Statement on the Recent Harassment of Yasmin Benoit

Activist and model Yasmin Benoit has been the target of ongoing harassment directed towards the asexual spectrum community following her participation in the New York Pride Parade as a Grand Marshal and London Pride for her advocacy for asexual rights. Ace Los Angeles would like to issue the following statement:

We would like to offer our support to Yasmin in the face of targeted acephobia and affirm her rights to participate in Pride events. We applaud her ongoing advocacy for asexual awareness and rights. 

We recognize that the type and level of bullying that has been directed at Yasmin is a consequence of her existence as a Black woman and we specifically name the ongoing campaign and fixation on her as violence.

It is the firm belief of Ace Los Angeles that the misogynoir that Yasmin is experiencing and the acephobia that she and the rest of the asexual community have encountered are aspects of white supremacy. White supremacy is foundational to our society and has been growing more prominent and violent across the social and political landscape in recent years. 

We want to acknowledge the intrinsic interconnectedness of all aspects of oppression including but not limited to: sexism, racism, fatphobia, classism, homo/bi/ace-phobia, transphobia, and ableism.

We call on the queer community and those who support us to take a stand with us and Yasmin against acephobia, including harassment coming from other members of the queer community. It is long past time to oppose the exclusionism, ignorance, and violence that has been allowed to flourish. Our solidarity is required to confront the existential threats we as the queer community face.

Ace Los Angeles
Board of Directors

Ace Los Angeles, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) social meetup and advocacy group for the asexual and aromantic community in the greater Los Angeles area.