'OITNB' Star Matt McGorry Defends Phrase 'Black Lives Matter' on Twitter

Orange Is The New Black's Matt McGorry has spoken out against people using the phrase and hashtag "All Lives Matter" in response to the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This is the latest progressive statement from the How To Get Away With Murder actor, who has been gaining attention for talking about feminism and women's rights over the past several months. This time, on Twitter.

"#BlackLivesMatter doesn't mean other lives don't," McGorry wrote on Twitter. "Like people who say 'Save The Rainforests' aren't saying 'F*ck All Other Types of Forests'"

McGorry expanded on his tweet on Facebook, where he wrote an extended post explaining why combating "black lives matter" with "all lives matter" is backwards and unhelpful.

"Some people think they are being more inclusive by saying #AllLivesMatter in response to #BlackLivesMatter but in reality, they're (un)consciously undermining the purpose of the movement," McGorry wrote. "Because this PARTICULAR movement is about SPECIFIC issues, as any decently effective movement is."

He went on to say that he's never seen someone who actually promoted racial equality use the phrase "all lives matter."

McGorry garnered praise for these statements, and he's been getting support for his recent comments on feminism and gender equality. In March, he posted plainly that he is a feminist, having learned "the ACTUAL definition" of the term, and explained that that movement is for both men and women.

Like with feminism, McGorry says he's still working on understanding the fight for about racial equality. In his post on #BlackLivesMatter, McGorry admitted that he doesn't know much about the movement, but he is learning about racial equality and the specific issues surrounding the movement.

In the last month, two presidential candidates have come under fire for using the term "all lives matter." In June, Hillary Clinton said it when telling a story about her mother. On Saturday, Martin O'Malley apologized for using "all lives matter" at a liberal meeting.

"I did not mean to be insensitive in any way or communicate that I did not understand the tremendous passion, commitment and feeling and depth of feeling that all of us should be attaching to this issue," O'Malley said.

 Or as some #BlackLivesMatter activists say, it's like going to an AIDS walk and shouting "All Diseases Matter!" Some people think they are being more inclusive by saying #AllLivesMatter in response to #BlackLivesMatter but in reality, they're (un)consciously undermining the purpose of the movement. Because this PARTICULAR movement is about SPECIFIC issues, as any decently effective movement is. You can't just have a protest for "Make Everything In The World Better!" How can you have an effective protest that's about gender equality, animal rights, racial equality, and saving the environment? Pro-tip: you can't. Because that's not how getting shit done works. And I've never seen #AllLivesMatter promoted by someone who ACTUALLY fights for racial equality. So someone getting up in arms bc of #BlackLivesMatter while they sit on the sidelines and do nothing for black lives or anyone's other than their own is not actually promoting that "All Lives Matter (equally)" as much as they're trying to take down the idea that #BlackLivesMatter and denying its necessity and value. Whether it's conscious or unconscious, you're contributing to societies racial issues if you're responding with #AllLivesMatter. #BlackLivesMatter doesn't mean other lives don't. Like people who say "Save The Rainforests" aren't saying "Fuck All Other Types of Forests." And if your response to "Save The Rainforests" is "No! Save ALL forests!!!" then you sure as shit better actually be doing something to ACTUALLY save ALL forests. If not...well you get the point. And if you don't get the point, then you probably didn't get any of this. So show me the person who spends their life fighting for all lives ACTUALLY mattering AND who says #AllLivesMatter and I'll show you a world where people are treated like they actually do matter equally (neither of those actually exist). Now I know very little about the #BlackLivesMatter but I'm learning and these r things that I think people who actually care about equality can agree on. #BlackLivesMatter is necessary because we don't live in a society that systematically treats white people terribly bc they're white. And that's why we need #BlackLivesMatter

A photo posted by Matt McGorry (@mattmcgorry) on Jul 18, 2015 at 2:50pm PDT

When ur friend cancels on u cause she's having "lady problems" but you a feminist and know there are a lot of lady problems... A photo posted by Matt McGorry (@mattmcgorry) on Jun 10, 2015 at 1:33pm PDT

Unfortunately true. But I hope more men will use this "privilege loophole" to speak up about gender equality. (Pic by @shameusseamus thanks for sending to me @caylierae ) A photo posted by Matt McGorry (@mattmcgorry) on Jul 19, 2015 at 5:35pm PDT