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The rainbow flag has become a universal symbol of LGBTQIA+ pride and unity. However, the colorful stripes mask the incredible diversity and intersectionality within the community. Just as no two rainbows are the same, no two LGBTQIA+ individuals have identical experiences. Their sexual orientation and gender identity intersect with the other aspects of their identity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, nationality, disability status, religious background, and socioeconomic status.
LGBTQIA+ people of color often face compounded discrimination and a lot of unique challenges. For example, an African American lesbian couple may experience racism within the broader LGBTQIA+ community in addition to the homophobia within communities of color. Some may feel they have to choose one identity over another or camouflage the parts of themselves to find conditional acceptance.
Transgender people of color are especially vulnerable to violence and also other inequities. According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 10% of Black transgender respondents were physically attacked due to bias in the past year, and nearly half were verbally harassed. One in seven was unemployed, and more than a third lived in poverty. These bleak statistics reveal the profound racial and gender inequalities that multiply the marginalization.
Bisexual people also frequently contend with many dual stereotypes and discrimination from both the heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ communities. Myths that bisexuality is just a phase or that bisexual people are inherently unfaithful persist across all racial groups. However, bisexual people of color may feel particularly isolated and also unsure of where they belong.
LGBTQIA+ people with intersecting cultural identities often feel very torn between their family or cultural values and also their gender or sexual identity. For example, a lesbian from a traditional Muslim background may fear rejection from her religious community or even her family if she comes out. She may also experience racism and xenophobia from certain LGBTQIA+ circles. Coming out for her involves carefully weighing several complex aspects of her identity and deciding if, when, and how much of herself to reveal in the different contexts.
Likewise, gay Latino men balance the traditional masculine gender roles in the Latino culture with their sexual orientation. They may feel pressured to hide their relationships, remain closeted, or pass as straight to avoid shame and stigma. However, concealing their identity can cause significant psychological distress. Finding affirmative support services and accepting community role models is very critical but can be challenging for LGBTQIA+ people of color.
LGBTQIA+ individuals are more likely to live with many disabilities—both physical and also mental—than the general population. In particular, non-heterosexual people suffer higher rates of anxiety, depression, PTSD, disordered eating, and also substance abuse, often stemming from minority stress. Transgender people contend with extremely high rates of suicidal ideations and self-harm connected to gender dysphoria and also rejection.
LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities or mental health conditions deal with layered challenges as they navigate the support systems, healthcare, employment, and also relationships. They may find that the disability or mental health services lack the understanding of LGBTQIA+ needs. LGBTQIA+ community spaces may not be accessible or welcoming. Finding holistic, identity-affirming care can be a very uphill battle.
LGBTQIA+ elders, sometimes called the Stonewall Generation, faced immense stigma and discrimination coming of age in the 1950s-1970s. Most hid their identities for fear of losing their jobs, friends, family, and freedom. Today’s LGBTQIA+ youth, coming out in their teens, enjoy much more legal protection and social acceptance. However, strained relationships between LGBTQIA+ youth and elders still exist within the community.
Likewise, class, political views, and cultural references often differ greatly across the generations, creating rifts between the young and the Younger LGBTQIA+ people who may feel impatient with what they perceive as the timidity of their older pioneers. Meanwhile, the older generations may judge the overt visibility and the radical politics of the queer youth. Learning to embrace different approaches across generations while finding common ground is an ongoing journey.
Not all members of the LGBTQIA+ community have benefited equally from the recent surge of social acceptance. Those struggling financially often still cannot access adequate healthcare, legal resources, housing, and other services free from discrimination. LGBTQIA+ youth and elders are especially very vulnerable to poverty and also homelessness. Additionally, those living in the rural areas or the South often lack local LGBTQIA+ support systems, and cultural hubs found more prevalently in the urban coastal cities.
Class intersects with the LGBTQIA+ identity, impacting everything from clothing and self-expression to relationship recognition and workplace rights. Concerns like marriage equality may rank very low for an LGBTQIA+ person struggling to feed their family or avoid eviction. Yet a wealthy gay couple may take the luxuries like surrogacy for granted. Such disparities reveal why an awareness of socioeconomic diversity is very vital.
The rainbow flag represents a very shared history of marginalization and the collective power of LGBTQIA+ people. However, it cannot capture every story or speak to every struggle. The incredible diversity within the LGBTQIA+ community must be recognized, and spaces must be intentionally inclusive. Identities are very hybrid, and experiences are multilayered. All are equally worthy of dignity, respect, belonging, and rights. Equity can be advanced for all by embracing the nuance beyond the rainbow.
Presented by SHAVA, this article is part of our commitment to embracing the diversity within the transgender community. SHAVA stands in solidarity with transgender people of color, advocating for acceptance and allyship that recognize and celebrate the richness of their diverse experiences.
