Violence Against the LGBTQ Community is Real and Needs Our Attention
I remember when an activist lied about child exploitation in the making of iPhones, when an advocate made up a story about being a child soldier and when a young woman pretended to be a victim sex-trafficking. Their lying didn’t make labor exploitation nor the trafficking of children for warfare or sexual violence go away but it did give people permission to dismiss the true stories of violence and abuse against vulnerable people. And so those names came up when I walked off stage in phrases like, “I want to give but did you hear about…?” Or over lunch, “I know you’re passionate about this but what about…?” All of this, I believe to be shrewd attempts to continue living life as though the pain and suffering of a marginalized population remains that way — unseen, unheard, and still unbelieved because one person gave the supposed permission for them to embrace the privilege of moving on.
So now, as I hear conflicting stories about Jussie Smolett, I implore you especially my conservative evangelical friends and fellow believers not to disregard the VERY REAL violence against the LGBTQIA+ community. People who identify as Queer are the most likely to experience a hate crime among any minority groups. Before violence though trauma is a reality for many, especially youth. 40% have attempted suicide and a disproportionate rate of experience homelessness because of familial rejection and abandonment. And though, our society may fear perpetration of sexual violence by this community, they are much more likely to be victims of abuse and violence.
Whatever the truth about what actually happened to Jussie Smolette, we know what happened to at least 110 trans people of color since 2013. They were murdered.
Whether or not it was a hate crime that caused Jussie Smolett to go to the hospital or not, we know what happened at the Pulse Nightclub when hatred killed 49 and wounded 53.
Regardless of the actual events followers of Jesus are called to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly after God — not to accept violence against marginalized people and dismiss the pain of those made in the image of God. So, though liberals and conservatives may have their narratives and PR campaigns spinning the stories to come out ahead in polls and trolls are making memes and gifs to fan the flames of dissent, I hope that you will pray and act on behalf of our LGBTQIA+ family because they, like so many vulnerable people need neighbors who see and love them now more than ever.