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This is a post by GetEqual activist CD Kirven, one of four LGBTQ activists arrested at Speaker Pelosi’s DC office in April. She wanted to revisit a serious, ongoing problem in our movement – a lack of LGBT leaders of color at many events. We discussed the issue over dinner after the LGBT Leadership Town Hall, and she decided to tap out her thoughts about the matter and gave me permission to share it on the Blend.
Standing Up to the Mic with No Voice; The Absence of Color in LGBT Leadership
By C. D KirvenI was recently part of the audience for the Michelangelo Signorile LGBT Leadership Town Hall and radio show. As I looked around, I began to wonder: is the LGBT rights movement really “one struggle, one fight?” Where were the LGBT leaders of color?
I was frustrated because, as usual, there were only a handful of minorities invited to discuss roadblocks within the gay rights movement and possible solutions. I had a front row seat as my community discussed raging against the homophobic political machine and taking small civil steps toward constitutional rights held hostage by power hungry double talking politicians bartering LGBT rights for capital gain. I listened carefully as the current LGBT leadership miseducated the public by explaining how the current administration’s inaction is really slow and deliberate progress. I began to understand why the overly greased wheels of D.C. insiders easily neglected the interests of liberty seeking outsiders. But how does our community hold its leadership accountable? How does the LGBT community of color get equally represented in our civil rights struggle? I decided to stand up and ask our leaders directly how they plan to change the face of our movement to reflect the diversity that exists within it.
At this point, Get Equal Co-founder Robin McGehee was at the mic with the wind of multiple actions at her back that challenged the current LGBT establishment and pumped new life into the equality game with direct actions that not only bucked the status quo but slapped awareness of our issues urgency into the face of the democratic majority that for some reason has become increasingly impatient with the equality demands of the disenfranchised LGBT minority. “Hurry up and wait” was the attitude of President Obama as he addressed Get Equal activists that pushed the left wing envelope open to stop the incremental disbursement of liberty our government is all to accustom to dishing out. I was very proud to see Pam Spaulding at the leadership table and knew she created her seat by demanding her voice be heard through her very successful political blog, www.pamshouseblend.com. There in lies the problem! Why do we have to create or force ourselves into the national LBGT conversation? I really feel we are at freedom’s gate but if we are so close why are the interests of people of color once again being left behind? I will not be a “photo op” after thought in the battle for equality.
More below the fold.
As I stepped closer to the mic, I saw curiosity feel the faces of those around me, but as I stepped up to the mic ready to ask my question there was no more time left and I was once again silenced. “Next time you will get your chance,” I was told by others. I began to vent my frustration to some of my fellow freedom fighters. I was once again shut down and told this is not the right time to have a race discussion.
But isn’t that the same excuse the administration is giving the LGBT community on passing ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) or repealing DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell)? There will always be a wrong time to do the right thing! As a community leader, I refuse to only spotlight the injustice outside of our struggle but will also shed light on the injustice inside of it. We as a community must hold ourselves to the same standards we demand from the administration as well as current leadership. We will not progress and achieve full equality unless we are all equal. Why would you do to your own community what someone outside of it is doing to you? We must pass the mic so that all voices are heard and all are given an opportunity to represent our interest as we draw our equality line in the sand of democracy. The people of color can no longer stand on the sidelines, but must be a part of the plan because it will take the whole community as well as our allies to obtain full equality during this critically important point in the gay rights movement.
To current LGBT leaders, please leave the puppet master games for the government and please do not try to create leaders that you can control, but include community leaders that will contribute to an immediate need for a diverse collective LGBT voice. We can no longer afford to live a separate but equal existence that has infected the LGBT community and crippled our civil rights pursuit.
On July 12, 1976, Barbara Jordan said; “We are attempting to fulfill our national purpose: to create and sustain a society which all of us are equal. First, we must believe in equality for all and privileges for none.”
I refuse to continue to live a lie, whether it’s life in a closet or in the shadows of the gay rights movement. “If I can not be heard, then I refuse to be seen!” Instead of painting a picture of what a community should look like, we as leaders must demand the movement reflects the community it represents. Every part of our community should help create a national equality path and the required steps to take back the rights withheld by blue laws wrapped in spiritual regulations. I plead with the LGBT community of color to get politically involved and join the equality fight. Stand up and speak out on the issues that are important to you. A closed mouth will not get fed but an open mind will lead to a more inclusive agenda that accurately reflects the diversity that defines us. Don’t give our oppressors the tools to dismantle the bridge that will unify our equality efforts. I know I risk being black balled for stating the obvious, but I know in my heart the truth sets you free from the chains that keeps you silent.
