Lesbian/WOC/Queer Positive Rap Song "Hell Yeah"

Rapper Jayne Dooe has released a new song called "Hell Yeah" which is unapologetic and proud of queer orientation. The song is both a celebration of women of color who are same-gender loving and all LGBT people as well as a call for peace, justice and equality!

Equality Forward - New Study Released on LGBT People of Color

The Human Rights Campaign has released the newly completed study called Equality Forward, At The Intersection Race, Sexuality, and Gender which examines the lives of LGBT people of color. It is part of a broader initiative to unite gay and straight people of all races and ethnic backgrounds in the quest for equal justice.

Key findings of the report:

• Voices of LGBT POC are not at the forefront of groups fighting to end racial injustice as well as in LGBT equality groups.
• LGBT POC share the same concerns as the rest of the population and have broader issues beyond LGBT specific ones. They are concerned with health care and economic priorities.
• More than 50% of LGBT POC feels as though the Church treats them as outsiders and sinners and feel unwelcome at religious institutions.
• LGBT POC do not feel represented in media, often seeing a lack of LGBT characters altogether, and when present usually white.
• They feel that racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia are issues that must be tackled to prevent violence, discrimination.

HRC encourages feedback and discussion on the topic matter by urging you to share your story.

National Black Justice Coalition Defends Rev. Eric Lee

The National Black Justice Coalition an organization comprised of LGBT people of color and allies is standing by a reverend threatened for his outspoken opposition to proposition 8.

The Rev. Eric Lee's position as the Los Angeles chapter president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is now being threatened by the national organization for his outspoken advocate of marriage equality. Dr. Lee was very visible during the battle to defeat Prop 8, and the SCLC has sought a hearing, demanding that Rev. Lee explain his position on the issue (Pam's Houseblend).

It's time to stop the hate and demand that the SCLC keep the Reverend, this form sent to the president Dr. Byron Clay of SCLC will send a strong signal that you believe LGBT rights should be part of the civil rights platform of the organization.

"Voices Raised" - Survey for POC With LGBT Parent/Guardian of Color

Do you identify as a person of color and have or had one or more LGBTQ parent or guardian of color?

If so, this survey is for you! Take this survey and enter the raffle by Monday, April 20th, 2009. One survey participant will receive a brand new iPod shuffle as a thank you for your time and energy!!

COLAGE is a national movement of children, youth, and adults who have or had one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. We build community and work toward social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development, education, and advocacy.

COLAGE is thrilled to announce the launch of Voices Raised, A POC led project of COLAGE, whose mission is to seek, celebrate and reflect the unique voices and experiences of COLAGErs of color who have/had one or more LGBTQ parent or guardian of color.

As part of the Voices Raised project, we are launching this survey intended for all children, youth and adults who identify as Asian-American, Bi-racial, Black/African-American, Latino/a, Mixed, Multi-racial, Native-American, Pacific Islander ,Multi-National, or people of color and who have/had an LGBTQ parent or guardian of color who identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Two-Spirit and/or Same-Gender Loving.

HRC Celebrates Black History Month

The Human Rights Campaign has put out a video in honor of Black History Month. I applaud this decision, as major LGBT organizations have failed to adequately reach out to communities of color thus far. It is far past time when we need to unite rather than divide. This is one step in the right direction and we must hold HRC accountable to their message of being committed to diversity, we also must ensure that they protect our transgender brothers and sisters during this legislative season and beyond.

Fenced Out - Queer Youth of Color Activism

Fenced OUT documents the struggle of LGBTSTQ youth of color to save the Christopher Street pier and the West Village in New York from re-development and gentrification. While researching the history of the pier, FIERCE members discovered past generations of queer peoples’ fight for use of public spaces at Christopher Street and the piers. We have continued to use the documentary as a public education tool to raise awareness about the increasing displacement, violence, and criminalization experienced by LGBTSTQ youth of color.

A movie not to be missed by anyone who is interested in our Queer Youth of Color activism as told by those who experienced and lived the struggle.

Sunday February 22, 2009
Doors open 5:00, Dinner 5:30, Movie 6:30
Metropolitan Community Church
155 Wyllys St. Hartford Ct.
(Located in the Colt Memorial Parish House of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.)

RSVP: queerswithoutborders@gmail.com, or call 680-7876

Shared Differences Examines LGBT Students of Color Experiences in School

LGBT students of color face unique and diverse challenges regarding victimization at school, according to Shared Differences: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students of Color in Our Nation's Schools, a report released today by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Key Findings:

Across all groups, sexual orientation and gender expression were the most common reasons LGBT students of color reported feeling unsafe in school. More than four out of five students, within each racial/ethnic group, reported verbal harassment in school because of sexual orientation and about two-thirds because of gender expression. At least a third of each group reported physical violence in school because of sexual orientation.

More than half of African American/Black, Latino/a, Asian/Pacific Islander, and multiracial students also reported verbal harassment in school based on their race or ethnicity. Native American students (43%) were less likely than other students to report experiencing racially motivated verbal harassment.

About a quarter of African American/Black and Asian/Pacific Islander students had missed class or days of school in the past month because they felt unsafe. Latino/a, Native American, and multiracial students were even more likely to be absent for for safety reasons - about a third or more skipped class at least once or missed at least one day of school in the past month for safety reasons.

Native American students experienced particularly high levels of victimization because of their religion, with more than half reporting the highest levels of verbal harassment (54%), and a quarter experiencing physical violence (26%).

Less than half of students of color who had been harassed or assaulted in school in the past year said that they ever reported the incident to school staff. Furthermore, for those students who did report incidents to school staff, less than half believed that staff’s resulting response was effective.

Native American (57%) and multiracial (50%) students were more likely than other students of color in our survey to report incidents to a family member.

Performance at school also suffered when students experienced high levels of victimization. Students’ overall GPA dropped when they reported high severities of harassment based on sexual orientation and/or race/ethnicity. Students experiencing high severities of harassment also reported missing school more often.

The report also looks at differing experiences based on the racial/ethnic make-up of students’ schools. For all groups, LGBT students of color who were minorities in their school were much more likely to feel unsafe and experience harassment because of their race or ethnicity than those who were in the racial/ethnic majority.

To download the full report, click here.

Get To Know Us First Has Released First PSA

The 'Get To Know Us First' campaign has released its first PSA featuring a diversity of families, with specific outreach to communities of color and spanish speaking populations.

Word of the Gay: "QPOC"

"QPOC" stands for Queer People of Color and is used to discuss LGBTQ individuals in communities of color or as an abbreviated term for an organization or cause representing them.

TAKE ACTION: Pier 40 Vote The People's Ballot

I blogged about efforts by FIERCE NYC to oppose private development of Pier 40 a place where LGBT youth of color and homeless youth in NYC have traditionally been safe to hang out and be themselves. Read more about that here...

Please sign the petition to oppose privatization and support an LGBT youth center!

"Our vote says YES to:

* people coming before profit and a pier 40 re-development plan that does not rely on a private developer

* the needs of the community, including LGBTQ youth, are incorporated into the development plans for pier 40

* a 24-hour LGBTQ Youth Center on Pier 40!"

Sign the Petition!