In what sounds like an egregious display of homophobia, a passenger sitting beside queer rapper Mykki Blanco on a Delta flight called the cops on him.* The passenger’s reason for calling the cops was that he was “not comfortable” and couldn’t believe that Delta had seated “someone like [Blanco]” beside him.
Blanco shared the story on Twitter.
I just took a flight from Toronto to Detroit Michigan and when I woke up the gentlemen sitting next to me had the policed called
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) February 17, 2017
He said that he was not comfortable and did not know how @Delta allowed “someone like me” to board the plane with him and sit next to him
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) February 17, 2017
This is REAL @Delta. Then I was told by a police officer that an FBI report would be made from our “interaction”, except I did not interact
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) February 17, 2017
I was told I would “go to jail” if I continued to ask questions about why this police officer was giving preferential treatment to this man
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) February 17, 2017
I was then told I could file a report myself and give “my side of the story”.. but the entire incident itself is fabricated
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) February 17, 2017
This is the most bizarre form of homophobia I have ever encountered
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) February 17, 2017
If the story I shared earlier involving my flight from Toronto to Detroit seems vague it’s because it is
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) February 18, 2017
Delta, to its credit, responded with apparent horror and asked for details via DM.
@MykkiBlanco Hi Mykki, I honestly can’t believe what my eyes are reading. I am so very sorry to hear that you had to experience… 1/4
— Delta (@Delta) February 17, 2017
@MykkiBlanco …something like this on a Delta flight. Discrimination of any kind isn’t tolerated. We love ALL of our passengers…. 2/4
— Delta (@Delta) February 17, 2017
@MykkiBlanco …Would you mind following me for a DM to explain in detail about what happened? I will also need your confirmation… 3/4
— Delta (@Delta) February 17, 2017
However, Blanco only had one concrete request:
I’m hoping that the cabin crew @Delta can come forward to provide proof that I slept through the entire flight https://t.co/HAewpQLVxc
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) February 18, 2017
Delta needs to provide that necessary testimony.
* Mykki Blanco was previously trans-identified, but in the most recent interview I could find, from February 6, 2017, identified as a gay man. (“In 2010 and 2011, I was going through a sexual exploration of myself and I was trans-identified. I identify as a gay man now, but at that time I was still exploring my sexuality and gender fluidity.”) I have therefore used he/him pronouns instead of they/them.
(Via Jezebel and Pitchfork; image via screengrab)
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Published: Feb 19, 2017 08:00 pm