Category: anti-LGBTQ

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Sportscaster After Using Gay Slur On-Air: ‘I Have Never Used That Word Before In My Life’

Sportscaster Thom Brennaman (screen capture)
Last month, longtime sportscaster Thom Brennaman surprised Cincinnati Reds fans when he was caught on a hot mic using a gay slur. Coming out of a commercial break during the first game of a doubleheader between the Reds and Kansas City Royals on August 19, the play-by-play announcer was heard saying, “One of the f*g capitals of the world.” Social media lit up about the remark seemingly without Brennaman’s knowledge until two hours later when he addressed the debacle with an awkward apology, pausing mid mea culpa to call a home run. After his statement, he was replaced at the mic.

The 56-year-old expressed his remorse again in a lengthy letter the next day to the editor of the Cincinnati Enquirerwriting, “I hope the LGBTQ+ community, the Reds and their fans and the people of Cincinnati can find a way to think better of me.” “With all the humility I can muster, I ask for your forgiveness.” Brennaman has been indefinitely suspended by the Reds since then and last week was removed from Fox Sports’ NFL schedule – a gig he’s has since 1994. In the past weeks, he’s been on an apology tour of sorts reaching out to LGBTQ groups which, he tells the New York Post, have been forgiving. Addressing the incident and its fallout with the Post, Brennaman says he doesn’t even remember the context of his remark. “Everything happened so fast,” he told the Post. “And I’m watching literally everything fall apart at the seams while trying to announce a baseball game.” “I couldn’t even tell you what happened, where it came from. … Look, I said it is all that matters. The rest of it is irrelevant. I said it. And I own it. And I’m the one who has to live with it.” The veteran sportscaster added emphatically, “I have never used that word (before) in my life.” While some are willing to forgive and allow space for some sense of redemption, believing Brennaman had ‘never used that word’ is a bit of a stretch for a few folks. Ryan Messer, a leading LGBTQ activist in Cincinnati that Brennaman has reached out to, says “If he used it then, he used it before.” He adds, however, “if we don’t open the dialogue to help explain (the meaning behind the word), how do we learn and grow from it? And that’s where my whole perspective comes, and I’m willing to make sure he understands that, which is why he is coming to my house Saturday to meet my family, my husband, and four kids.” Messer has publicly called on the Reds to reinstate Brennaman. “Cincinnati wasn’t always the most welcoming city (for LBGT people),” says Messer, who helped lead an effort to repeal an anti-LGBTQ ordinance in the early 2000s. “I believe I can tell when someone is sincere and I heard that in (Brennaman’s) voice.” Brennaman also sat down with local gay newscaster Evan Millward, who believes “We should forgive, and we largely have forgiven.” “But you can’t just then sweep it under the rug and then place it into this whole societal cancel-culture thing,” Millward told the Post. “If we just shut people down, and tell them they’re trash and that they’re canceled, then we’re avoiding a difficult dialogue.” For his part, Brennaman told the Post, “If I get another chance, someone will be hiring a better person than the person who walked out the door that night on August 19.” What do you think, readers? Should it be one strike and you’re out? Or is there space to allow for redemption? (source: New York Post)

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College Democrats Apologize To Gay Mayor For ‘Homophobic Attacks’

