A Black trans woman who wanted to honor her slain sisters at New York City’s The Stonewall Inn in the early hours of the 50th anniversary (June 28) of the Stonewall Uprising was reportedly threatened by White gay men at the bar, Reuters reported Sunday (June 30).
The story first came to light via a video posted on Facebook several hours after the incident. In the video, Leada Stray says that the woman asked for the microphone during a drag show and addressed the predominantly White audience.
Per Stray, the woman—who wishes to remain anonymous—said, “Where’s your rage? One in three Black trans women will contract HIV/AIDS. Where’s your rage? That Black trans women are the most marginalized of our community.”
“And the bar’s saying, ‘Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!’ On the Anniversary of Stonewall, the bar is trying to shut up a Black trans woman,” Stray continues. “The bar tried to play music over top of her. They tried to take the microphone away from her physically. They got security involved. There was talk of calling the cops. Calling the cops! On a Black trans woman, in the Stonewall Inn! On the Anniversary of Pride! White people, we are not doing enough if this is what’s going on!”
Another person who was present tweeted that the woman “read the names of the Black trans women who died. Facts about them. Their obituaries. She called on everyone in the bar to help.” The tweet sparked support, and pushback, from Twitter users about the way transgender people are treated within the greater LGBTQ+ community.
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Why not? This is no revelation, it happens at "LGBT" centers everyday.
rnt— Iyatunde Folayan (@IyatundeF) June 29, 2019
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Listening is the most important imo and then support your fellow lgbtqia+ homies. So when they aren't being heard, use your voice. When they aren't being seen, make everyone see, etc etc.
rnt— aicha (@amorgan801) June 29, 2019
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Thread. I feel like this is the culmination of why I stressed tangible support this year because let's be honest, if you're not supporting the community against shit like this why are you here https://t.co/yB4p58XYxy
rnt— Pineapple Son of a B!tch (@Xenoxands) June 29, 2019
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Black femmes do all the major groundwork. All of it. Fuck you if you disagree??♂️ https://t.co/rJmGDCv1Ga
rnt— Oshiri Kami???Blerdcon (@Afrocentripetal) June 29, 2019
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Excuse you?? The whole LGBT movement was built on the backs of POC trans and LGB folks, from their blood and hard work, if you want a separate movement, YOU go and make one, this ones ours. #MarshaPJohnson #SylviaRivera #PrideMonth2019
rnt— Prince Teagan ???♂️ (@Teagan_Mercury) June 29, 2019