National Black Justice Coalition: “Black LGBTQ Exist, and Have Always Existed. White Supremacy Is Not an Excuse for Homophobia or Transphobia”
Statement from David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, a leading civil rights organization, on Dave Chappelle’s transphobic and homophobic Netflix special, The Closer:
“It is deeply disappointing that Netflix allowed Dave Chappelle’s lazy and hostile transphobia and homophobia to air on its platform.
“With 2021 on track to be the deadliest year on record for transgender people in the United States — the majority of whom are Black transgender people — Netflix should know better. Perpetuating transphobia perpetuates violence.
“Netflix should immediately pull The Closer from its platform and directly apologize to the transgender community.”
“Make no mistake: Black LGBTQ+ and same gender people exist – and have always existed. The fight against oppression is not a zero sum game, and the pervasiveness of white supremacy in the United States is not an excuse for homophobia or transphobia.”
Learn more about reducing gender-based violence here and here.
To learn more about changing local laws and increasing protections for trans and non-binary community members, look here.
The NBJC Stolen Lives list of trans and non-binary individuals lost to violence and hate can be found here.