Thread by @chasestrangio

Here is my personal take on Masterpiece, both the substance and how it fits into a larger framework of LGBTQ work and public discourse. 1/x

First, the judicial system will never fully embrace, understand or reflect back the complexity of our humanity, including the traumas of our struggles. Today's opinion makes that crystal clear. It was a missed opportunity. It was disappointing. 2/x

The Court did not announce a sweeping defense of LGBTQ people and even where the Court gives a nod to the validity of non-discrimination laws, it does not do enough to combat the systematic investment in eroding those laws. But courts never do. 3/x

Whether we are looking at Obergefell (striking down bans on marriage equality), Bowers (upholding criminalization of queer sex later overturned in Lawrence) or Masterpiece, the law is not going to liberate us, particularly not the Supreme Court. 4/x

That said, the headlines that suggest there was a catastrophic new rule announced by the Court today or that the Court created a doctrinal carve out to sexual orientation/gender identity non-discrimination laws are completely inaccurate. 5/x

Our opponents will surely try to sell that story. They will say, the Court ruled for the baker and that is all that matters. We must resist any narrative that takes away our tools to fight back against discrimination. 6/x

The same people who are claiming that today the Court vindicated the idea that the government must never engage in "faith-based discrimination" are the ones defending the Muslim Ban. They will deploy whatever narrative serves their agenda to advance white supremacy. 7/x

Today the Court did what the Court does. It abstracted legal principles and served the interests of power. It paid homage to the idea of LGBTQ equality and showed its empathy for the false victimhood of those who already have power. 8/x

The decision does not yet say much about anything beyond the facts of this one case. It will no doubt be leveraged by those who already discriminate and want to discriminate more. But we can stop that and them. 9/x

The most dangerous part of the decision could very well be the reporting on it that suggests to others that they have new authority to reject LGBTQ people. So don't do that. Don't contribute to the creation of that idea. 10/x

I understand why LGBTQ people are feeling disappointed. The administration and so many state governments are invested in attacking us - particularly trans folks. This decision is not the rebuke of that we might have hoped for but neither is it an automatic validation of it. 11/x

Last night, something beautiful happened for our community with the premiere of @PoseOnFX. This past month we have won many trans cases. Our truth, the beauty we have always brought to the world, will keep overcoming these efforts to erase & dehumanize us. 12/x

Do I think we deserve better than Masterpiece? Of course. I think we deserve better than Obergefell. I think we deserve better than the equality norms that only reinforce a system that maintains the status quo. 13/x

Many will try to use this decision to expand discrimination. But we must not let them. Our community is hurting. Our community is dying. But we are also so powerful, resilient & magical. Last night watching #PoseFX I was reminded how much beauty we create out of rejection. 14/x

The Bakery got a reversal from the Supreme Court but they did not win. It is June, our love is still real, our lives are still valid, we are still channeling our ancestors and we still exist. Nothing they do or say or distort about this opinion or our lives will change that. 15/x

Go watch #PoseFX or #Vida or learn about Miss Major or Marsha P. Johnson or @JennicetG or @muxerisa or @MooreIndya or @janetmock. Keep building because we are winning. We can be disappointed but we are not defeated. 16/x

And before you make your case about how disastrous this ruling is, make sure you know whether that serves someone else's story of what is happening. I think there can be disaster located in any court ruling. Today is another day in a long fight that we are winning. 17/17