Welcome back.

Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd are just a few of those innocent Americans who have been brutally murdered, many of whom were murdered by police officers, just for existing while being black. With protests against racism and for black rights occurring in multiple countries worldwide and the onset of pride month this June, I have seen arguments between people online over whether LGBTQ+ rights or anti-racism are ‘more important.’ 

To see these arguments breaks my heart. Oppression isn’t a competition, nor does ‘black lives matter’ or ‘LGBTQ+ people deserve rights’ mean someone else’s life doesn’t matter, or that others don’t deserve rights. It simply means black people and LGBTQ+ people have been treated badly, and are still being treated badly, and need our support and allyship.

To see queer people discredit the Black Lives Matter movement or stay quiet when racist remarks are made is very vile and senseless -- because black transgender women such as Marsha P. Johnson played a huge role in giving rights to LGBTQ+ people throughout her life. Furthermore, cultures such as the Hindu culture, cultures indigenous to North America, and many more have had ideas supporting identities outside of the gender binary and the ideal of being cisgender for centuries -- and many of these ideas have helped queer people all around the world feel more secure in their gender identity.

To see those who support the Black Lives Matter movement be homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise anti-LGBTQ+ is also very vile and senseless. You cannot believe that black people’s lives are important while simultaneously believing that black LGBTQ+ people’s lives are not as important.

If there is one thing that I want you all, as dolls and as people to take from this article, it is that whether you are LGBTQ+, black/a person of color, both, or neither, be an ally. Listen to those who need their voices heard. Stand with those who society oppresses and discriminates against, because we are not free until all of us are free.

Stay safe & happy pride month,

~Jaya x