For those within earshot of my pen who wonder where the Black gay voice is, hold on, let me clear my throat.
Activist (Chastity) C.D. Kirven is a Lambda Literary nominated author of the book ”What Goes Around Comes Back Around,” Board member of the DFW Pride Movement, GET Equal activist, Artist – Artwork was shown at Butch Voices Conference in Oakland, CA and artwork in December 2009 issue of Curve magazine. She created the first GLBT cell phone documentary about same sex intimate partner abuse. She has an online clothing line at www.zazzle.com/cdkirven and is editing her online reality show about her life called: “SOULPRINT.” Ms. Kirven is currently working on a play, her second book “The Glass Closet” and a documentary.
18 Comments
Amen to that but . . .It’s not that lgbts of color aren’t being vocal. It’s just that sometimes when we speak, no one cares to hear what we have to say.
I’ve felt frustrated so many times when we try to get the conversation going about the lgbt of color community and our issues only to watch the conversation turn into a tug of war between the black and gay communities.
And frankly, my arms hurts after being pulled out of the sockets.
Lead then…It really does not serve any purpose at an event like that to start discussing why there are not enough African American leaders in the LGBT community. If you are not happy because you didn’t think there was equal representation then by all means start leading a group yourself and demand a place at the table. Pam got a place at the table by building a coalition of all colors, genders, and stripes. That is how you get a place at the table.
Well said![quote]“Next time you will get your chance,” I was told by others…. I was once again shut down and told this is not the right time to have a race discussion.
But isn’t that the same excuse the administration is giving the LGBT community on passing ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) or repealing DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell)?[/quote]
Yeah really.
Thanks for writing this, CD — and thanks for posting, Pam!
Mrqcguy,In 1999 several trans people, myself include founded an org called NTAC that attempted to do precisely that. Build a multicultural org.
And what happened? White trans people who didn’t want to give up control and wanted to colloborate with HRC when that clearly wasn’t working called NTAC ‘verbally violent’ among other things. They then flocked to NCTE, an all white trans org founded in 2003 by the very same people who trashed the multicultural NTAC.
One of the things that pisses off people of color is the characterization of any critiques we make of the current white dominated LBGT leadership status quo as ‘whining’.
I find it interesting that the African American GLBT org called the NBJC (National Black Justice Coalition) has been around for five years, but you never see NBJC leadership invited to these GLBT panel discussions.
That’s too bad, because NBJC has had some good speakers on staff
Amen“One of the things that pisses off people of color is the characterization of any critiques we make of the current white dominated LBGT leadership status quo as ‘whining’.”
Preach on my sister!
There’s no doubt at all that most of the ‘self-appointed’ leaders and leading LGBT groups reflect the racism of American society as a whole.
Pervasive and intractable racism against African Americans, native Americans, immigrant and imported workers and others is an organic, institutionalized problem that’s infected and dominated US culture from before the Revolution.
Racism, gynophobia and homohating are sewn into the fabric of American culture. And into the life of LGBT communities. Whether you see it as less of a problem among GLBT folks or merely less visible it’s a real and sometimes crippling,
The campaign run by EQCA and HRC to preserve same sex marriage in California was a disaster because the self-appointed Eurocentric leadership never came close to reflecting the diversity of our communities there, where ‘minorities’ are a majority.
In terms of the movement the effects of racism can be offset, but not eliminated by the creation of authentic, democratically run, grass roots organizations independent of politics as usual. If our organizations are independently founded with a mass action perspective and a determination to reach out and build alliances all the racist nonsense can be turned around from the beginning in terms of internal functioning and building alliances.
From my perspective, it too often comes down to charges of “My race against your race”I know that there is a huge problem with diversity; here in Seattle, the Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American communities are grossly underrepresented in “mainstream” GLBTQ organizations. I would like to see that change.
