ONYX Southwest is outraged by the recent transphobic comments that took place during the public March LA Leather Coalition (LALC) meeting involving Mt. Sister Leather 2024, J. Carter. ONYX stands firmly against transphobia, body shaming, kink shaming, and/or any "isms" that make anyone feel unsafe and unwanted. As an organization that was established specifically for diversity and inclusion, it is our goal to not only create safe spaces for the BIPOC LGBTQ+ community but for all marginalized groups and to be a positive representation for the leather community. We stand tall with our trans family and are furious by any actions or statements that undermine their dignity and safety.
After thoroughly reviewing all perspectives presented during the LALC Community forum on April 15th and discussing potential courses of action with our organization's members tonight on April 18th, ONYX Southwest has decided to withdraw its support from the LALC.
We are deeply troubled by the lack of accountability demonstrated by the LALC during the community forum. Despite having ample time to prepare, the LALC failed to provide a clear plan of action or take responsibility for the harm caused. Instead, there was a pattern of deflecting and evading important questions regarding the nature and extent of the transphobic comments made. The typical public relations response of simply saying "we are sorry and will learn from this" isn't enough.
Specifically, our concerns include:
The deflection of questions regarding the number of individuals who made transphobic, body shaming comments directed at our trans sibling during the LAJ.C meeting and the protection of these anonymous figure(s).
The apparent failure of the LALC to learn from past mistakes and address ongoing issues of discrimination and exclusion within the organization, particularly concerning the trans community.
Again, ONYX Southwest believes that the failure to address these issues undermines the safety and well-being of our trans siblings and reflects a concerning lack of commitment to diversity and inclusion.
We urge the LALC to take swift and meaningful steps to address the harm caused and rebuild trust within the community, as they have promised to do in the coming weeks. We will maintain our stance until we see concrete action taken to address these issues.
Best,
ONYX Southwest Board of Directors and Membership