trans person in public and it never has exactly been easy. It has become simpler as trans people have become more visible,” Jones said.
Jones said this election year has been tough on many people, but it has especially been a stressful time for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“There were a lot of rhetorics in the election that were anti-tans and anti-queer, too, and it makes people nervous,” Jones said.
Brian Juchems is the senior director of education and policy at GSAFE. GSAFE works directly with LGBTQ+ students and their parents.
Juchems said his team is still filtering through responses regarding the November election results, but he said at least one thing is clear.
“We know that our students and their families, they are exhausted, they are enraged and they are also engaged as much as they can be,” Juchems said.
Juchems said there are a lot of unknowns and many families are rushing to make legal plans before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
“A lot of those plans include completing medical procedures or legal documents, as well as considering either moving to another state or safer countries,” Juchems said.
Juchems said Madison is one of the safer places in Wisconsin for members of the LGBTQ+ community, but he said not everyone is completely safe here.
He said his team is doing what it can to change that, but he believes this presidency with have a direct impact on the community he cares about most.
“We are going to continue working with students, educators and families, as well as our local, state and national partners to push back and keep fighting for the rights and education we know our students deserve,” Juchems said.
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On a local level, Jones said they will continue to provide a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.
“Having people around you that you know you can count on and [be] connected to has always been one of the most important things,” Jones said.