In an age of neoconservatism and neoliberalism, cis, white, gay fascist men like Milo Yiannopoulos can not only gain access to traditionally homophobic conservative, fascist spaces and platforms but can also become its leaders, writers, and trend-setters. Yiannopoulos is the type of person who capitalizes on the fact that he is gay, saying things like “Gays for Trump” and falsely accusing black women like Leslie Jones of homophobia when she confronted him on Twitter.
It’s difficult to discuss the infiltration of racist, fascist white LGBT people into our community without having an equally hypocritical cishet person jump in and use this as justification for their own homophobic vitriol, but I think it’s high time we have this conversation without letting homophobes or racists obstruct us.
How has something like this happened? When you look back at our history, the people who stood at the forefront of the LGBT liberation movement, the ones who kicked off Stonewall, and the ones who died for us, were mostly black and Latinx LGBT people, particularly black and Latinx trans women like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. Nowadays, the image and narrative has completely changed. Hillary Clinton can march in Pride one day and send drones that kill innocents abroad, LGBT or not. Policemen can hold hands with civilians one day and profile and kill innocent black youth the next day. And, of course, white cis gay men like Yiannopoulos, leader of the “alternative right” movement (fascism meets the anti-SJ millennial phenomenon) can exert power and influence over cishet men that would, under other circumstances, hurl homophobic slurs at him.
When you let identity politics rule, and when you forgo nuance in your discourse, you foster this kind of environment. Neoliberal LGBT millennials, many of whom are white, are happy and content to rally for “equality”. “Equality” means LGBT Americans can join the military and kill innocent brown and black people abroad just as much as cis and heterosexual Americans can. “Equality” means LGBT fascists can launch tirades against black women just as much as heterosexual fascists can. “Equality” means corporations can create “gay-friendly” advertisements will still discriminating against potential LGBT employees, but you all will look away with a smile on your face because your only priority is media representation. “Equality” means LGBT police officers can kill black youth just as much as heterosexual police officers can.
When we let the conversation falter and turn stagnant, this is what results. When white LGBT people and white women refuse to criticize their own accountable, men like Yiannopolous and women like Marine Le Pen in France gain incredible power, influence, and control. It doesn’t matter that Yiannopolous has been suspended from twitter - he’ll continue to write for Breitbart and spread his fascist ideals, and he’ll continue to rally support from all white people, including the LGBT ones. It doesn’t matter that Marine Le Pen is globally recognized as a Neo-Nazi and a fascist; she will continue to exert significant control in France, especially as Islamophobia rises in this post-911, counterterrorist political age.
As an LGBT person of color, I denounce these identity politics that enable white LGBT people to get away with these things. I’m tired of white LGBT people labeling all brown and black people as “homophobes” while turning a blind eye to the white Evangelicals who embark on neo-imperialist missions to spread homophobia in countries like Uganda. I’m tired of white LGBT people ignoring the rise of violent racism in the broader LGBT community. You are just as responsible for this as your heterosexual counterparts, so please take note. Your solidarity means nothing to me if you refuse to do so.
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