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KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:42 PM Jun 2016

Dear White, Hetero, Cis People: Please Don't Co-Opt This Tragedy

http://www.bustle.com/articles/166412-dear-white-hetero-cis-people-please-dont-co-opt-this-tragedy

If you are a cisgender, heterosexual, white person, please do not write about the largest mass shooting in American history, which took place this Sunday at a gay club called Pulse in Orlando during the venue's Latino night. Of course, share condolences, express how horribly you feel for the victims and their families, tell your queer Latinx friends that you love them, lend support. But please do not take it upon yourself to publicly point out the hypocrisy of Paul Ryan tweeting "thoughts and prayers" when the legislative agenda of his party actively marginalizes queer people all the time.

Please do not wax poetic about the outrage of Trump supporters doing the same, while their presidential hopeful advocates building a wall intended to keep out the very folks Pulse was aiming to create a safe space for. Do not condemn confused conservatives who are blaming this on radical Islam. If you are a straight ally, please do not write about the infuriating injustice of Orlando health centers being in desperate need of blood when the queer community is not permitted to donate it....

And while we're at it, do not write an article or a Facebook post patting yourself on the back for not saying any of these things, because even that takes valuable space away from the marginalized people who this story is really about. This is the time for their voices to be heard, and for the rest of us to listen. This is the time for the authenticity of their lived experience and their communities' history of collective trauma to radiate. This is a time to share their stories....

If healing is what we want, then we must give the marginalized voices targeted by this tragedy the space to articulate their suffering. This is what will emancipate them of their pain. This is what will empower others in communities who are suffering. If you are an ally, of course, your suffering matters too, and you are welcome to express your emotions. But, today, let searing indictments and heartbreaking personal accounts come from queer people, and especially queer communities of color. It will make all the difference, I promise you. It will resonate in such a way that cannot be achieved by a person who hasn't lived an authoritatively queer, marginalized experience. These are the voices that will generate empathy, create cultural shifts, and reset the dial on progress. Please give them a chance to do so.
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leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
1. VERY presumptuous piece
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:43 PM
Jun 2016

Plenty of us straight whites have family and friends that are gay. Why shouldn't we be able to write about it because of who WE love?

 

villager

(26,001 posts)
2. Yeah, pretty ridiculous. "Please don't have any public feelings that ally you with us, or condemn
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:46 PM
Jun 2016

...what happened."

I mean, certainly don't want to risk any public empathy or coalition-building here in America, do we?

tallahasseedem

(6,716 posts)
3. This article is obnoxious...
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:48 PM
Jun 2016

and doesn't take into account that white, hetero, cis people were affected by this tragedy as well. The OWNER of the club is white, hetero, and cis.

 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
6. I don't think she intends for us to go that far.
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:50 PM
Jun 2016
Of course, share condolences, express how horribly you feel for the victims and their families, tell your queer Latinx friends that you love them, lend support.

boston bean

(36,186 posts)
11. I'm pretty sure the mother of 11 who was there with her gay son, was straight... not 100% sure..
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:54 PM
Jun 2016

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
10. Very bitter tone to this article, which is unfortunate.
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:52 PM
Jun 2016

A lot of white, hetero CIS-gendered people have gays, lesbians, and transgendered people in their lives that they care deeply about. They are our friends and family members!

Coventina

(26,874 posts)
12. WTF? I frequently go to gay clubs (not as much as when I was younger)
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:54 PM
Jun 2016

I could have easily been a victim of such an attack.

I'm not allowed to comment about it?

uppityperson

(115,674 posts)
13. I won't co-opt it but sure as shit speak out against homophobia. Listening hard and calling out bigo
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:55 PM
Jun 2016

bigotry.

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