We Have A Long Way to Go

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King.

I lead alot of trainings and they are often mixed rooms of people with varying backgrounds. Questions I get asked are, how can I be a better ally? Today being a day where many of us are more open than usual to hear Dr. King's words, I want to say something.

As a black, female-presenting, pansexual, human, as someone who endures microaggressions everyday. As a person who is concerned with the safety of myself and others who are "other," there is no need for allies. We need accomplices. We need people who will post on their social media not just text me an article or video clip of injustice. We need people who will tell their children that chanting, "build a wall" has connotations which go beyond bricks. We need people who will say, "school should be a safe place for students of all economic statues, belief systems, and ability level-not defend teachers who lead with bigotry. We need you to be as angry as we are when we our friends are misgendered. We need you to feel our rage when we are taunted and passed over for work for not being white or male enough. We need you to hear us, not interrupt us, shout over us, or gaslight us when we say, "there is a problem here." We need you to care that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck all year long not just when the government is shutdown. We need people to stand next to us and go to bat for us because we are exhausted, triggered and terrified, after having to constantly stand alone. We need real compassion not just today.

We need you to understand that 80% of white Americans disagreed with Dr. King when he marched. Because standing in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ and people of color is not popular, nor the status quo, today either. Help us spread the word of missing indigenous women. Let those in your circle know that trans women of color are the most victimized group in the world. Understand that feminism is not exclusively for angry women. Men join us, cishet folks join us. You don't need a formal invitation to care about us and share our stories with those around you.

Don't be my secret ally, instead receive a bit of the backlash for posting about these issues on your own timeline rather than letting us, "others" take it all.

When I posted about trans rights, I got a glimpse of the abuse they receive for simply existing. I thought what I received online for being black, queer and perceived female was bad, but it didn't come close to the hate speech that filled my mentions when I stood up for Tiffany Moore. And I will do it again because “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'“ -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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