Mayor Alex Morse of Holyoke, Massachusetts (image via Facebook)
College Democrats in Massachusetts have issued an apology to openly gay Mayor Alex Morse of Holyoke for their role in what turned into unfounded attacks on Morse and “played into homophobic stereotypes that have been used to oppress gay men in politics.” Morse, currently in his 4th term as mayor, is running to unseat Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) who has represented Massachusetts in the House of Representatives since 1989. The Democratic primary will be held on Tuesday, September 1. Earlier this month, Instinct reported on a letter sent to Morse from three groups of College Democrats, including the UMass Amherst Democrats, informing him he was no longer welcome at College Democratic events and accusing him of using his “position of power for romantic or sexual gain, specifically toward young students.” Morse had been a guest lecturer at UMass Amherst in 2019 and attended one event hosted by the school’s College Democrats. Morse, 31, quickly responded to the allegations saying as an openly gay man he has dated younger people but all interactions were consensual and none were with any students who might have attended his lectures. No students have come forward to say otherwise. The story quickly spiraled and went national with ugly tones of homophobia. The story became much bigger when The Intercept followed up the story with reporting that revealed leaders of the UMass Amherst Democrats had been discussing ways to discover Morse’s dating app profiles and perhaps “lead him into saying something incriminating that would then damage his campaign.” The chief strategist of the chapter at the time, Timothy Ennis, wrote in chat messages that while he was unsure about digging up dirt on Morse, he was a “Neal Stan” and hoped to land a position in the congressman’s office. “But I need a job,” wrote Ennis according to The Intercept. “Neal will give me an internship.” A second report from The Intercept suggested state Democratic Party leaders might have played a role in the drafting of the letter to Morse as well as making the allegations public. On Friday, the UMass Amherst Democrats executive board sent Morse a letter apologizing for the “public distress that the public reaction to the letter must have cost you.” Admitting the letter was never intended to become public, they added, “We should have realized that the language of the letter was careless and played into homophobic stereotypes that have been used to oppress gay men in politics.” “We understand that no apology of ours can make up for the homophobic attacks you have suffered as a result of our actions; nonetheless, we wish to apologize. We wish you the best of luck in your campaign.” The College Democrats also included a copy of a letter sent to the general membership of the group explaining the board had only been shown the initial letter “briefly” and were asked to sign on by the chapter’s president, Andrew Abramson, “in solidarity.” “We are deeply sorry that Alex Morse has faced homophobic attacks as a result of our actions and that our decision has negatively impacted the LGBT+ community, including our own membership,” read the letter to the general membership. “We wish Alex Morse the best of luck in his campaign and political career.” Morse’s campaign shared the apology with the Daily Hampshire Gazette calling the initial letter “an unfortunate situation that happened.” In an interview with Jacobin Magazine, Morse characterized the attack as “incredibly dangerous to our democracy,” and added the accusations could have “a chilling effect for young people, queer people, single people, basically telling us we can’t or shouldn’t run for office.” Even though the apology was sent to Morse, other groups are still using the story to undermine his candidacy before the primary. American Working Families, a Democratic group, pulled an attack ad it ran after catching flak for homophobic undertones in the spot. The ad went after Morse’s record as mayor, made vague accusations that his campaign is being funded by “outside special interests” and brought up “sexual relationships with college students.” The group told Twitter on Saturday the spot was “never intended to air” adding that “it was accidentally sent to stations instead of a corrected version.”

There have also been robocalls reported that were “disguised as surveys” asking if respondents would still support Morse if he had “sent sexually explicit emails to college-aged students.”

Congressman Neal, Morse’s opponent in tomorrow’s primary, has denied any involvement in the attacks.

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Fox Sports Broadcaster Caught On Hot Mic: ‘One Of The Fag Capitals Of The World’

Thom Brennaman (screen capture)
Thom Brennaman, longtime Fox Sports broadcaster for major league baseball’s Cincinnati Reds, is the latest sportscaster to experience a hot mic gaffe and it may cost him his job. Moments after the Fox Sports Ohio broadcast returned from a commercial break before the top of the seventh inning in the first game, the 56-year-old sportscaster apparently didn’t realize his mic was hot as the listeners heard Brennaman say, “One of the fag capitals of the world.” He went on to call the remainder of the first game and the first four innings of the second game while a clip of the slur went viral on social media. Then, more than two hours after the gaffe, during the fifth inning of the second game, Brennaman issued an apology for using the slur saying he was “deeply ashamed” — interrupting the mea cupla to call a home run — before turning over play-by-play duties to Jim Day. “If I have hurt anyone out there, I can’t tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart, I’m so very, very sorry,” Brennaman told his listeners. “I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith — as there’s a drive into deep left field by Castellanos, it will be a home run, so that will make it a 4-0 ballgame.” “I don’t know if I’m going to be putting on this headset again,” he added. “I don’t know if it’s going to be for the Reds. I don’t know if it’s going to be for my bosses at Fox. I want to apologize to the people who sign my paycheck, for the Reds, for Fox Sports Ohio, for the people I work with, for anybody I’ve offended here tonight.” “I can’t begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am. That is not who I am, it never has been, and I’d like to think that maybe I could have some people that could back that up. I am very, very sorry, and I beg for your forgiveness. You hear the clip that went viral below followed by his apology.

