[Updated 2:45pm. See below.] Noting the legacy of protest and agitation in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ equity, 21 organizations serving LGBTQ Minnesotans announced on Thursday that they stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter
“We recognize that Black people in America, some of whom are LGBTQ, are systematically oppressed and we stand together affirming that Black Lives Matter,” the joint statement read. “As LGBTQ organizations, we acknowledge that while our work is bound up with movements for racial healing and justice, and many members of our organizations and communities have shown up in support of this movement, we historically haven’t done enough to align our missions with work for racial justice. With this letter, we want to publicly state our support in a unified way, and ask our friends and supporters to step forward with us.”
The statement notes the protests and disruptions that drew attention to LGBTQ inequity in the past including the Compton Cafeteria Riots, the Stonewall Riots, and the White Night Riots.
“As LGBTQ people from many races, many religions, and many colors, we know what it is to stand up for our inherent worth, our identities, our bodies, and to speak out against discrimination, harassment and violence,” the joint statement read. “Countless times LGBTQ people and organizations have organized, agitated and taken action to demand institutional equity and respect for our lives.”
The letter continued: “We are called to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and all struggles to fight racism, to ensure that the killing of Black people gets proper investigation, and to call attention to the pervasive culture of white supremacy in the United States. What happened to Jamar Clark — and has been happening across this country to Black and Brown people for much too long — is not justice. This must change.”
Organizations signing on to the statement are: OutFront Minnesota, PFund Foundation, RECLAIM, Faded Productions, Twin Cities People of Color Pride, Family Tree Clinic, Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition, Rare Productions, 20% Theatre Company Twin Cities, Shades of Yellow, Rainbow Health Initiative, Gender Justice, GLBT Host Home Program – Avenues for Homeless Youth, Twin Cities Pride, Transforming Families, Minnesota Two Spirit Society, Minnesota AIDS Project, Bisexual Organizing Project, KFAI Radio, Transgender Health Services at U of M Program in Human Sexuality, and Café Southside.
Updated: More organizations have added their names. They include:
MN LGBTQ Therapists Network
The Column
Gadfly Theatre Productions
Embodied Arts
National LGBTQ Taskforce
Pangea World Theatre
One Voice Mixed Chorus
Madame of the Arts
All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church
Wedge Tech
Out Now
Stonewall DFL
Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests
Augsburg College Queer Pride Alliance
Point Acupressure
Family Equality Council
Out Family Coalition, CA
Aliveness Project
MN Coalition Against Sexual Assault
PFLAG Twin Cities
Queer Bike Gang
Telling Queer History
Saint Paul Mennonite Fellowship
The Column will continue to update the list as more are added.
Here’s the full statement:
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