Statement BIPOC LGBTQI+ alliance regarding maltreatment of Mala Badi: A call to speak out against trans hatred!
The BIPOC LGBTQI+ alliance* calls on all organizations in the Netherlands to speak out loud and clear against trans hatred and anti-trans violence. On August 31st, the alliance received the shocking news that alliance partner Mala Badi was assaulted by 7 cisgender men/boys on the Admiraal de Ruijterweg. This cowardly act has touched not only us, but our entire community. We therefore urge all organizations in the Netherlands to speak out clearly against trans hatred and anti-trans violence.
It is striking that various organizations, political parties and the vast majority of the national media are silent after this incident. From our experience as BIPOC LGBTQI+ persons, we conclude that this is because it concerns a non-binary trans refugee. When it comes to white LGBTQI+ people, all parties mentioned above go outside to protest and send massive support to the victims.
Dealing with hate, violence and misunderstanding is the daily reality of many BIPOC LGBTQI+ persons. Besides being affected by LGBTQI+ related violence, we also have to deal with other forms of discrimination and racism. In the past year, acts of violence towards people from the queer community has grown, specifically towards female presenting indivduals and trans women. As a community, we are tired of waiting any longer for politicians to take concrete steps to protect the entire LGBTQI+ community.
The BIPOC LGBTQI+ alliance no longer accepts this and demands that:
- the police investigate the maltreatment of Mala Badi and arrest the perpetrators. Mala has handed over footage of the perpetrators to the police. In addition, there are cameras situated around the area with which the perpetrators can be identified.
- the Public Prosecution Services takes this hate crime (trans hatred) seriously and labels this as such.
- the municipality of Amsterdam takes her responsibility and creates a strong campaign together with the BIPOC LGBTQI+ alliance and takes action with this in different neighborhoods in the city.
We do not want to be used as a weapon by populist parties to combat refugees, Muslims, and migrants. We will not allow ourselves to be used or intimidated by the extreme right or perpetrators of violence of any kind. We want to form a broad unity that ends LGBTQI+ related violence, racism, xenophobia, and sexism. We organized the Trans Dignity March on the Admiraal de Ruijterweg, in solidarity with Mala Badi and many others who feel unsafe on the streets of Amsterdam.
We urge everyone to join us on Friday, September 10th, 6:00 PM from the Admiraal de Ruijterweg 80. With the @Trans Dignity March, we want to send the signal that the trans community is not alone and that we no longer tolerate hate and violence towards our community. Join us and speak out!!
*The ‘BIPOC LGBTQI+ alliance’ is a partnership of various organizations in Amsterdam, within the municipal alliance bicultural LGBTQI+. BIPOC stands for ‘black, Indigenous and people of color’.