Brennaman is a Cincinnati native who has been doing play-by-play of MLB games for more than three decades including calling Reds games since 2007. The Reds issued a statement afterward saying the team was “devastated by the horrific, homophobic remark” and announcing Brennaman had been suspended.

Even before the Reds had issued their statement, Cincinnati pitcher Amir Garrett tweeted, “To the LGBTQ community just know I am with you, and whoever is against you, is against me. I’m sorry for what was said today.”

Chris Seelbach, the Cincinnati’s first openly gay councilman, issued this statement about the incident: “The Brennaman family are Cincinnati sports icons with a powerful voice in our community, which makes it even more disgusting and totally unprofessional to hear such language used. The Reds have been proud supporters of their LGBTQ+ fans, and this language cannot be tolerated. Period. Cincinnati is leading the way for LGBTQ+ equality. We are on the right side of history and it’s incredibly disappointing to hear Mr. Brennaman use such language of hate when our country is begging for unity.” Reading opinions online, there seem to be two camps about this: one wondering if a single mistake should cost you your job, and the second saying there’s no room for homophobia in sportscasting. Of course, homophobia is bad and shouldn’t exist anywhere. I’ll add that after years and years of sitting behind a mic, it’s a bit staggering that Brennaman would such a mistake at this level of broadcasting. But, everyone screws up at some point. What strikes me in this situation is, listening to Brennaman’s voice, he says the word “fag” confidently and with conviction. It doesn’t sound like a word foreign to him, a word he ‘never uses.’ Even as he declares “This is not who I am,” this occurred in a moment he thought he was private. I do think it reveals him to the world a bit. Someone wrote on Twitter that in baseball it’s three strikes and then you’re out. Should Brennaman be terminated? Fined? Demoted? What do you think, readers?

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Prison Time For Dad Who Beat Son After Discovering Grindr On Phone

Photo of a man's hands cuffed behind his back

Photo of a man's hands cuffed behind his back A homophobic father in the UK has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for viciously beating his son with a television cable after finding the gay dating app Grindr on the teen’s phone. Plymouth Live reports the night before the attack, the father had asked to borrow his son’s phone. It was while using the phone the father discovered not only Grindr but several photos the teen had taken of himself. The next morning, the father (who isn’t being identified in order to protect the boy) confronted his son asking about the app and pics while shouting “You are gay” and “you are a woman.” After ordering the teen to strip down to his socks and underwear, the father lashed his son about 20 times with the cable. According to the prosecutor, Francesca Whebell, “He hit him multiple times across his body, particularly his arm, breaking the skin there” while continuing to question the boy. The teen was only able to escape after his father allowed him to get a glass of water. The boy grabbed his school uniform and ran out of the house. Arriving at school, though, staff members noticed something was amiss, and the teen began to cry leading the staff to call the police. The father eventually pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm last September. At his sentencing, a lawyer for the father tried to argue his client is a “loving father” who became angry, not due to his son’s sexuality but for posting photos on the dating app. Since the incident, the lawyer claimed the father’s remorse “is genuine,” and added, “the fact that he has now lost contact with his own son has broken his heart.” The defendant’s wife also appeared in court having written a character reference for her husband. But Recorder Marcus Pilgerstorfer wasn’t having it telling the lawyer, “On the basis of the photographs, [the teen] is likely to be left with some scarring on his arm and he will inevitably suffer some psychological consequences.” “You asked him about photographs of lots of boys on his phone and shouted: ‘You are gay’ and ‘you are a woman,” continued the judge. “You hit him again and again, some 20 times, with the television cable. You caused him ‘loads of pain,’ to use his words.” Pilgerstorfer added, “I have no doubt that part of the reason you became angry is that you saw material which you thought indicated he was bisexual.” (source: Plymouth Live)

