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It is always really enjoyable to go and visit canon-universe Sutton and Charlotte :)

Here is Sutton (author and impending First Lady):

Join us for the first one-on-one interview with Sutton Thompson (nee Spencer) since her wife, Charlotte Thompson, cinched the victory in the presidential election last week. Imani Diop has the exclusive:

Sutton, I have to start by saying: it has been both an honor and a privilege to follow along both your and Charlotte’s journeys all of these years. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be sitting here with you today.

It’s my honor and privilege to be sitting here with you, as well, Imani. You already know this, but – for anyone who might see this and doesn’t know – the interview you did with Charlotte during her first Congressional election in which she publicly came out… well, that jumpstarted our relationship together.

So, in many ways, Charlotte and I are in this position because of you.

I don’t generally like to take credit where credit isn’t due. From everything I’ve ever seen of you and Charlotte, your relationship was an inevitability.

Well, I won’t disagree with you in that regard. I like to think that no matter what would have happened along the way that we would always end up right here.

However, I do like to give credit where it is due, and you gave Charlotte the opportunity at the right time to – to be herself, publicly. We’ve spoken about that interview many times over the years; I’m telling you that is was very, very significant. You should take your flowers.

I’m not the most humble person in the room, so – I will. If anyone reading this is curious about the interview in question, you can find it here. Oh my god, that was twenty years ago.

Twenty years?!

Though so many things have changed, it really doesn’t feel like it, right?

What’s that saying? The days are long but the years are short. Being with Charlotte – especially since we’ve had our daughters – that phrase has never seemed so accurate.

Sometimes, it feels like just yesterday that Charlotte was running for the House of Representatives…

And now, she’s the president elect. Can you share a little more about that, about what is has been like to have been by Charlotte’s side throughout this entire journey? As we’ve just referenced, you’ve been with her from the very start of her political climb.

It’s been a whirlwind. And it’s been calm. And everything in between.

More than anything, though, I’m so glad to have been here throughout it all. Through every triumph and every setback. In many ways, it’s what has made this path belong to not only Charlotte, but to me, as well. Charlotte… she’s incredible. She is as brilliant and driven and such a force of nature, just as she appears to be.

But I’m not sure that I would be able to be so comfortable, fitting in this life, if it wasn’t the life I’ve also been building for the last two decades.

If this hadn’t also been my journey with Charlotte, I’m not sure it would feel like the life I’m supposed to be living.

Have you always known that this was the path, then? Or was there a moment that happened in your relationship with Charlotte over the years where the presidency became a viable route?

light laughter Oh, yes, this has always been the path.

If anyone has heard Charlotte’s speeches about how early in her life she knew this was the future for her – that is not fake. It’s not a story she made up to sound good on the campaign. Charlotte has known what she’s wanted for her entire life.

Before she and I entered into a romantic relationship, we were friends. And I knew from those very early days, when I was still in grad school, that this was where she was going.

And, yes, she was just as inspiring to listen to when I was twenty-five as she is now.

Maybe even more?

I… honestly, no.

Twenty-five year old me was perhaps – definitely – more impressionable. But, even as I’ve gotten older and slightly harder to impress, Charlotte has become more impressive. It’s kept the scales very even.

You two… Ah, okay, let’s get right into the main event: Charlotte won the election only a few weeks ago. What does it look like in your home right now? How are you preparing?

It looks a little hectic, admittedly. There is a lot in flex – we are preparing to move our home base from New York to D.C., the girls are going to need to change their entire schedules. We’re going to be getting a dog.

The thing is, I was certain this was going to happen. I knew there was a potential for a loss, of course. But in my bones, I knew this would happen. We’ve been preparing for this for a very long time.

On top of that, we are really, really lucky. My parents have been coming in to help us consistently, and my best friends, Regan and Emma, they have been incredible. The truth is that there is no one that could be doing this alone. Parenting, in general, really does take a village. Let alone adding the campaign.

What daily rituals do you enjoy that you intend on carrying with you with the move to D.C.? Anything that you and Charlotte do, together?

I like to do certain things every day, to keep me centered. Either go for a run or do some yoga, if I can fit it in. As much as possible, I like to have dinner with the girls.

With how busy and chaotic our lives can be, having a few things like that – the same way to prepare your coffee in the morning, a simple exercise routine, dinner with the girls – can be very grounding. For me, at least.

My nights are for Charlotte. The work days in this life can be long, and that is when we can always connect. Even on the campaign trail, we made time for one another every night. No matter where she was, we would take the time to talk, to be together, to share what is going on. Keeping that connection has been the most important thing. It always has been, and always will be.

You have two young daughters, Madelyn and Elizabeth. During the campaign there were several comments regarding how absent your daughters were from Charlotte’s public-facing events. Were you and Charlotte aware of those critiques? Tell me more about that?

Yes, we were aware of the critiques. Of course we were. It was occasionally brought up from our campaign team that it would be a good idea to have the girls be more centric in the public eye. In order to hammer home the fact that Charlotte’s comments about being so family-oriented were authentic.

But the reality is that – as you said – our daughters are young. Neither of them are over eighteen, able to start determining what kind of life it is they want for themselves. This affects them, too, and we made the choice before starting on this road that we would do it in the most responsible way in regards to them.

