Today is the sixth anniversary of Blake Brockington’s death by suicide. This forever-young (18 years old) Black trans man’s story is a testament to why we must support, encourage, and #ProtectTransYouth as they come into their identity.
Blake became an activist after being elected North Carolina’s first openly trans high school homecoming king a year before his death in 2015.
The publicity at that time took a huge toll on him, but he used his new platform to advocate for the LGBTQ community. He endured hate, particularly online, that made it, in his words, the “hardest part of his journey.”
The newfound visibility also didn’t end Blake’s ongoing depression and episodes of self-harm and suicidal ideation. And it didn’t help that he was also estranged from his family, who refused to respect his identity even after death.
As we face increased legislative attacks on trans youth across the United States and constant misinformation about the trans experience in the media, I can’t help but have a heavy heart over how so much hasn’t changed and, in fact, has gotten worse since Blake’s death.
Every day lawmakers + bigoted folks with platforms try to silence and erase trans youth, urging families to dim the light of the trans youth in their lives.
There’s a noticeable silence on what continues to happen despite us having a Democrat President and supposed representation at the highest levels of public office.
We need all who claim to support us to truly learn about these attacks, denounce and fight against them. Start by reading up. If you find your state on the list, contact your lawmakers and tell them that trans youth and folks don’t need their policing. aclu.org/legislation-af…
Tomorrow @chasestrangio and I will share more action items, so stay tuned for more.

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More from @RaquelWillis_

6 Jul 20
It’s easy for cis folk to call out J.K. Rowling’s transphobia + not acknowledge their own. How do you make trans folks lives less violent outside of that? How do you shift the institutions you’re a part of so they’re less transphobic? How do you support trans leaders?
I liken it to the black squares debacle a month ago, when companies weren’t acknowledging how they are complicit in and benefit from white supremacy. We all wanted to know what they were going to do beyond that, and I ask the same here.
I'm glad folks are speaking up. Many of us have waited for a long time for you all to do it. But we need you speaking up consistently and actively destroying transphobia in whatever conversation or room you enter.
Read 9 tweets
12 Jun 20
Two Black trans women have been reported dead this week. Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells of Philadelphia, PA and Riah Milton of Liberty Township, Ohio. #RestInPower #BlackLivesMatter #BlackTransLivesMatter ImageImage
#DominiqueFells was found in a river with trauma to her head and face and severed legs.

#RiahMilton has already been misgendered and deadnamed on initial reports.
Cis folks of the Movement 4 Black Lives, the larger queer movement, and feminist movement have long failed Black trans people. It's time for a reckoning on your collective silence and inaction.
Read 9 tweets
1 Jun 20
If you are not ready to move aside and elevate Black and brown trans and queer leadership, don't invoke the names of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera this #PrideMonth.
Last #PrideMonth, I wrote about the LGBTQ+ community has never adequately dealt with how white supremacy, imperialism, capitalism, and other systems of oppression have corroded the aims of those original frontliners. out.com/pride/2019/5/3…
1) Community gatekeepers (powerful, mostly white, cis, able-bodied wealthy nonprofit directors, CEOs, political insiders) need to elevate grassroots Black and Brown leadership.
Read 13 tweets
11 Oct 17
Just to put things in reference... it was 5 years ago today that I came out publicly as trans and everything changed. #NationalComingOutDay
Love to folks who can live openly as who they are, all those yearning too and all those who may never get a chance to. #NationalComingOutDay
I spoke at Hofstra University last night & a young trans girl thanked me for being the only other trans woman on campus for those few hours.
Read 6 tweets

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