1/14
The words we use with one another matter. Despite what you likely learned about “sticks and stones”, unkind words *can* be dangerous. Especially to members of the transgender and nonbinary community. #velshi
2/14
I’m discussing this because of the comedian Dave Chappelle, whose incendiary comedy is at the center of another controversy. In his latest Netflix special, Chappelle says things that are hurtful toward the trans community. #velshi
3/14
It’s one thing to accidentally use an incorrect pronoun – I’ve certainly done that. The use of gender-neutral pronouns is a relatively new thing and takes a little getting used to. And you’d probably forgive me for not knowing that certain language is outdated. #velshi
4/14
When you – or I - actively choose to reject, belittle and demean a person’s identity, their livelihood and their life may be endangered. And while there is a lot of opinion on my show, THIS isn’t opinion; it’s fact. #velshi
5/14
Last year was the deadliest year on record for transgender and gender nonconforming people. According to the Human Rights Campaign, trans people were killed in 2020. 22 of those 37 were Black trans women. #velshi
6/14
In 2019, the FBI recorded almost 200 hate crime incidents against transgender or non-conforming people. The actual number is believed to be much higher because hate crimes are drastically under-reported. #velshi
7/14
Anti-trans stigma, and the belief that trans women aren’t quote “real” women, are the root cause of this hate and violence. As long as that stigma exists, trans people cannot enjoy the freedoms and liberties that most of us take for granted. #velshi
8/14
As long as that stigma exists, trans people will be denied opportunities, denied health care, discriminated against in the workplace, they could face poverty and homelessness. And in extreme - yet very real cases - murder. #velshi
9/14
Imagine having to defend yourself every single day. Having to convince just about every person you meet, that you are the gender you say you are. For many trans people in this world, there’s just no safe space anywhere, except maybe at home. #velshi
10/14
But even renting a home or getting a mortgage is harder for a trans person than for others - according to Trans rights advocates. #velshi
11/14
If you are offended or somehow threatened by a trans person, it’s worth recognizing that your mindset and your words are much more dangerous to them, than their existence is to you. #velshi
12/14
It will take work on all of our parts to ensure that trans people are treated with equality, justice, compassion, and respect. When we recognize the weight our words carry, we can make progress on this deadly issue. #velshi
13/14
Transphobic language is not funny. A person’s identity is *not* the butt of a joke. To those of us privileged with a platform and a voice, it’s not too much to ask that we do better with transgender and non-conforming people. It’s basic human decency to do so. #velshi
14/14
Remember: sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can do real damage. #velshi

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More from @AliVelshi

3 Oct
1/16
On August 15th, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban and thousands of Afghans fled the country. Republicans spent the following weeks ripping the Biden Administration for abandoning our Afghan allies: interpreters, soldiers & innocent civilians. #velshi
2/16
In that time, tens of thousands of Afghans actually did make it to the United States as refugees. And this week, all of these Republicans - every last one of them in the Senate - voted to curtail benefits for Afghan refugees. #velshi
3/16
The amendment cutting those benefits - which would have been added to the spending bill being negotiated on Capitol hill - was ever-so narrowly defeated by Democrats. But it would have cut off housing, medical, food and other aid for resettled Afghans by 2023. #velshi
Read 16 tweets
2 Oct
1/15
“We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.”

It’s a common expression among LatinX Americans, and it was what I heard earlier this week when I was in San Antonio for my latest Velshi Across America conversation. #velshi
2/15
The conversation was centered around Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from the middle of September through the middle of October. And they are not wrong. #velshi
3/15
The people we know as Hispanic or, more commonly now, Latino, Latina or LatinX, have been in America longer than there has been an America. Much longer. #velshi
Read 15 tweets
26 Sep
1/15
It would be so easy for me to joke about the “results” of the Arizona election recount. Republicans there yelled: “There’s no way Joe Biden won this election! There must be fraud! Let’s bring in the Cyber Ninjas!” #velshi
2/15
10 months later, the “so called” audit determined that Biden actually won Arizona’s most populous county by an even greater margin than was originally reported. #velshi
3/15
10 months, with a hand-picked firm with zero election audit experience conducting a grossly partisan fake audit, and even then they couldn’t get the results they wanted. This is too easy. The jokes write themselves. #velshi
Read 15 tweets
25 Sep
1/18
Americans have an obsession with crime. It often leads your local news, we are glued to TV shows about it, and we get fully invested-for good reason - in the gripping stories of kidnapped women & murderous spouses - mostly men - that flash across our screens. #velshi
2/18
But our concern about violence against women is imperfect, or at least incomplete because, when looked at in its totality, crimes and injustices against women go unsolved, uncovered and unpunished at alarming rates around the world. #velshi
3/18
The death of Gabby Petito has captivated the nation. Her boyfriend - whom police say remains a person of interest in the investigation - is still missing. What happened to Gabby Petito is horrible. And her case deserves the attention it’s getting. #velshi
Read 18 tweets
5 Sep
1/15
After 20 years, the footprints of American boots on the ground in Afghanistan have faded away. While a majority of American’s think that’s a *good* thing for America and its soldiers, the people of Afghanistan are now living lives of palpable uncertainty. #velshi
2/15
38 million Afghans are waiting, fearful, to find out how their latest rulers will govern. Spoiler alert: it will not end well for anyone who does not believe exactly what the Taliban believes in. #velshi
3/15
That’s not America’s fault, but we have played a central role for the last twenty years by starting something we could not finish. The question now for America is what do we do about it? #velshi
Read 15 tweets
4 Sep
1/15
Hurricane Ida will go down in history as one of the most impactful hurricanes to ever hit America. And it is a prime example of a natural event made more dangerous by the #climatecrisis. #velshi
2/15
Ida came ashore in Louisiana on Sunday as a fierce category 4 hurricane. With sustained winds of 150-miles-per hour, it tore off roofs, snapped power lines and crushed Louisiana’s power grid. #velshi
3/15
Nearly a week later, hundred of thousands of people are still without power. And then - *wham* - with just a little more juice left in her, Ida lashed the Northeast. #velshi
Read 15 tweets

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