“Break My Soul” by Beyoncé As a Queer Vietnamese American immigrant and reproductive justice activist, I consistently find myself the target of hateful rhetoric and discrimination. During the height of COVID, this often took the form of xenophobic comments about my race, and within my right-wing Floridian community, slurs attached to my queerness are just as common. On days when I feel like throwing in the towel, Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” inspires me to persevere even in the height of this marginalization. As an advocate with Planned Parenthood, I’ve been harassed and looked down upon by protesters, classmates, and even family. As I’ve walked through Planned Parenthood’s doors, through my headphones, Beyoncé’s infectious chorus, repeating the mantra “You won’t break my soul,” has drowned out the screams of protesters, relaying an unrelenting message of optimism and bringing newfound courage. I’m reminded that my goals of advocating for comprehensive sex education and LGBTQ+ allyship remain impactful no matter the naysayers, and the motivation from an artistic icon like Beyoncé never fails to reinvigorate me. Even in the height of reactionary waves against social justice: the overturning of Roe V. Wade, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” I know that through my work, “I'm buildin' my own foundation… and I'm takin' my new salvation,” across my community — laying the groundwork for change, even when it feels like our government is moving backward. Whether I’m calming peers down during pregnancy scares or sharing my story within magazine articles to thousands of youth and sex educators across the country, I strive to center empathy and open-mindedness as a catalyst for progressive political change — never allowing my soul to be broken, and uplifting others’ souls in the process.