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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

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A PSA 💖💜💙

(Last image via @fuckyeahbiguys)

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Happy Pride, never forget your roots. 

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Today (March 31) is International Transgender Day of Visibility, and I’m sending love to all trans folks today, and always.

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This transgender liberation rally reminds us that #TransLivesMatter

Dozens of transgender activists and their supporters gathered Tuesday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, for the second annual “Trans Liberation Tuesday” rally. The call-to-action centered on the voices of black transgender women and offered an opportunity for them to share their stories.

Organized by CeCe McDonald and Joshua Allen — who are trans and gender nonconforming, respectively — of the Black Excellence Collective, the event was created to highlight the epidemic of violence against trans women of color. So far in 2017, 15 trans women have been killed, the majority of them women of color.

Nine transgender and gender nonconforming people shared everything from spoken word to passionate speeches about their experiences. Read more. (7/28/17, 8:01 PM)

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“Moonlight” stars urge actors of color to step outside the box in best kiss speech. ❤️

Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome made a heartfelt speech at the MTV Movie Awards.

“On a real note, I think it is safe to say that it is OK for us young performers, especially us minority performers, to step out of the box. It’s OK for us to step out of the box and do whatever it takes to tell the story and whatever it takes to make the change,” Jerome said. “This award is for that. It’s for us artists who are out there, who need to do whatever it takes to get people to wake up.”

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One of the key battlegrounds in the fight for LGBT rights is the local political arena.

This week, five Mayors from across the United States join us for a Tumblr Issue Time to answer your questions on the ways that they’re promoting and protecting LGBT rights in their cities.

Read Our Panelists Answers Here!

Mayor Ed Lee • San Francisco, CA

The first Chinese-American mayor in the history of San Francisco, Edwin M. Lee is one of the founding members of Mayors Against Discrimination (MAD). In 2016, Mayor Lee appointed Theresa Sparks as the Mayor’s Senior Advisor on Transgender Initiatives, becoming the first city in the nation to have a position dedicated to advancing the rights of and creating policies for the transgender community.

Mayor Jess Herbst • New Hope, TX

Jess Herbst is the mayor of New Hope, Texas and the first openly transgender mayor in Texas history. A lifelong Texan, Herbst has called New Hope her home for nearly 20 years and served on town council for several years, beginning in 2003. She publicly announced that she is transgender in January 2017 following a long journey of self-realization and is a proud member of Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination.

Mayor Jorge Elorza • Providence, RI

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza was born in Providence and grew up in the city’s West End. In 2010, he was appointed to the Providence Housing Court, where he served until 2013. Mayor Elorza was elected as Providence’s 38th Mayor and took office in 2015 and is focused on turning Providence around by creating economic opportunity for all, public services that work for everyone and innovative, ethical City government.

Mayor John Dennis • West Lafayette, IN

Mayor Dennis was born in Japan and moved to West Lafayette with his family as a young child, where he was raised and educated.  Upon graduation from Indiana State University, where he received his bachelor and master degrees, Mayor Dennis worked for a period of time in California, where he met his wife Mary.  Mayor Dennis, upon his return to West Lafayette, joined the Lafayette Police Department, staying with LPD for 23 years, retiring as Deputy Chief of Police.

Mayor William Peduto • Pittsburgh, PA

Mayor Peduto took office as Pittsburgh’s 60th Mayor in January of 2014. One of his first orders of business as Mayor was to sign on to the Mayors for Freedom to Marry campaign and Why Marriage Matters Pennsylvania. Mayor Peduto has formed an LGBTQIA+ Task Force, created the position of LGBTQIA+ Liaison within the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, been an active member of Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination, and celebrated marriage equality following the SCOTUS decision on same sex marriage by uniting 19 same sex couples during a group wedding ceremony during Pittsburgh PRIDE.

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Reblog if your blog is safe for all members of the LGBTQ+ community

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In this MTV video, a few trans guys explain what male privilege looks like to them, especially the difference in how they experienced gender privilege pre- and post-transition. This is important. 

