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Celebs Discuss Taking 'T' Out of LGBT at OUT100 Gala

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A recent Change.org petition called for a separation of the LGB and trans rights movements. At the OUT100 gala last week, various celebs weighed in with their opinions. 

New York Magazine interviewed 10 celebs on taking the "T" out of LGBT--here are some of their answers:

Geena Rocero, model and activist
geena rocero out100 gala

"There's so much visibility that's happening, with shows and with pop culture, but still, what's really happening on the ground is still the other way around. I mean, there are still about 22 trans people that we know of that have been killed this year, so those two realities need to somehow merge together and make an understanding. There's still a lot of work to be done."

Related | OUT100 2015

Alex Newell, actor and singeralex newell out100 gala

"I think it's weak. It's sad that just because your fight as part of LGBT is slowing down, that doesn't mean that your brothers and sisters and everybody else in your community's fights are over yet. So I don't agree with that whatsoever -- the fight's not over."

Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEOsarah kate ellis out100 gala

"I think it's very clear what gender identity versus sexual identity is. One is who you love, and one is who you go to bed with, right? But I don't think that there's ever been a hiccup as far as GLAAD is concerned in how we support the transgender community, and we've done a tremendous amount about visibility in the past couple of years, and working withCaitlyn [Jenner] and her coming-out story. So I think it's really important that, at a time where our opponents are trying to fracture us and separate us, that we come together even more, and not take that as bait to separate."

Related | OUT100 Red Carpet

Violet Chachki, drag performer
violet chachki out100 gala
"I personally think we have more that unite us than separate us, and I identify as a lot of different things. For some people, they identify as both gay and trans, gender neutral, so it's really hard to put people in a black-and-white category unless you're doing it to yourself. So, for me, and for a lot of my friends who I love and respect, it's not black or white like that. Maybe they fit in three of those [terms] in that acronym across the board, it's all the same."

Kit Williamson, actor
kit williamson out100 gala
"I hope people don't look at this as reflective of the gay community's voice because it's one sad person that's lashing out at a community that we should be celebrating and supporting at this stage in history."

Check out more quotes at New York Mag.

The Advocates with Sonia BaghdadyOut / Advocate Magazine - Jonathan Groff and Wayne Brady

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