Page 29 - BEQ Magazine Iss 23 FINAL v3

bers of our community, especially abdicate the responsibility they have
those who live in the South, vulner- to legislate in ways that improve life
able to discrimination and without outcomes and opportunities for their
legal remedy to fight it. The Equality constituents. Current lawmakers
Act would modernize the Civil Rights should be held accountable for pass-
Act of 1964, protecting our com- ing legislation that protects our com-
munity from sex, munity, that
sexual orientation ensures our
and gender iden- babies can THE
tity and gender learn about our
expression based history without LAVENDER
discrimination in the threat of
housing, employ- gun violence, BOOK:
ment, education, and receiving
public spaces/ the support MAPPING
accommodations, and other key areas they need to thrive. We are in midterm
of life. Every member of the Congres- election season and each of us should AFFIRMING
sional Black Caucus has endorsed the do all we can to protect elections and
Equality Act, and it has passed the support candidates fighting for, not SPACES
House of Representatives twice, once against our community.
in May 2019 in a bipartisan vote of The Black LGBTQ+/SGL commu-
236 to 173 and then again in February nity is still in a fight of our lives–for
2021 by a vote of 224 to 206. A survey basic human rights and the ability The National Black Justice Coalition
from Data for Progress found that 66% to thrive both now and in the future. (NBJC) has partnered with Out in Tech to
of likely voters support legislation to Liberation requires collective strug- create the Lavender Book, a web app built
ban discrimination based on sexual gle–it looks like active accomplices for and powered by our community . Just
orientation and gender identity. In joining in efforts to ensure equity for as the Green Book helped Black people
spite of this, the Senate has failed to people of all races/ethnicities, sexual navigate the country during the Jim Crow
act. orientations, gender identities and era to find places welcoming to Black
In addition, state lawmakers have expressions. customers, the Lavender Book is designed
proposed a record 238 anti-LGBTQ+ There are no lay people in the to help Black LGBTQ+/SGL people find
bills, the majority targeting trans efforts to ensure we can all get safe and affirming spaces. Whether users
people. It should not be lost on free. Read books (with citations) are looking for spaces in a new area or in
anyone that each subsequent year to increase your competence and their community, the Lavander Book helps
over the last decade has set a new to demonstrate compassion for Black queer, trans, and nonbinary people
record for the number of trans victims people with diverse live experiences. move safely through the world and thrive .
of homicide, and Black trans women Consider running for office and sup- The app also highlights Black LGBTQ+/
are always the most impacted. These porting elected officials working on SGL-owned businesses and those that
bills prevent teachers from introduc- our behalf (not against us). Ensure are affirming and supportive–by design.
ing concepts of sexual orientation, the young people around you know We encourage you to ensure that your
gender identity, or race and ethnicity they are beautiful, brilliant, and safe. businesses provide culturally-competent
to their students and criminalize par- Demand that we teach the truth and support for employees and in ways that
ents and families ensuring that trans learn about our history so that we can reach customers .
youth receive the gender-affirming create futures not mired by the worst You can join the Lavender Book, add
care they deserve and need. parts of humanity. safe businesses you have visited, or add
For our community to achieve Get into the good, necessary trou- your own affirming business lavender-
the equity our ancestors sought and ble that civil rights activist Congress- book .org .
that today’s activists are fighting man John Lewis talked about. Let’s
for, we must not allow lawmakers to get free. All of us. 

SUMMER 2022 29
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