Page 28 - BEQ Magazine Iss 23 FINAL v3

WIDENING THE LENS

Dr . David Johns
is Executive THE EQUALITY ACT
Director of
the National
Black Justice
& ACTIVE ACCOMPLICES
Coalition .

How We All Get Free

By DAVID JOHNS, PH.D.

Despite often being forgotten about, erased, and restricts the ability for any members of our beauti-
ignored, Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, fully diverse community to be free. The Center for
queer+, and same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) American Progress found that nearly 1 in 3 Black
people have always been here, making history, fight- transgender, queer, and nonbinary/non-conforming
ing for liberation, and thriving. We show up when it people report avoiding public spaces such as stores
is not safe and often live on the front lines of efforts or restaurants to avoid experiencing discrimination,
to ensure racial equity and to address LGBTQ+ and 1 in 5 avoid travel.
stigma, bias, and discrimination. While noteworthy Too many states throughout the country lack
progress has been made, there are too few legal pro- clear, explicit, and consistent anti-discrimination
tections for Black people who are also queer–which protections. These glaring gaps leave many mem-

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