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be proud

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Sleep In Peace‼️😢🙏🏾🌈

June 12, 2016…. Rest in peace 👼🏼

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old Kimberly Morris, 37 years old Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old Amanda Alvear, 25 years old Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old Cory James Connell, 21 years old Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

WE SPEAK YOUR NAMES!!!!! MAY YOU FOREVER BE AT PEACE AND AT REST IN THE ARMS OF THE FATHER! #PRAYFORORLANDO

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A response to a comment from BamaState Buzz on the Orlando Shooting.

From BamaState Buzz:

Words from Miss ASU Suna Mariam ! "Greetings, I wanted to take some time to speak on the tragedy that occurred yesterday morning. On Sunday afternoon, I woke up to the news of the deadliest mass shooting in United States history. A 29 year old male walked into Pulse Nightclub and opened fire. New York Times reported that 49 people were killed and about 53 wounded in the attack. Reports state that this nightclub was tailored to the LGBT community. This tragedy is, for lack of a better word, horrific. No one in this world, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation, should have their life snatched away. Although many speculate on the motive of the shooting (some suggest Islamic terror), there has not been any official report from authorities. Unfortunately, there are individuals who participate in hateful acts that can NEVER be justified. As we mourn the lives lost and pray for those involved (victims or families of victims), let us look within and fill our hearts with love. Let us pray for patience, empathy and understanding. Let us avoid any hateful messages regardless of what we feel. This event is not an opportunity for us to voice OUR opinions but to console, sympathize and pray for the people who lost their lives or family members. I urge us to come together while perpetuating love and patience. I am keeping Orlando in my prayers and I know you will do the same. Sincerely, Suna Mariam"

Response from AMPLIFIED’S current president Caleb Gumbs:

I agree that it isn’t the deadliest shooting in US history. It is no secret that the US suffers from selective memory. However, it is the deadliest in recent history, and that is something that we must address. But first, to the straight/cisgender people in the room, now is NOT the time for you to voice your opinion on the media’s handling of the story. It is beyond my comprehension as to why a straight person would feel entitled enough to comment on whether or not this was the deadliest when 50 people were murdered and 53 people are injured and traumatized for the rest of their lives. I envy that privilege. I wish I could be detached enough from this disheartening tragedy enough to nitpick over such insignificant details. That’s not a part of my reality because I’m reeling over the loss of my people. For a couple of hours, I thought I had lost my forever friend or that she might be scared, injured and afraid. I was lucky, but it breaks my heart to know that over 100 people were not so lucky. As a result of this tragedy, I have to worry that I might be killed in any LGBTQ space that I find myself in. As a result of this tragedy, people lost partners, siblings, lifelong friends, role models, and so much more. We lost our sense of safety in OUR spaces. Pride month is supposed to be about people feeling safe and comfortable while living their lives as their authentic selves, but how do we do that when faced with crimes like this and a government that is always actively trying to find ways to systematically oppress us claims to have our back? I’ve had enough prayers. Now is the time for action. Why is it that in 2016, I still feel unsafe walking while transgender at our university that I have attended for over 3 years? Why is it that we still have ASU professors who teach about LGBTQ people like we are not human beings who just happen to have sexual orientations or gender identities outside the “norm”. Why do I hear people openly misgendering me and other trans students when I’m walking around in the union? This tragedy proves that we must work towards making sure that every space is safe for EVERY person, and we can begin doing that on our college campus. We can begin taking steps to ensure that LGBTQ students feel safe at all times when on our campus. We can work towards fostering a campus environment free of homophobia and transphobia so that freshmen who come from hostile environments never want to leave because they finally found the acceptance and validation they wanted and needed at ASU. Now is the time to act. Caleb Gumbs – Current President of Amplified ASU

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Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends affected by the tragedy in Orlando.

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Happy Pride Month, y’all. Always remember that our progress doesn’t come without a fight – and we’re nowhere near done fighting.