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TikTok Teen’s Numbers Plummet After Attacks On LGBTQs, Jews, Muslims

Cash Baker (images via Instagram) Ok, who’s going to tell him?
Teenage Tik Tok personality, Cash Baker, is apparently uber-popular, but recent comments about LGBTQ people and Jewish, Muslim and Hindu folks have backfired in a big way. Funny how that works… The Christian teen reportedly has over 16 million fans on the platform and had racked up over 800 million likes before he shared videos attacking other religions and the queer community. “Me, being a Christian, can I support the LGBT+ community?” Baker said in one clip. “So am I behind the LGBT+ community? Do I promote it? Do I encourage it? Absolutely not.” “But guys, you gotta understand,” continued the teen. “Everybody gets that so confused with us saying that we hate LGBTQ people and all that. But guys, no, that is completely, completely wrong.” “Guys, in the Bible it says that one sin is as equal as all sin, and it says man should be with woman and woman should be with man,” he continued. “So, therefore, guys, yes, it is a sin in the Bible. But guys, everyone sins. I sin all the time. That does not mean I love you any less or look at you any different.” In another clip, Baker went on to say he can’t “support” other religions like Islam, Judaism or Hinduism because Christianity was “the only true religion” and those other faiths all worship “false Gods.” Here’s a couple of the videos that resulted in Baker’s current backlash.

After deleting the controversial videos, Baker posted a clip explaining the viewership on his TikTok videos has dropped by 80 percent as he used to get about one million views on each video and now only garners around 200K. He also clarifies that just because he explained biblical views on homosexuality (which he stands by) saying he doesn’t “support” LGBTQ people, that doesn’t mean he “hates” gay folks. Baker also shares his friends have warned him his religious videos could cost his big dollar endorsements. But he says he doesn’t care about those potential deals since he’s “just trying to preach the truth and what the Bible says.” “If you believed in a hell, and you believed that some of your family and some of your friends, even people you don’t know, might go to hell and burn in hell for the rest of eternity—would you tell them about it, or would you just stay quiet and not say anything?” Baker asks rhetorically. “You would most likely tell them about it, right? And that’s what I’m doing.” Ok…so, this is really all for US. Got it. By the third video below, it looks like little Cash is getting kinda frantic. #LifeComesAtYouFast

@cashbakerJesus loves you❤️♬ UNDERWATER WONDERSCAPES (MASTER) – Frederic Bernard

@cashbakerReply to @jamescharles I love you guys❤️❤️♬ original sound – cashbaker

@cashbaker

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♬ original sound – cashbaker

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Blogger Sentenced To Prison For Saying ‘Gay People’ Have Rights

(image via Google Maps)
For the “crime” of telling Twitter followers he believes LGBTQ people have rights and “should be able to practice them freely,” a Yemeni blogger has been sentenced by a Saudi court to 10 months in prison, a fine equal to $2,700 and eventual deportation. Human Rights Watch reports that Mohamad al-Bokari, left Yemen in June 2019 after receiving death threats. He’d been living in Saudi Arabia as an undocumented migrant when he was arrested on April 8. The 29-year-old was asked on Twitter for his views on same-sex relations and in a video, he answered, “Everyone has rights and should be able to practice them freely, including gay people.” A spokesman for Riyadh’s police department issued a statement saying the video contained “sexual references” that “violate public order and morals.” He was charged with violating public morality by promoting homosexuality online, and “imitating women.” Prior to his trial, al-Bokari was held in solitary confinement in a cell with no windows, air conditioning or proper ventilation. He was provided no legal counsel for his trial. After his sentencing, he was placed in a cell with other prisoners who harassed and verbally abused him saying he “deserves the death penalty.” Human Rights Watch says his health has declined since the trial as he suffers from a chronic heart condition. Tests were administered but he was discharged without learning the results. Doctors reportedly denied he has any heart condition and have refused him any medication. Bokari was sentenced on July 20 and has 30 days to appeal. While Saudi Arabia has no laws on the books regarding sexual orientation or gender identity, judges often reference uncodified Islamic law to punish people accused of having sexual relations outside marriage, including adultery, extramarital and homosexual sex, or other “immoral” acts. It has been ranked as one of the ‘most dangerous’ countries in the world for LGBTQ people. (source: Human Rights Watch)

