Co-authored by Rev. MacArthur Flournoy
Within moments of assuming the reigns as our 45th president, the Trump Administration has eradicated mention of LGBTQ people and our rights from the White House website. The report on Advancing LGBTQ Workplace Rights has also been deleted from the Department of Labor’s Website.
“President Trump pledged to serve all Americans, . . ,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “If President Trump truly believes in uniting the country, now is the time to make clear whether he will be an ally to the LGBTQ community in our struggle for full equality. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to protect our community and our progress.”
Last week Rev. MacArthur Flournoy was honored to speak at the MLK Memorial with national civil rights leaders such as the Rev. Al Sharpton, Cornell Brook of the NAACP, Janet Murgia of The National Council of La Raza, clergy, organized labor and several elected officials.
“Limiting the rights of LGBTQ folks is an affront on the rights of people of color, families, women, immigrant communities and more.”
The central theme of the speeches was that we all stand in solidarity across social justice movements.
Limiting the rights of LGBTQ folks is an affront on the rights of people of color, families, women, immigrant communities and more.
This brings to mind the inherent wisdom of Martin Niemöller’s poem First They Came and the last line “[t]hen they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.”
If we don’t arise now together, Niemoller’s last line will be our nightmarish reality.
Akilah Monifa and Rev. MacArthur Flournoy are based out of Oakland, California and co-founders/co-publishers of Arise 2.0 an online publication focusing on news and issues impacting the LGBTQ communities.