In a post looking back on a Black Lives Matter protest in New Orleans, Detective Pikachu star Justice Smith came out as queer. The Instagram post featured a video and several photos when users clicked through the post.
In his post, Smith wrote about how disappointed he was in some of his fellow protestors for choosing not to join him in a chant of "black queer lives matter."
Smith wrote:
"As a black queer man myself, I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter, but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added."
"I want to reiterate this sentiment: if your revolution does not include Black Queer voices, it is anti-black."
You can read his full post below.
He went on to write:
"If your revolution is okay with letting black trans people like #TonyMcDade slip through the cracks in order to solely liberate black cishet men, it is anti-black. You are trying to push yourself through the door of a system designed against you, and then shut the door behind you."
"It is in our conditioning to get as close to whiteness, straightness, maleness as we can because that's where the power is. And if we appeal to it, maybe it'll give us a slice."
"But the revolution is not about appeal. It is about demanding what should have been given to us from the beginning."
In a beautiful statement on IG, Justice Smith (The Get Down, Jurassic World, Detective Pikachu) stands up for Black queer lives in the movement comes and announces his relationship with Nicholas Ashe (Queen Sugar, Choir Boy) 🥺💙🏳️🌈 #PrideMonth #BlackQueerLivesMatter #BlackBoyJoy pic.twitter.com/ZaIvS4q9Rh
— You Matter. ✊🏾🌈 (@josephjerome_) June 6, 2020
Smith concluded his post:
"What should have been given to black, queer, and trans individuals from the beginning."
"Which is the right to exist."
"To live and prosper in public."
"Without fear of persecution or threat of violence."
"There is so much tragedy on the timeline these last couple of days so I added some photos of me and Nic to show some #blackboyjoy #blacklove #blackqueerlove ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜"
The post included a personal message for "Nic."
"You've been my rock and guiding light through all of this and I love you so much. I know that on the other side of this Is change, though the fight is far from over."
The post's pictures confirmed Smith is dating actor Nicholas Ashe of the series Queen Sugar.
Justice Smith just came out as a queer man with his boyfriend and I couldn't be more proud of him. I love him and I wish him and his boyfriend all the love, happiness and positivity in this world. Love wins 🏳️🌈❤️ pic.twitter.com/6dGEDemdDF
— femme fierce (@artsdior) June 6, 2020
Twitter offered Smith love and support.
Justice Smith was wonderful in Detective Pikachu and seems like a nice young man—happy he's found someone pic.twitter.com/rUUhs437rm
— Rufus (@DTWT_Rufus) June 7, 2020
Wait.... JUSTICE SMITH IS QUEER???? OMGGGG 😱😱😱😱😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/KKhnBiR46h
— Kayo (@thesuperkayow) June 6, 2020
justice smith you deserve the world im so so happy omfg pic.twitter.com/Vg6pNtgZr9
— َ (@eviIwomen) June 6, 2020
After Smith shared his post, Queen Sugar, Nicholas Ashe's HBO show, began trending on Twitter.
Love to see this is why Queen Sugar trending. Much love to Justice Smith and Nicholas Ashe ❤🧡💛💙💚💜 and yes Black Queer Lives and Black Trans Live Matter ✊🏾 https://t.co/AYt5gBvL4C
— BlackWomenViews (@blackwomenviews) June 6, 2020
bless Justice Smith and Nicholas Ashe!!! pic.twitter.com/hHGBaLNcKY
— Alex Naser-Hall (@anaserhall) June 6, 2020
NICHOLAS ASHE AND JUSTICE SMITH ARE QUEER!!! THE WAY THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY WON TODAY!!!!🌈🌈🌈 pic.twitter.com/dQLkO93LNs
— “There you are, filthy peasant!" (@earxth) June 7, 2020
Smith himself responded to his trending news with an important clarification.
yo tf i didn't come out, y'all came in
— Justice Smith (@standup4justice) June 6, 2020
But wherever the news was coming from, people just seemed happy they had received it.
To learn that Queen Sugar is trending because Justice Smith declared his love for Nick Ashe and wrote a powerful and beautiful statement in support of liberation for *all* Black people regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. pic.twitter.com/hiIPZ6WC88
— Sofia Quintero (@sofiaquintero) June 6, 2020
Justice Smith and Nicholas Ashe. Black queer love for Black liberation. I stan. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/BNLOwapRXq
— Stephanie D. Keene 🖤🖤🖤 (@RhythmKeene) June 6, 2020
help!!!!!!!!!! help i love justice smith so much pic.twitter.com/5Pvg64pcPY
— 🌻 (@Iatenightlwt) June 6, 2020
Congratulations to the happy couple. Hopefully future protests will be even more inclusive for people of all sexualities and gender identities.