On Friday, June 19th, the Executive Committee of the WA State LGBTQ Commission, adopted the following statement and call to action.
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STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER AND AGAINST ALL FORMS OF RACISM
The Washington State LGBTQ Commission wants to reaffirm our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement and with the calls to end systemic racism and police brutality.
In the summer of 1969, LGBTQ people rose up against police brutality and harassment at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. This uprising was led by Black and Brown trans women such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and Black lesbian, Stormé DeLarverie as well as their allies. Our modern LGBTQ rights movement was born out of this uprising. Moreover, Black two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people are integral members of our community throughout the State and throughout the nation.
At the core of our work as an anti-racist Commission is an intersectional approach that recognizes the need to continue centering the voices of oppressed communities. We recognize the need to center the lived experience and realities of Black transgender Washingtonians, because these voices have historically been marginalized, including within LGBTQ spaces. Black trans women are most impacted by violence against trans people throughout the United States, and Black trans women experience the overwhelming majority of hate crimes committed against 2SLGBTQ people. This is unacceptable and we are committed to ending this through our work at the State level.
Our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement also includes a call to action for 2SLGBTQ Washingtonians. We recognize that there are concrete ways in which we can influence systemic change.
As a Commission, we commit to:
- Continue centering Black 2SLGBTQ voices in our work
- Continue taking an intersectional, anti-racist approach to our work
- Expand opportunities for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and other minoritized identities when contracting for services
- Continue advocating for the presence and integration of Black 2SLGBTQ people in every aspect of State government
- Influence comprehensive systemic plans of action that address inequalities and lack of opportunities for Black Washingtonians, especially those who identify as 2SLGBTQ, through legislation or executive action
- Continue supporting grassroots and community-based organizations that provide wrap-around support in centering the lives and experiences of Black 2SLGBTQ people, especially transgender people.
We call on the 2SLGBTQ community in Washington to:
- Affirm and celebrate the Black 2SLGBTQ community
- Support Black and minority owned businesses
- Engage in conversations and advocate on behalf of Black 2SLGBTQ Washingtonians at every local jurisdiction to support systemic changes to law enforcement agencies that result in reallocation of resources according to the real needs of the local communities
- Support in every way possible Black-led 2SLGBTQ local and state-wide organizations
- Support and advocate for the integration of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and other minoritzed LGBTQ identities in all aspects of life in Washington state
We recognize that these are just the first steps in addressing systemic racism. Therefore, we commit to continue learning and growing.