I know this is #NationalComingOutDay but truthfully, I’m still processing all the emotions we went through last night at the CNN/HRC Town Hall. It was well intentioned event that started on a jovial note for many of us. But soon it became a reminder of how much more work we have to do, and how privilege – be it racial privilege, cis privilege or any other kind – is something that the LGBTQ+ community needs to grapple with as much as anyone else. Also -Special thanks to my friends who hit me up last night to share with us Indya Moore’s pronouns. I intentionally left in the part where I recall those texts and – in the moment -correct us to address them properly. Why? Because I need you guys to SEE that respecting how someone identifies really gets to be that simple. And that a lot of these complaints about “political correctness” are bullshit. It takes 4 SECONDS to pause, be mindful of people’s boundaries and act accordingly. And I think those compassionate pauses are a very small price to pay to create the world we all claim we want to be a part of. To my trans brothers and sisters who were brave enough not to sugar coat their pain and frustration last night and demanded (on live television!) that they stop being murdered… we stand with you. Historically, progress has never been comfortable or polite and its not meant to be. The whole point of activism is to make it inconvenient for those around you to ignore you or rob you of your humanity any longer. And that’s exactly what ya’ll did. I hope this is a heads up to both the HRC and CNN, that moving forward we need to let people — ALL PEOPLE – speak for themselves. And not just in the last hour of a five hour broadcast. And for those who keep inquiring why I am so passionate about marginalized groups I’m not even a part of…seriously? Treating people with dignity is a universal virtue. So even if you’re not part of THIS particular community please don’t fool yourself into thinking their rights don’t affect you. Oppression is a slippery slope and is also lame AF any way you slice it.
