OutLaw members,
We apologize for the delay in issuing this statement. We wanted to gather a list of resources for Black and non-Black folks, which took some time. Nonetheless, this is a critical time to support the Black and African American community, and it is all the more important as we enter June as nationally-recognized Pride Month. Usually, this time is met with celebration and focus on the LGBTQ2SIA+ community at large. But more urgently, our nation is (and has always been) purposefully based on discriminatory principles that have systemically oppressed the Black community. This community's outcries of injustice must not be ignored and this matter must be the focus of our national discourse right now. As such, OutLaw firmly stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the unlawful and horrifying acts of racism and violence towards the Black and African American community. We encourage you to commemorate Pride month by asking non-Black queer folks and allies to demand justice for our Black communities. After all, the first Pride was a riot begun thanks to the leadership of Black trans woman, Marsha P. Johnson, and Latinx trans activist, Sylvia Rivera. They will be forever remembered in history as heroes who demanded that police be held accountable for their brutality. The Stonewall riots, led by Black and brown trans and queer folks, were the catalyst for the LGBTQ2SIA+ rights we have today. We must mirror their activism by speaking about modern-day injustices and by challenging racism present in our society. Accordingly, we call upon non-Black folks to prioritize advocacy towards the Black Lives Matter movement. To help you do this, we have created a permanent tab in our website titled Black Lives Matter, which contains action items and impactful ways to uplift the Black community. This tab also contains free or low-cost resources available to Black folks that may help navigate the overwhelming nature at this time. While we share information about the violence visible to us, we acknowledge it is not extensive as there are many atrocities that are not publicized by the media or purposefully hidden by people in power. Collectively, we must condemn the actions that led to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Sean Reed, David McAtee, and many others. We would like to remind non-Black folks that educating yourself and your surrounding friends, family and peers is necessary. It is easy to say "if you don't agree with me, then just unfollow me or remove me from social media!" But by doing this, you are effectively shifting the burden over to Black folks to educate and inform while dealing with their racism. Please take the labor off of Black communities and have those difficult conversations with yourself and with others about what it means to be anti-racist and why it is important. It begins with a quick google search: "anti-racism resources." Here is just one example. If you would like to forward this information to anyone outside the Outlaw listserv, please feel free to do so. If you have any other resources or suggestions, also feel free to email us at any time. We hope you join us in action to honor Pride month and the Black trans heroes who began this conversation. Black Lives Matter. Black Trans and Queer Lives Matter. In solidarity, OutLaw
0 Comments
|
June 2020 |