This week I attended a virtual Town Hall hosted by Equality Florida with Black LGBTQ leaders in response to a rash of attacks that have claimed Black lives including the brutal killing of George Floyd by white police officers in Minneapolis. The Black LGBTQ leaders included Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President, Michele Rayner, Civil Rights Attorney who represented the McGlockton family following the murder of Markeis, Imani Rupert-Gordon, National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director, Andrea Jenkins, Minneapolis City Council Vice President & moderated by Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Executive Director. The Town Hall came after more than 500 LGBTQ organizations from across the country signed onto a letter condemning racial violence & committing to the fight against it. This important dialogue also comes on the heels of the murders of seven Black transgender women in Florida in less than two years, the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery by white vigilantes in Georgia & the weaponizing of race by a white woman against Christian Cooper a Black gay man bird watching in New York’s Central Park & the disturbing questions raised in the recent police shooting death of Tony McDade a Black transgender man in Tallahassee. All the leaders during the Town Hall also addressed the fact that since 2013 over 170 transgender women & men have been murdered in this country with over 70% being of color. This is another stark reminder of the need for all civil right leaders who are speaking out against systemic racism & hate violence claiming Black & Brown lives must be LGBTQ inclusive.
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For More Info: eqfl.org
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