But it gets very tiring for me to try and work towards making my community organizations more diverse, then get slapped down because I am a white male and therefore coming from a position of priviledge, then get yelled at because I am not doing enough. And when I ask in frustration, “What should I be doing?” I get a rant about how my needing to ask is proof that I am hopelessly clueless.
Community building cannot be unilateral. When we find entrenched attitudes that resist change, we need to find others who are open to change. If we give up, they win.
The groups representing “the gay community” don’t represent most of us, in fact.HRC does not speak for me, represent me, or reflect my point of view. I’m an Anglo lesbian. If I feel left out of HRC, how do people of color feel? Even more left out.
Pam Spaulding is an LGBTQ leader who is a woman and an African American. Pam speaks for me because she speaks the truth and she speaks for courage.
There ARE no LEADERS!I read this piece with great interest. I disagree with one assumption and that is the one which presumes we have leaders at all. We do not. We have employed Executive Directors – who receive salaries that often belie their fiduciary duty to their mission statements! They are self appointed and ratified by our misconceptions. So the white elite are not real leaders anyway…. This is the cross road, NOW! Anyone and everyone can emerge in a leadership role/s.
I wrote an article on Lezgetreal recently – actually a few- but specifically referring to our metaphorical Messiah – the GAY MEssiah – who are you – where are you? Where is OUR MLK. In thinking it through I realized that there is only one GAY messiah and that is ONE VOICE.
To utilize and birth the new movement we need to all support an AMENDMENT to the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT as a one VOICE mission and that will turn out Messianic to our movement.
SO if we can all follow the PINK PRINT and call for the same thing at the same time, via BLOG, SIT-IN,SPEAKING,Urging REPS- etc than we can claim ONE VOICE as our true leader.
Its happening as we speak and it excludes No ONE
Please do not stay on the old path – the one where we allow ourselves to be slotted.
Let us friend each other on FB and bridge these crazy gaps we all need each other. THanks Pam for your forum here and I hope you will visit us on Lezgetreal – Best, Melanie Nathan.
Heel TasticThey then flocked to NCTE…
http://www.articlesbase.com/he…
Well, you do what Ida B. Wells didyou “get in where you fit in.”
http://womenshistory.about.com…
But Alvin, let’s also rememberone of the reasons that “a tug of war between the black and gay communities” is a bit of a red herring is any conversation with a dynamic that basically simplifies it to (straight) black v. the (white) gay communities excludes other people of color like Latinos and Asian/Pacific Islanders.
Yes on this MonicaR
Was NBJC invited?I do think our movement has a problem with focusing on the issue at hand. There are so few forums where we can actually talk about issues face-to-face that the disenfranchised (or impatient) often use these rare opportunities to say “I know we are all gathered here to discuss X, but what about this really important issue Y?”
It’s a really hard question.
However, I do think the LGBT movement can’t really be fully effective unless it address its diversity issues (not just race, but class as well).
Who are the gay rights activists?
I don’t mean to be disrespectfulSome influential black ladies in history have been drop dead gorgeous and fashionable. How you look makes a great difference in exerting power over people. Leaders Faye Wattleston of Family Planning and Dorothy Height as a young woman. No wonder she was invited to White House Dinner Parties and great friend of Eleanor Roosevelt. She also was very ethical and not full of anger.
We don’t seem to have beautiful black lesbians in the LGBT Community who could impress the Obama’s and D>C. I’ve lived a long time and know the power of appearance. That is what the Kennedy’s were about.
Just my two centsWell I would be considered by most here to be one of those dreaded white A-Gay’s who sips Chardonnay, owns a tuxedo but guess what, HRC does not represent me anymore either.
Overall I think as a community we spend a tremendous amount of time worried about fair representation. Is any system perfect? I don’t think so, but I also think that if we waited for every steering committee to have equal representation we would never get anything done because we would always be looking for people to fill volunteer slots on boards and such and nothing would ever get accomplished.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all for inclusion. We just can’t put our movement on the back burner while we find a “fill in the blank”. I get so sick of reading all of this that it reminds me why I stopped being involved in any organizations at all and decided to just write checks. Everybody wants to complain that they are not represented or that they are not being heard. It gets very tiring. Twenty years later and we still can’t have a simple town hall without this kind of conversation and it just makes me sad that we are our own worst enemy.
If we put our energy into defeating our opponents instead of beating up on each other we just might be able to take this movement somewhere.