Re-coloring the Rainbow
By Patrice

When I think of GLBTQ women of color, I think of the phrase, “re-coloring the rainbow.” GLBTQ is an acronym that stands for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender /transsexual, and queer/questioning. Because GLBTQ women of color are a minority within a minority, there is a shortage of research, resources, and representation in the media of these women. Racism continues to pervade our society; there is also much opposition to homosexuality in a society where many believe that everyone is born heterosexual and that homosexuality is a choice. Even within the GLBTQ community, women’s needs may be overlooked; and even within the GLBTQ community of women, the needs and issues of minority women are sadly ignored.

I encounter this issue when I want to do something as simple as reading a book. I am an avid reader of books pertaining lesbian issues such as health, fiction, etc. When I go to the library or bookstore, there is an overwhelming selection of heterosexual books. After I manage to find the small section of GLBTQ books, most of them are written for GLBTQ males. Furthermore, the books for GLBTQ women address the needs of white women. I still read the books, because I can identify with the general lesbian issues. However, sometimes I feel like they don’t identify with me because I am black.

I admit I may present a biased view on this issue about GLBTQ women of color. After all, I am a black lesbian. I can only imagine the difficulties that other underrepresented sexualities, races, and ethnicities face. Using my book example, the minority books I do find are usually for black lesbians. Where are the books for Latinas, Pacific Islanders, Asian, Native Americans, Middle Eastern among other ethnicities and races? What about other sexual orientations such as transgender, transsexual, bisexual, pansexual, among others as well?

Representations of GLBTQ women of color are few and often negative.
Stereotypes dating back centuries deemed women of color as being overly sexualized and promiscuous. This conception of non-white female sexuality intersects with the media’s highly sexualized representation of GLBTQ women and lesbian sex. I have yet to see a truly positive role model for lesbians of color on network television – in general TV and the movies prefer instead to present women of color as sexual objects to please men, no matter what the women’s sexual orientation.

As GLBTQ young women of color, we do not have to be invisible in our community or the world. Our voice is the most valuable and powerful tool we possess to create change. Here are a few suggestions for re-coloring the rainbow:

• Write or email letters to television networks, publishing companies, health organizations or other institutions and request more representation for GLBTQ women of color.
• Join organizations for GLBTQ women of color in your area for additional support. If one is not available, start one!
• Visit websites which provide additional information about GLBTQ women of color such as Advocates for Youth , MySistahs, and YouthResource.