Published in Outlook Media April 2010
On March 15, 2010, columnist Patrick Wall explores Columbus’ queer scene in his Examiner.com article entitled "I'm out. Now what?":Searching for a community among Columbus's queers.
Below is a response from members of Columbus’ LGBTQ community of color and our allies:
We, the undersigned have come together in unity to express our displeasure and frustration at the overall lack of inclusion and seemingly blatant failure to acknowledge our presence and leadership within Columbus’ LBGTQ community.
Mr. Wall’s article shares interviews with members of the local LGBTQ community. The interviewees were mostly males, and absolutely white. Perhaps most insulting is the slideshow at the end of the article with the header ‘Columbus’ Diverse Queer Community’. It feels safe to say that when the majority of people see the word diverse, they often expect to see a kaleidoscope experience of colors.
Kudos to Mr. Wall for shaping a lens into our trans community, highlighting important political and community issues, and sharing the history of the Stonewall Rebellion. However, what Mr. Wall failed to realize was an important and necessary opportunity to craft an inclusive and educational conversation. As such, we ask the following questions: Where any persons of color interviewed for the article? Where they asked? Did the featured interviewees even mention persons of color when describing the community?
As the number of LGBTQ youth of color utilizing local supportive services continues to grow; it is imperative that they begin to see, learn, and know about people in their community that look like them. It is important that their existence is validated and their potential as future leaders is noted as fully possible. LGBTQ youth of color need to know that there is absolutely a space for them at the table. Failure to acknowledge the reality of our existence further oppresses and alienates the community at large.
Indeed the responsibility of inclusion is a partnership of sort; allied leaders must begin to include LGBTQ people of color in their conversations, and make the invite to meetings and community discussions. Likewise, we as LBGTQ people of color need to strengthen our visibility. The time is now for us to no longer linger in the shadows. We can no longer allow others to define who we are as a community. We must stand by the words of the late lesbian, warrior poet, Audre Lorde “If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.”
As we move forward to strengthen and grow this local and statewide community, it is imperative that all voices are acknowledged and included. Silence and being silenced-whether or not intentional-must no longer be tolerated.
It is with this that we make a call for awareness, support, acknowledgement, and inclusion of all members and leadership within the LGBTQ community.
In Solidarity,
Members and Allies of New Leaf Columbus
A social network for Columbus’ LGBT communities of color and our allies
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