Student Article: The Impact of Queer Black Women
Black women are the backbones of society, our culture, and our beauty. Queer Black women reflect the fullness of being a woman, being Black, and being queer. There are not many spaces on or off campus that center the unique experiences of Black women, especially Queer Black women, and the multiple identities we hold.
My idea is to create a recurring space for Queer Black women to build community with others who look like them, while also offering educational workshops, women’s circles, and tangible support to ensure that these women have peace of mind while balancing multiple identities. A recurring space would be essential in giving Black women a community they can turn to in moments of marginalization, an important form of support and protection.
As a student assistant at the LGBTQ+ Resource Center on campus, my energy and efforts have gone toward bridging the gap for students so that Black women like me feel comfortable and empowered to enter LGBTQ+ spaces knowing they belong and deserve a safe environment. As a co-facilitator of Color, Me Queer, a group for BIPOC students on campus, it is imperative that intersectionality is acknowledged when considering all our unique experiences.
Queer Black women deserve to feel a sense of belonging in LGBTQ+ spaces; we deserve safety and prioritization, which is something I want to help make happen. Queer Black women deserve to be celebrated, and their voices deserve to be amplified and centered. That is something that is part of my purpose.
