Was having a conversation with some friends in the Houston TBLG community the other night when the subject turned into why the lack of transpeople of color in TBLG organizations in H-town, the state and nationally.
It's because people fail to understand that what you don't see is as important as what you do see.
An organization can say all day long that they are inclusive, they don't discriminate, and they wish to reflect the diversity of the community. They can proclaim it in media interviews, codify it in written policies and their policy stances can reflect those values. The actions the organization takes can even be geared toward helping everyone in the community.
But if all you see when you observe their board meeting or see them interact in the community is a sea of white faces, it sends the unspoken message to people of color that 'we aren't wanted'.
That may not be the message you intend to send, but that's the message that gets sent and received by the members of the community of color.
Actions speak louder than words.
I know it's frustrating for white peeps of good will, but it is just as frustrating for us persons of color to have to explain this concept repeatedly as well without you getting upset or defensive, feeling that we're calling you a 'bigot' or you incorrectly calling us 'racist' for simply pointing out the obvious.
Visual images matter, especially if you are trying to get non-white BTLG/SGL persons involved in a civil rights movement that among persons of color is perceived as 'whites only' especially in its leadership ranks. It's why I
stay on this community's ass constantly about any slight,
erasure or
missed opportunity to show the world that it isn't and this community values diversity not just in word but deed as well.
I'm not going to rest until I see the leadership ranks of this GLBT community reflect the diversity that is in our rainbow community. Diversity in our leadership ranks not only is beneficial for the community, it allows us to create a better, stronger and more comprehensive TBLG political agenda that we can all get behind and feel we have a stake in because we all had input in compiling it.
As long as persons of color are not on the boards of organizations in the BTLG community, don't see the people they consider leaders on them, feel they aren't being listened to, and see our leaders ignored, disrespected and marginalized, then the perception that the LGBT movement is a whites only one will persist.for another decade.
What you don't see is just as important as what you do see. It's past time for the TBLG community to not only think about putting a multicultural face to the world when it comes to the people we all point to as leaders on a local, state and national basis, but do a much better job in our little subset of society of putting it into practice more than our parent society does.
I've written a few posts about the ongoing situation with the Houston based Covenant House Texas and their less than respectful treatment of TBLG kids.
