Celebrating Queer Black Pride
Whether you know it or not, someone in your life likely identifies as LGBTQIA+.
If you are an ally to a Black Queer person, here are three ways you can show your love and support.
Listen. When Black TGNCIQ or LGBTQIA+ folks trust you enough to talk about their experiences, do not try and explain them away, deny what they are going through, or solve their problems. Even if it is tough to hear certain things, do not take it personally; just be there for them. The first step as an ally is to listen. Each person’s experiences are varied and nuanced—the more they get to share in a safe space, the more we can all understand each other and heal, despite our differences.
Call out homophobic and transphobic behavior. Violence against LGBTQIA+ communities persists because, even if we do not consider ourselves transphobic, we normalize transphobic behavior, such as exclusion, othering, and humiliation. When you see something like this happen, you can intervene by naming what is happening. Cruel behavior is dehumanizing! Ensure that the person who was harmed has your support.
Ask them what they need. No one has the exact same needs as the next person. Ask if you can provide them with anything to help them feel good about themselves. Send a few suggestions that you know you can follow through with. For example: Can I order you dinner one night this week? Can I drop off a care package? Is there a bill I can pay for you this month that is $100 or less?
Together we can be courageous and determined to share our gifts with the world, in spite of the dangers we face in today’s society.
Terms Used
LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning or Queer, Intersex, and Asexual. The plus sign is used to represent those who do not identify with one of the letters in the acronym (for example, those who identify as pansexual or gender-fluid).
TGNCIQ stands for Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex, and Queer. This acronym centers the experience of trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex community members, who are often not seen to the same degree when LGBTQ is used.
Ace: Short for asexual.
Cis: Short for cisgender (gender assigned at birth).
Deadnaming: Calling a person by a name they no longer use.
Fluid: Term that indicates someone’s gender identity may change over time.
Gray-a: Short for graysexual (gray asexuality, in which someone may intermittently experience attraction to other people).
Nonbinary: Used by people whose gender identity does not fit the binary categories of man and woman.
Pan: Short for pansexual.
Per: Short for “person” (used to describe those who identify as nonbinary).
Poly: Short for polyamorous.
SGL: Short for Same-Gender Loving; used by some Black Americans to describe homosexual or bisexual identity.
Find a list of national Black Pride events at centerforblackequity.org/black-lgbtq-prides. Support the work of those who are fighting for Black lives, visit m4bl.org.
