“At the age of 16, I didn’t know non-binary, transgender, queer and blackness identities could co-exist with one another. At the age of 23 I am a representation of all those identities and I am proud, and liberated. Because I make my own journey, and folks choose to be apart of it or not but they can’t take what’s mine.” — Aidan, Philadelphia
Being a queer black non-binary person attending
a predominantly white institution, I have felt the discomfort of being the
racial minority in the mostly white queer spaces and the sexual and gender
minority in spaces with people of color. I didn’t know where I fit, and so I
felt very alone.
Queer people of color need support,
especially trans people of color. Since the capitalist society we live in
treats higher education as a necessity to succeed, our safety in these
institutions should be treated as a necessity as well. Safety includes being
respected, heard, and supported in all of the intersectionalities of our
identities. In order for that to happen, it is crucial that we have our own
spaces and support systems. I have been subjected to and witnessed a lot of
pain associated with race, sexual orientation, and gender. I am here for and
will continue to fight for the safety of qtpoc. I encourage you to do so as
well.