The past week has been emotional for us at The Rustin Times. It feels like the fight for equality is taking a huge setback not just in Africa but in places across the world. From Donald Trump’s transgender ban to the arrest at Owode in Lagos, it seems like as soon as we celebrate a victory, we encounter another setback.
Janet Mock appeared on The Breakfast Club last week to promote her recent book and we reported it here. We also added that she found a way to school DJ Envy and Charlamagne tha God on transgender issues as their ignorance was blatant. Many of us thought that we had a better understanding of what it means to be transgender, but it seems like we were wrong.
Cue in Lil Duval.
Lil Duval is an American comedian who was on The Breakfast Club to promote his recent project. However, he didn’t waste any time spewing his transphobia.
why are [black] men so obsessed with being ignorant? idegaf about political correctness, but it’s this fixation on this narrative. pic.twitter.com/U94iUB2o4k
— T$BIGGIESMALLS (@fatfemme) July 29, 2017
i truly wonder if these fools really believe what they say b/c this performance of ignorance here troubles me. black men do better! pic.twitter.com/eLVtNyf2iy
— T$BIGGIESMALLS (@fatfemme) July 29, 2017
There is a lot wrong with his interview. From joking about killing a transgender woman to calling Janet Mock a man, Lil Duval shows everyone that he has no regard for individuals in a community who are constantly in a fight for their lives. However, you would expect people who had just taken a class in Trans 101 to speak up and correct his silliness. The reverse is the case. They just spent the entire time laughing about the situation and casually saying “hate crime” at the end to disguise their foolery.
Janet Mock had the perfect response for him.
Your ignorant ass never could. ✨
🎶Shinin shinin shinin shinin yeahhh 🎶 https://t.co/TWp26VXVPD #girlslikeus pic.twitter.com/v75TUqmb3P— Janet Mock (@janetmock) July 30, 2017
Emmy nominee Laverne Cox also had words for the comedian.
After taking several deep breaths I just got teary thinking about all my sisters experiencing violence, beaten, raped, murdered and some https://t.co/QyNXp11ysL
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
A week later this happens. #translivesmatter
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
Some folks think it’s ok to joke about wanting to kill us. We have free speech but that speech has consequences and trans folks are
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
Experiencing the negative consequences with our lives. It hurts my spirit cause this isn’t funny. Our lives matter. Trans murder isn’t a
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
Joke. #Translivesmatter
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
Transgender people came out to protest Charlamagne tha God at Politicon, making a statement that “Trans people are not a joke.”
#Transgender community @Politicon telling @cthagod “We Are Not A Joke” over comments made @breakfastclubam #Politicon2017 #ResistHate @eqca pic.twitter.com/PgcDNchiQp
— Anthony (@hollywoodblvd1) July 30, 2017
It was just last month that Ava Le’Ray Barrin, a transgender woman, was murdered. She was 17. According to the Human Rights Commission, “In 2016, advocates tracked at least 22 deaths of transgender people in the United States due to fatal violence, the most ever recorded. These victims were killed by acquaintances, partners, and strangers, some of whom have been arrested and charged, while others have yet to be identified.”
We need to do better and be better. When we say Black Lives Matter, we are not just saying the lives of Black Straight Cis people. Black LGBT Lives also matter, and we need people in public positions of power to stand up for the voiceless. We need them to call out transphobia and help create a space where transgender people can feel space.
Lil Duval doesn’t seem bothered by the negative attention. He tweeted this.
I heard the transgender niggaz mad at me 🤷♂️ https://t.co/R7usm1Vcky
— lil duval (@lilduval) July 30, 2017
I guess it is time to boycott him.
The hosts of The Breakfast Club have to apologize and promise that they will not just support equality on all fronts but also do the work to use their platform to be an inclusive space for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
