Arts & Entertainment
Laverne Cox fires back at comedian who joked about killing trans women
Lil Duval’s remarks started a trending #BoycottBreakfastClub hashtag
(Screenshot via YouTube)
Laverne Cox took to Twitter to condemn stand-up comedian Lil Duval for making transphobic and violent comments while a guest on the radio show “Breakfast Club.”
Host DJ Envy asked Duval how he would feel if he discovered he was sleeping with a transgender woman.
“This might sound messed up and I don’t care. She dying,” Duval responds.
Host Charlamagne Tha God told Duval he couldn’t kill transgender women and Duval replied, “I didn’t say I was gonna kill transgenders. I said, if one did that to me, and they didn’t tell me, I’mma be so mad I’d probably kill them.”
When the hosts urge him to be “politically correct” Duval says that as a comedian he doesn’t have to be.
“That’s the good thing I like about being me,” Duval says. “I can say what I want and do what I want and people understand where I’m coming from. They understand I’m not coming from a place of malice. They know I’m just speaking my mind.”
Cox responded to Duval’s comments by explaining how detrimental they are to the transgender community.
I think what’s also so upsetting for me is @janetmock was on that show last week with so much love brilliance and trans 101 education and
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
A week later this happens. #translivesmatter
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
Some folks think it’s ok to joke about wanting to kill us. We have free speech but that speech has consequences and trans folks are
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
Experiencing the negative consequences with our lives. It hurts my spirit cause this isn’t funny. Our lives matter. Trans murder isn’t a
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
Joke. #Translivesmatter
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 30, 2017
Activist April Reign, who started the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag in 2016, started the hashtag #BreakfastClubBoycott after the hosts didn’t reprimand Duval’s statements and laughed along.
A few days before Duval’s interview, Janet Mock was a guest on the show to discuss her book “Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me.”
Duval’s comments start at the 6:28 mark.
Celebrate the start of Pride month at the Queer Magic Dance Party at the Black Cat on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 9 p.m.
There will be pole performances and demonstrations, a free photo booth with glitter bar, a queer vendor market, tarot readings by Skye Marinda Tarot, a drag performance by Sapphica, and dancing to a blend of smooth R&B, Afrobeats, hip-hop and pop by Slammer & Saba. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 (plus fees) in advance, purchased here.
Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free.
Out & About
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery
The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.
The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.
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DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
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