The Same Angry Mob That Lynched The Dixie Chicks (w/ Misogynistic Comments & Boycott) For Exercising Their Freedom of Speech Are Those Rallying For Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson To Spit Racist & Homophobic Rants Without Consequences

There's nothing like a strong cup of other's Hypocrisy to get me all riled up to write a new blog post. Last night I was studying the statistics about the primary demographic of people who are losing their marbles over Duck Dynasty’s patriarch Phil Robertson getting suspended by A&E. It turns out they are the exact same mob who went off the deep end when the Dixie Chicks voiced their opposition against the war!

So let me get this straight: Women such as the Dixie Chicks, in particular lead singer Natalie Maines, cannot speak openly about the killing of innocent civilians and unjust wars overseas, but a man such as Phil Robertson with dated ideologies can not only spit the most racist and homophobic rants but he should be praised for those prejudiced beliefs, not reprimanded? ------ Now that’s one hundred flights over the cuckoo’s nest if I ever did see!

First of all, A&E suspending him has nothing to do with “freedom of speech”. This is about a network having the freedom to distance themselves from values in which they do not condone. It is also about advertisers actually being the ones who have the freedom to place their marketing dollars wherever they choose. Phil in fact has still retained his right to spit mumbo jumbo – he now just has to find a new platform to in which to do so.

There are real consequences to inciting hate and violence. One of them is losing friends.

I would very much like the people who rallied to boycott and vilify the Dixie Chicks to do some serious self-evaluation about the inconsistency of their supposed values. You can’t have it both ways. You don’t get to pick and choose.  The most vile and misogynist comments were said about the Dixie Chicks – ironically similar to the vulgar comments spewed by Robertson himself. It’s unbelievable that some people are incapable of putting a mirror up to themselves and becoming aware of their blatant and unapologetic double standards.

If I owned a company I too would kick racist and homophobic people to the curb. That negativity is soooo fifty years ago.

Dec. 1 - World AIDS Day - [from Black AIDS Institute] Ashley Love's '30 Under 30' Essay for BAI's '30 Years of AIDS' Commemoration Report

Two years ago I was invited to take part of Black AIDS Institute’s (BAI) 30th Anniversary project where 30 individuals ("young black leaders, celebrities and activists") were chosen to write essays about their advocacy work to combat AIDS. Today, Dec. 1, is World AIDS Day and I am sharing my essay with you. Much work remains, including eradicating the misgendering and misclassification n of transsexual women from the “MSM” category, providing more assessable and affordable care in Africa and ensuring more preventative measures.

“As part of its special "30 years of AIDS" commemoration report, the Black AIDS Institute is profiling 30 young black leaders, celebrities and activists who have worked to make a difference in the fight against black AIDS.” (Julian Breece, Editor of ‘30 under 30’ feature)

Link to BAI’s PDF issue: http://www.bcoa.org/pdfs/30%20Years%20Is%20Enuf.pdf

From Black AIDS Institute’s  June 2011 Issue and 30^th Anniversary Edition:

ASHLEY LOVE

 

[photo for Black AIDS Institute]

 

  Due to a lack of human rights protections from the government and understanding from families and society, many Americans born transsexual and/or intersex, or that have a transgender identity, find themselves in very vulnerable and dangerous situations.  Because of this alienation some people in these communities engage in unsafe behavior as a way to cope and survive, making them vulnerable to infection with HIV.

  I have lost two people close to me because of this disease.  One of them was a woman who was born with a transsexual medical condition.  She wanted love so much that she trusted the wrong man and, instead of protecting herself, took a risk that proved fatal.  

  A lot of work needs to be done to educate society about transsexual, transgender and intersex issues. The unhealthy stigma and dehumanization of these communities is what leads to situations where they contract the disease. Low self-esteem caused by people’s prejudice against human diversity is what causes many in these communities to fail to safeguard their health.

  If any of my sisters are reading this, know that your life is a beautiful gem.  Cherish yourself and your temple.  We all want love, but we have to love ourselves first and foremost if we are to receive authentic love from someone else.  Regardless of the misguided fear and toxic hate in the world directed at people who are born different, don’t believe the lies that say you are unworthy.

  You are a child of God just the way you are.  Treat yourself kindly, because you deserve it.

Ashley Love is the founder of Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Transsexual & Transgender People and a popular contributor to the Huffington Post.

