Pittsboro, NC – Zachary Horner formally represented the Chatham County Board of Health in issuing the “Statement from Chatham County Board of Health on Structural Racism“.
This declaration mentioned “Latino community members”, “African American men”, and “African American women”.
Notable by absence are transgender Countians. Black Live Matters is emphatic about the oppression of transgender American citizens, and speaking out and assuring they are forefront of all conversations. They are not mentioned. Does the Board think we have no transgender neighbors and friends? Or that there aren’t enough to matter? Or that they won’t speak out if ignored?
Likely there is implicit heteronormative thinking in the statement too.
Please engage in self-criticism Chatham County Board of Health. And by extension Zachary Horner.
If you choose to apologize, know that an apology is hollow if not authentic and heartfelt.
For reference, Black Lives Matter statements of “What We Believe”:
· “We make space for transgender brothers and sisters to participate and lead.”
· “We are self-reflexive and do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence.”
· “We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).”
https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/
Thank you for your immediate attention to this disconcerting matter.