
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2025
Contact:
Cathy Renna, Communications Director, [email protected], 917-757-6123
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO KIERRA JOHNSON, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL LGBTQ TASK FORCE:
“Today, we recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrate his historic efforts to advance human rights and equality. Dr. King’s commitment to race and gender equality, economic advancement, and class solidarity are still prominent struggles in America. While we enjoy and honor MLK Day, the nation also witnessed the inauguration of the 47th president, whose administration has promised to dismantle, erase, and implement anti-queer and anti-trans laws, anti-immigration policies, attacks on DEI and more.
We acknowledge the anxiety around this new administration, the words spoken, and the intention to eradicate our communities. However, we believe that this is the time for us to lean into our fears to achieve collective liberation. As we see anti-queer and anti-trans executive orders and laws being proposed, challenged and potentially implemented it is rightly causing concern and fear. But there are still processes and procedures that will need to be followed to implement these targeted policies.
In this moment we understand the range of emotions members of the queer community could be feeling. We will not allow the fear-mongering and triggering language to prevail. As we operate as an advocacy space, we are also calling our community to remember the needs of our entire community’s struggle. This is our time to recognize everyone’s needs as we reconfigure our collective commitment to queer liberation. Intersectional solidarity will be important as we fight to protect our rights. Consolidating our power is the best way forward, and working toward that will require radical grace, profound courage, and a new understanding of mutual responsibility towards ourselves and the communities we belong to. Please remember to care for and protect your fellow queer community members. Today is a rallying cry for consolidating our power, gathering our resources, and being honest about the struggle ahead. And despite the challenges ahead, we know one thing: we are not alone.”
For more information go to www.thetaskforce.org
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