Over Martin Luther King Jr. day, the LGBT+ community got to "celebrate" by hearing the news that transgender military members would not be protected from President Trump’s trans military ban.
The timing of this violation rather struck us on a day that celebrates diversity and civil rights.
So let’s talk about that...
The timing of this violation rather struck us on a day that celebrates diversity and civil rights.
So let’s talk about that...
Engage in the conversation with us on this post if you like!
Peaceful Protest and Inter-sectional Activism
Martin Luther King Jr. was known for his staunch belief in peaceful protest; non-violent actions and demonstrations in order to incite change and awareness. And his arguments were often inter-sectional. His message burned brightly and inspired LGBTQ+ activists from that point forward.
While not every activist in the 1960’s was friendly to black people, many black and white voices united for LGBTQ rights.
Before Stonewall was the BCSL protest (Black Cat Demonstration in Silver Lake).
At the time of Stonewall, kissing a same-sex person in public warranted a sexual offense in California. Activists gathered to respond to an unjust police raid on New Year’s Day where many people were arrested for kissing their partners.
While not every activist in the 1960’s was friendly to black people, many black and white voices united for LGBTQ rights.
Before Stonewall was the BCSL protest (Black Cat Demonstration in Silver Lake).
At the time of Stonewall, kissing a same-sex person in public warranted a sexual offense in California. Activists gathered to respond to an unjust police raid on New Year’s Day where many people were arrested for kissing their partners.
Want to learn more about queer history and vocabulary? Visit...
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King's influence in future LGBTQ movements
The NTTCN staff at work!
While the Stonewall riots are only loosely connected to King in concept, it warrants discussion
when LGBTQ and black rights are on the table. Black queer people have been contributing to King’s dream of equality since day one.
Although Stonewall was not a peaceful protest, it helped build a foundation for all people to be safe regardless of color, gender or sexuality. It started with a black trans woman's shoe.
In 1969, Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, among many others, were victims to a string of
wrongful raids in gay bars and other safe spaces.
Johnson, a black trans*woman, is most often credited with being the first to resist the police violence that night, which included exposing people’s genitals and groping lesbians.
After the riot Johnson and Rivera founded STAR, which helped young, homeless transgender people—with a focus on black youth—get off the street.
TheTrans Therapists of Color Network carries on STARs work and specializes in inter-sectional therapy to ensure black and other under-served communities get the mental healthcare they deserve. You can find them on our resource database.
when LGBTQ and black rights are on the table. Black queer people have been contributing to King’s dream of equality since day one.
Although Stonewall was not a peaceful protest, it helped build a foundation for all people to be safe regardless of color, gender or sexuality. It started with a black trans woman's shoe.
In 1969, Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, among many others, were victims to a string of
wrongful raids in gay bars and other safe spaces.
Johnson, a black trans*woman, is most often credited with being the first to resist the police violence that night, which included exposing people’s genitals and groping lesbians.
After the riot Johnson and Rivera founded STAR, which helped young, homeless transgender people—with a focus on black youth—get off the street.
TheTrans Therapists of Color Network carries on STARs work and specializes in inter-sectional therapy to ensure black and other under-served communities get the mental healthcare they deserve. You can find them on our resource database.
King's Spirituality and Religious LGBTQ people
King believed in community and non-violence to the point of being arrested and jailed several times at demonstrations where he wrote the famous Birmingham Letter.
His spirituality influenced his identity greatly as an activist. The second Selma march was punctuated by King stopping when met with state troopers to kneel and pray. He is quoted as saying “the holy spirit revives my soul again”.
Many LGBTQ people struggle with reconciling their faith and sexuality or don’t know where to start if they come to realize they are a spiritual person.
The Unitarian Universalist Organization, a national spiritual community who championed MLK's work in civil rights as part of their doctrine, also strongly LGBTQ activism and provide a safe place for any person struggling with housing, religious conflict, or finding community.
His spirituality influenced his identity greatly as an activist. The second Selma march was punctuated by King stopping when met with state troopers to kneel and pray. He is quoted as saying “the holy spirit revives my soul again”.
Many LGBTQ people struggle with reconciling their faith and sexuality or don’t know where to start if they come to realize they are a spiritual person.
The Unitarian Universalist Organization, a national spiritual community who championed MLK's work in civil rights as part of their doctrine, also strongly LGBTQ activism and provide a safe place for any person struggling with housing, religious conflict, or finding community.
I'd like to end this by saying we've mentioned a lot of resources and I'd be remiss as the resource database coordinator if I didn't say you can find ALL of these resources on our database here.
About the Author: Ricki Palmisano
Ricki is the Database coordinator for RESCQU.NET. She vets and establishes partnerships with organizations to ensure closet-friendly resources are in the database.
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