Anyone that criticized Madelyn and Elle being kept relatively out of the public eye as a way to prove Charlotte isn’t the family-first candidate clearly has missed the entire point about what it means to be a parent.

Wonderfully spoken. You and Charlotte both would know something about that, in terms of having parents live and work in politics. And, of course, the political arena isn’t the only avenue in which you’ve followed a family legacy.

I’ve always been quite a fan of your mother’s work, and devoured your series, as well. Share more about that?

I have always wanted to be a writer, ever since I was a teenager, sitting in my mother’s office, brainstorming ideas with her.

It’s daunting, though, to jump into something like that, when you feel… unproven? It’s why – when I was working, before we had the girls – I was in academia rather than trying to chase that dream.

In many ways, it does circle back to Charlotte.

I know that the way people can view us in the public eye is that she is on the mainstage, and I’m providing her support. But our relationship is a give and take, in ways people can’t see from the outside.

I don’t know that I would have pursued this avenue, if I didn’t have Charlotte behind me. I don’t know when I would have believed in myself that much.

You really don’t know what it’s like to believe in yourself until you have someone like Charlotte Thompson staring at you like you can do anything.

… yes, I think we would all love to have that. Unfortunately for every queer woman in the world, it is very clear that Charlotte has eyes for only one person. I think we can all recall that debate during the primary where Governor Webber implied you wouldn’t be an effective First Lady. I’ve never feared for someone’s life on live television like that. She was perfectly civil up until that moment.

No one in the world can say that Charlotte doesn’t commit herself, wholly, to what she is the most passionate about.

Very diplomatic answer. In that case, you mean… you.

Yes, in that instance, I meant me.

Yes. Well. What a sickeningly beautiful love story you two share. Back to the topic: I recall you stating that you didn’t intend to write such a captivating mystery thriller? That just-so-happened to fall out of your mind?

I definitely did not expect that to be the story I wrote.

I’ve always believed myself to be a romantic. I mean, I am a romantic. And, historically, I’ve often gravitated toward writing romance whenever I’ve had time to dabble in writing fiction. So, when I sat down to write through my novel, that’s what I believed I’d be producing.

But the scene I saw in my head was that first part of A Touch of Truth, when Emilia writes the letter about her own death.

And it’s one of the most gripping opening scenes I’ve ever read. Brava. Do you think you’ll have more novels to come, once this next phase has passed? Any hint of that on the horizon?

I haven’t really had the time in the last couple of years to focus on writing, with everything else going on. The whole presidential campaign thing, shockingly, takes quite some time!

But I can say – yes. I definitely have more novels to come. Maybe I’ll even get into writing that romance I’ve always thought about.

Has your perspective as a writer helped you navigate the public attention?

Oh… you know, that’s something I’ve never really thought about? But, yes, I suppose it does lend toward some perspective.

What’s so fascinating about writing – in any genre – is that your narrator is only as reliable as they can possibly be. Every person has their own distinct way of looking at the world, has their own voice in the world. And those perspectives are all shaped from their backgrounds and experiences.

And it’s the same in real life, right? My perspective is different from Charlotte’s, which is different from yours.

All of the people in this country, all of the voters, have their own perspectives, as well. It’s all about trying to reach as many people as possible, from all different perspectives.

On that note – you and Charlotte are one of the most visible queer couples in the entire world. How do you balance that, the fact that you two are in many ways the face of the queer community, with the reality of trying to be yourselves?

I understand what you’re saying, I do. But the reality is… we are ourselves. We are queer, and it’s just, normal. If we got bogged down in the minutiae of how we’re perceived, if we tried to change our outwardly-facing behavior based on what perceptions might be – I think it would be a disaster.

Everything we are is who we are. I know that I, personally, would never be able to put on a total mask and be different to the public from who I really am, in private.

I think – well, I guess I hope – that’s what drew people in, especially people who were doubtful.

In the most ideal world, it wouldn’t be about the fact that we’re two women who are married, and stepping into the greatest leadership position in the country. It’s about the fact that we’re two people, who love and respect and support one another. And I have to believe that transcended.

Has carrying this significant milestone – being the first openly queer First Lady – shaped your sense of responsibility and visibility in any way?

Like I’d just said, I want – ideally – for us to be seen as… two people who try to put one another first, support each other, love one another.

But, on the flip side, being queer is a hugely significant part of our life, and I can’t deny that. I wouldn’t want to deny that. I am proud of who I am, of who Charlotte and I are. And I take it very seriously, being seen on such a public stage.

I really hope that – that, for queer people, they can see Charlotte and myself and know that it is possible. Whatever you want for yourself, romantically and professionally, it’s within your grasp.

When you think about your legacy, what is the thing you hope people will resonate with for years to come?

That it’s not always easy. And sometimes, things are scary.

If you see me and Charlotte now, you might think everything was always simple, to get to where we are.

I’m not negating that we both came from hugely privileged backgrounds, because we did. I’m not saying that we both weren’t so lucky, in so many ways, because we were.

But no matter what life you’re born into… some things are universal.

Read the interview Imani is going to link (or, did link?) here. Because twenty years ago, Charlotte hadn’t ever been elected to Congress, yet, she wasn’t out yet, and she and I were broken up because of it.

The world can be a daunting place, a place that seems unforgiving. But people not only can surprise you, but they will. You deserve your place in this world, and you should pursue that place, boldly, bravely. With pride.