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Pro Boxer Sacked Over Anti-LGBTQ TikTok Rant

Professional Boxer James Hawley (images via Instagram)
As the old saying goes, “Act like a fool, get treated like a fool.” British pro boxer James Hawley was dropped by his promoter MTK Global after he went on a homophobic and transphobic rant on TikTok. Hawley was responding to a question from a fan who asked, “Do you support LGBT?” “I one thousand, one million percent do not agree with this stuff,” replied Hawley in his video response. “Listen, I can understand girls get with each other all the time at parties and all things like that. I don’t care, not a problem. I’d want them to get with each other in front of me.” “But boys, on the other hand, and transgenders, there’s something seriously wrong with you,” the 21-year-old boxer continued. “What in the earth makes you want to change your gender and get f**ked in the ass? What is up with you dirty c*nts? I feel sorry for your families.” UK drag star Baga Chipz shared the video clip on Twitter calling Hawley out as “homophobic filth” and “an absolute piece of dirt.”

MTK Global got wind of the anti-LGBTQ rant and quickly dropped Hawley from their roster. In a statement, MTK Global said: “The management team have made the decision to terminate Mr. Hawley’s contract with MTK Global with immediate effect and will no longer be representing him in any format.” Adding that the firm “prides itself on it’s community focus and ethos,” the statement went on to say, “MTK Global does not in any way condone or support the views that were shared in any way, nor will these comments ever be considered as acceptable from any of our fighters hence the decision that was made by management.” The Daily Mail notes that, since his debut in December 2014, Hawley has a 6-0 record in the boxing ring. Hawley confirmed he’d been dropped by MTK in a video posted to his Instagram Story saying he “understands” why the action was taken. He also added that the night of his rant he’d “hit a brick wall and had enough” of being sent messages and “disturbing images” by a “few members of the gay community.” “I lashed out and said a few things I didn’t mean,” Hawley continued. Next comes the inevitable… “I have some friends who are gay,” Hawley offered. “I also have a cousin who’s gay, so I never meant anything by it and I’m sorry for who I offended.” But flipping the script, Hawley asks, “How would you like it if members from the gay public, on a day to day basis, was sending you inappropriate videos and messages – basically abusing you?” He ended the ‘apology’ by saying he felt his dismissal from MTK was “unfair” and is hoping for a chance to share his “side of the story” and present “evidence” that shows his rant was an “attack out of anger, not over what I believe.” Hawley goes on to say if men were sending unwanted sexually suggestive photos and messages to a woman “the situation would be completely different.”

The young athlete has also apparently been blocked on TikTok. UPDATE: Hawley has also taken his Instagram account private since I published this post.

 

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What do you think readers? Should Hawley have been sacked? Or does unwanted attention (and photos) from gay fans justify his rant? Let me know in the comments below.

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Netflix Cancels New Series After Turkey Urges Removing Gay Character

Officials in Turkey reportedly pressured Netflix to remove a gay character from its new series titled, If Only, and so the streaming platform canceled the project. From Deadline:

The eight-part relationship drama was announced in March and was set to be made by Turkish production outfit Ay Yapim, with screen star Özge Özpirinçci leading the cast. But Netflix has scrapped the plans after producers were refused a filming license because of the existence of a gay character.

Per a translation in the Financial Times, If Only’s creator Ece Yörenç told Turkish film website Altyazi Fasikul: “Due to a gay character, permission to film the series was not granted and this is very frightening for the future.”

Responding to a request for comment from the FT, a spokesman for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party acknowledged that concerns were raised about If Only. Deadline understands that rather than caving to creative changes, Netflix decided to abandon the project.

Netflix hasn’t commented on the issue directly, but a spokesman told Deadline the streaming platform “remains deeply committed to our Turkish members and the creative community in Turkey.” “We currently have several Turkish originals in production — with more to come — and look forward to sharing these stories with our members all around the world,” added the spokesman. No word on if any of those other shows in production have LGBTQ characters or storylines. Turkey is one of the more liberal countries in the Middle East. While homosexuality isn’t illegal, same-sex marriage is. Additionally, there are no legal protections for LGBTQ people in the areas of housing, adoption or employment, and gay Turkish citizens are no allowed to serve openly in the military. Özpirinçci posted a photo on Instagram over the weekend from the set with a rainbow series of hearts.

