Lizzo was at SXSW over the weekend to promote her new Amazon reality series, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. The show premieres on March 24 and documents Lizzo’s search for new backup dancers, the Big Grrrls. However, while she had the microphone, Lizzo took the time to get a few things off her chest. As we unfortunately know, Texas has or is in the process of introducing a series of restrictive and dangerous legislation. The abortion ban tore down women’s protection under Roe v. Wade. And recently Texas governor, Greg Abbott, asked for families supporting their transitioning children to be reported. In light of these barbaric measures, Lizzo had words for Abbott, his legislators and supporters: “Mind your business.”
Lizzo slammed new Texas laws and policies that restrict access to abortion and target trans children and their families during a keynote conversation at SXSW on Sunday. The pop star, who grew up in Houston, said the controversial moves unfairly target women and the LGBTQ community.
“I’m proud to rep Houston, but I’m not proud to rep Texas politics right now,” Lizzo said to loud applause.
“Mind your business,” she added. “Trans rights are human rights.”
The singer was equally impassioned when discussing Texas lawmakers ban on abortion after six weeks, or at the detection of a fetal heartbeat, blasting conservative politicians for being “all up in your uterus.” Opponents of the law say that most women are unaware of pregnancies at that point.
“The abortion ban is atrocious,” Lizzo said. “Mind your business. Stay out of my body. This is not political.”
On the LGBTQ front, queer communities and allies across the nation were outraged over comments from Texas Gov. Gregg Abbot last month, who called on child protective services and private citizens to report families that appear to be supporting children undergoing “elective procedures for gender transitioning.” Abbott also pledged that other state agencies would investigate these issues.
“We got a lot of other things that we need,” Lizzo said, adding, “there are people in charge who can change things on a systemic level and they’re letting us down.”
I’m reminded of the time Lizzo corrected a bank of paparazzi hurling questions at her about Demi Lovato. They’d misgendered Demi and Lizzo took the time to remind them that Demi went by them/they. She’s been an ally to the LGBTQ community in many ways. That now includes standing in her own state and telling its government they’re doing wrong by the trans community. This wasn’t performative. She’s using her voice and her platform to stand up for those who need it.
Our former writer Oya is also a fellow Houstonian and she spoke about Texas the way Lizzo did, that most Texans are being let down by those in charge. As we are seeing, there are plenty of red states that have conservatives in power, but the population is more purple than anything. I don’t say it as well as Oya and Lizzo do, but I agree with them. Lizzo took a big swing to make this kind of statement when she’s drumming up support for her series. I also appreciate how she said it – short, sweet, and distinct. Ultimately, though, it would be nice if state government didn’t have to mind their business. It would be great if they could take trans, women’s and all other rights seriously so they could get the funding they need. But if they could stop legislating against us, that would be nice, yes.
Photo credit: Instagram and Backgrid
Good for Lizzo, putting herself out there.
Also, Abbott can go fck himself on a star spangled flagpole covered in tabasco sauce. He doesn’t write this legislation just to enforce it—he writes it with the specific goal of being challenged and taken to the Supreme Court.
Conservatives are so desperate to equate protecting young LGBT people and girls/women from their ‘values’ with child abuse. It’s not a difference of opinion, it’s not funny, and it’s not entertainment.
Another reason I cannot love Lizzo more. She is a truth teller.
I hope Beto O’Rourke beats Abbott to a pulp. I’m starting to see Houstonians in conservative circles pledge support to Beto. These are people who may be fiscally conservative, but who have LGBTQ friends/family. Supporting Abbott at this point is akin to betraying their loved ones.