On Sunday, September 8, BET aired Black Girls Rock! During the annual telecast, which was hosted by Niecy Nash, Angela Bassett, Regina King and Ciara were honored. However, Pose star Angelica Ross noticed that out of all the women honored during the show, Black trans women didn’t even get an acknowledgment. Considering that the number of Black trans women killed this year has reached 18 as of last week, and in very brutal ways, Ross felt this deserved recognition — at least in the memorial segment of the show.
“BLACK TRANS GIRLS ROCK!!!!” she wrote. “I’m willing to B.E.T. that no trans women were invited or highlighted at #BlackGirlsRock. Is it 18 now? 18 black trans women have been killed this year but NO MENTION during the segment dedicated to the lives lost???”
BLACK TRANS GIRLS ROCK!!!! I’m willing to B.E.T. that no trans women were invited or highlighted at #BlackGirlsRock. Is it 18 now? 18 black trans women have been killed this year, but NO MENTION during the segment dedicated to the lives lost??? 🗑
— Angelica Ross (@angelicaross) September 9, 2019
While it’s unclear whether or not Trans women were invited to the event, with shows like Pose, a series filled with and put together by Black trans women, getting recognition from mainstream awards shows like the Golden Globes and the Emmys, it’s interesting that big names from that show (i.e., Indya Moore), or other well-known Black trans women in general (i.e., Laverne Cox) aren’t getting much love from Black Girls Rock!
There were people who responded to Angelica’s feelings about the exclusion with a lot of negativity, but there were also a number of people who stood in support of the idea of BET’s annual event being more inclusive.
“The black women on this thread are saying some really horrific things,” said one woman.
“Yall [sic] to think about how yall feel when white people say similar things about POC. Everyone should get a seat at the table and this ‘otherism’ is really sad to see in 2019.”
Angelica’s comments certainly started a conversation on Twitter. Check out what people had to say about Black trans women being left out of the conversation during Black Girls Rock below. What’s your take? Do you agree with Angelica?
We speak on “intersectionality” and yet it isn’t honored past cisnormativity. Our sisters who walked the carpet, received awards, or performed could have also acknowledged us too. It should be common practice for black women to look around the room & identify who’s still missing.
— Ashlee Marie Preston (@AshleeMPreston) September 9, 2019
If you want to be included start your own. Put in more foot work, not by competition with black women. But make your own, it's not that hard to https://t.co/7RHVAeIgVb like crying because I'm not getting my https://t.co/OFBVVP7GKk Girl come on read it again. BLACK GIRLS ROCK
— Angela R Smith (@AngelaRSmith2) September 9, 2019
If @BET wants to prove to us that they are accepting and welcoming of ALL Black girls why weren’t the women of the biggest Black cable tv show @PoseOnFX not honored for their contribution to the representation of black trans role models on TV? We need to call out their bias.
— Kadeem Julius. (@deemxreckless) September 9, 2019
So, just asking, has anyone or will anyone discuss, in any capacity…Black trans girls??
#BLACKGIRLSROCK— 🍃HERB RECOGNIZES HERB 🍃 (@LoniLights) September 9, 2019