 

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❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍🤎

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Gay Man Loses Front Teeth In Homophobic Attack Over Pride Flag

Tom Anderson (screen capture via Boston 25 News)
A gay man in the southeastern Massachusetts town of Taunton was attacked in his own front yard in late June for hanging a rainbow Pride flag. Tom Anderson told local news affiliate Boston 25 News he and his husband Jacob had the flag up for only an hour when a random driver by stopped his car, got out and attacked him. As the man approached, Anderson says he cursed at him, using homophobic slurs and punched him in the face. “I was kind of in a state of disbelief like ‘Really? I’m in my own yard,’” Anderson told the news outlet. “I saw the guy just come up and yell those nasty words at my husband and then hit him two or three times and then took off back into his car and screeched away,” said Jacob Anderson, Tom’s husband. As a result of the attack, Tom lost his two front teeth and required several stitches to close his wounds.
(screen capture)
“It’s definitely a hate crime just based on the words he used,” Jacob added. The couple says another person passing by witnessed the attack and stopped to help them. The local police were called and given a description of the man and his car but no word yet on if the attacker has been found. Taunton Police say the investigation is ongoing. Tom says his concern is that people may think “this is okay to do.” Still, the Andersons share their community has been “amazing.” Since the incident, they’ve seen an outpouring of support from friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers. The couple, who have been married nine years, say they’ve even received a home security system as a gift. And instead of becoming fearful in the aftermath of the attack, Tom says he has no plans to stop flying his Pride flag. In fact, he says, “I want to just keep it up all year long now.” (source: Boston 25 News)

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Five Black Trans Women Murdered In Past Week

L-R Brayla Stone, Merci Mack (via social media)
  The National Black Justice Coalition reports that, in just the past week, at least 5 Black trans women were violently murdered. • On Tuesday, June 30, Merci Mack, a 22-year-old in Dallas, Texas, was found murdered from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. • In Louisiana, Draya McCarty was found killed in Baton Rogue, and Shakie Peters was found killed in Amite. • Cameron Breon — also known as Bree Black — was also found shot in Pompano Beach, Florida on July 3, at just 27 years old. • Social media has also reported that Tatiana Hall was murdered in Philadelphia, but little additional information has been made publicly available. These deaths — all in the last week — bring the number of trans people violently killed this year to 22. Additionally, Brayla Stone was just 17 when she was murdered in late June. And two Black trans women in their twenties, Riah Milton and Dominique “Remmie” Fells, were also murdered in early June. In response to this tragic news, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition David J. Johns released the following statement:

“I dream of a world where we don’t have to wake up to see headlines of more of our sisters killed because of who they are and how they show up in the world. A world where the beautifully diverse contributions of Black trans women and girls are celebrated, not one where their lives are reduced to memes and hashtags. As we have marched in the streets for the past five weeks, and fought for our lives for the past 400 years, we must ensure that we are uplifting, supporting, and protecting our Black trans sisters too. For Black Lives to Matter, Black Trans Lives must Matter too.

“As we fight to overturn racist systems, we must fight to overturn the patriarchal systems that continue to perpetuate violence against Black women and girls, both Trans and Cis. Black women and girls have been leading the charge to fight police brutality and imagine a better future rooted in collective liberation. We must stand up and dream of a better world for them too. Merci, Draya, Shakie, Bree, and Tatiana mattered. Brayla, Riah, and Remmie mattered.

“We have to make space to talk, both publicly and privately, about the labor that Black women and girls invest to ensure that our families, community, and country are safe and supportive spaces in spite of anti-Blackness. We also have to talk about the violence they face from grown boys who also allow their pain and trauma to go undiscussed and untreated. As we call for justice for Black people, we must call for and work toward justice for all Black people.”

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is America’s leading national civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS. (via press release)