Equality California Lies, Issues Eblast About Black Lives Matteer

Friend —

We have been rocked by the recent violence against Black people across the country. Unfortunately, we know that these events are the result of centuries of deeply rooted, anti-Black racism. And while racist violence in our country began long before Donald Trump, the president continues to stoke racist sentiment and embolden white supremacists.

At our core, Equality California is an LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. We strive for a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for LGBTQ+ people AND the diverse communities to which we belong. What we have witnessed with the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Taylor and too many others is simple: a heinous attack on the lives and civil rights of Black Americans.

We must do better, Friend. Black lives matter.

Yesterday, Equality California joined over 110 LGBTQ+ organizations in affirming our commitment to anti-racism and ending white supremacy. Both MUST be front-and-center if we want to achieve full, lived equality for LGBTQ+ people. Read our full letter here >>

Many of us are wondering what we can do to support our Black friends, neighbors and loved ones as well as those hurting in Minneapolis, Louisville and across the country. Below are a few resources our team has compiled. This is by no means an exhaustive list. We believe that being an anti-racist and ally is a lifelong, active responsibility, and this email should be the first of many conversations to come.

Friend, the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is intrinsically tied to the fight for racial justice. Our community understands what it means to rise up and push back against a culture that tells us we are less than — that our lives don’t matter. From the Civil Rights Movement to the Stonewall riots to Act Up and the AIDS crisis, our progress has been hard-fought and hard-won — often with transgender people of color on the front lines. Now is not the time for any of us to sit on the sidelines. And it’s especially incumbent upon those of us who aren’t Black to be active allies in this fight to end institutional racism.

Our LGBTQ+ community must do MORE than stand in solidarity with Black Americans. We must find ways to act and engage with anti-racism. Silence = complicity. Silence = death.

Please take care of yourself and your loved ones.

In solidarity,

Rick Chavez Zbur
Executive Director
Equality California