Originally published in June 2011 by Black AIDS Institute

 

BREAKING: On The Eve of The Annual Trans Day of Remembrance Islan's Nettles Confessed Murderer, Paris Wilson, Has Charges Against Him Dropped.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/suspect-beating-death-transgender-woman-walks-article-1.1522384

The tragedy continues against Islan Nettles, the young woman of trans experience from Harlem who was recently murdered in cold blood. This beautiful woman had such a promising future which was robbed from her from a insecure and hateful little man who is could very well get away with this murder due to a technicality.

All this on the eve of the Trans Day of Remembrance, as if God is trying to shine a light on the terrorism that plagues our sisters for all to see. Poetic Injustice.

The case is still open. This outrage on top of my saddened state due to TDOR is a lot to deal with. Why is this happening? When will justice rain down from the mighty heavens?

Governor Quinn of Illinois and Illinois’ Leading LGB“t” Organizations Decide To Sign Illinois Marriage Equality Bill Not on the 19th or 21st, but on November 20th - The Trans Day of Remembrance. Really? How Amazingly Symbolic...

Governor Quinn of Illinois, the Governor's LGBT Liaison and the leading LGB Illinois organizations have decided to sign the Illinois Marriage Equality Bill into law not on November 19th, not on November 21st, but on November 20th - The Trans Day of Remembrance.

Um, ok.

How amazingly symbolic....

After the rainbow wedding cake and champagne party perhaps attention may actually go towards the epidemic of transsexual and transgender women of color being terrorized and slaughtered in Chicago, New York, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., California, Brazil and all around the world?

 

VIDEO: Poet Sy Stokes, Alongside Fellow Black UCLA Students, Delivers Empowering Spoken Word Video Drawing Attention To UCLA's Overwhelming Lack of Diversity; Sign Petition Now!



Sy Stokes and fellow Black Bruins outside the Campbell Hall, where in 1969 two UCLA students Black Panther members were assassinated.

Sy Stokes, an UCLA Black student, and cousin of the late Arthur Ashe, delivers an empowering spoken word piece alongside fellow Black Bruins blasting the racist and classist policies of UCLA, it's fraudulent claims of "diversity", the pitfalls of California abandoning affirmative action and points out that Blacks are only wanted there to play sports.

Sign the Change.org petition to demand more diversity at UCLA: https://www.change.org/petitions/ucla-has-less-than-50-black-males-in-the-entire-freshmen-class-this-needs-to-change

Not Surprising: Don Lemon, the Gay CNN Personality Who Apologized For NAACP Excluding Trans* People From Its “First Ever LGBT Panel”, Now Also Apologizes For New York's Racist Stop & Frisk Policies

http://www.rippdemup.com/2013/11/don-lemon-endorses-nypds-stop-and-frisk/

The Trans Day of Remembrance Is Alarmingly Becoming More Co-opted and Misrepresented. What Are Transsexual and Transgender Americans Going To Do About This?

There’s an alarming and increasingly growing pattern of the International Trans Day of Remembrance ceremony being co-opted, disrespectfully misrepresented and shamelessly misused as a fundraising tool. The last few years have reached a boiling point here in the U.S. as numerous noted transsexual and transgender advocates, including the founder of TdoR herself, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, have openly voiced their disdain for this appropriation, while national LGB non-profits have become less subtle in their consuming of this most sacred day to our Trans* coalition.

Those concerned have publically cited components of classism, whitewashing, racism, sexism, ill-willed politics, financial greed and blatant transphobia all contributing to the rising misappropriation of TDoR.

Some have further criticized those within our own coalition as distorting the annual event such as insensitivity towards transsexual women and trans-feminine victims by trans-masculine folks, privileged portions devaluing women of color’s lives, who are the largest demographic of those slain and trans non-profits collecting money on their websites in the name of our dead.

Lastly, some local and national artists, community centers and political non-profits have inappropriately associated TDoR with alcohol and parties. Our dead’s graves are not a dance floor nor are they an opportunity to raise money for gay and lesbian marriage.

For  the memory of our fallen and for the integrity of this annual vigil our Trans* coalition must put our differences aside and come together to preserve the authenticity of TDoR and not allow Non-Profit, Inc. to absorb, taint and dilute this important day.

We want to hear from those in the different transsexual, transgender, gender non-conforming and/or intersex communities (and allies) about what your experience with TDoR has been concerning the issue raised above or others. Please sound off in the comment section, or if you would like to email me privately Ashley.Equality@gmail.com