Wikipedia

Media and LGBT youth of colour in the United States

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Shannonk2799 (talk | contribs) at 21:25, 27 November 2017 (→‎Hashtags: Proper Citation). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

LGBTQ youth of colour are the subject of social discourse around a variety of issues that surround specific marginalized adolescents within the LGBTQ community. There are many broad social issues that are related to LGBTQ-orientated youth and also to LGBTQ-orientated youth of colour such as: homelessness, cyberbullying, physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, drug addiction, street violence, immigration surveillance, engagement in high risk sexual activities, self harm, and depression[disambiguation needed].[1][2][3][4] There is discourse regarding the rights of LGBTQ youth of colour, and that they are not being addressed in discussions of sexuality and race in the larger context of LGBTQ rights.[5][1]

There are issues that specifically pertain and address LGBTQ youth of colour, mainly stemming from the study of intersectionality.[6] LGBTQ youth of colour can experience multifaceted types of discrimination such as sexism, homophobia, transphobia, racism, heterosexism, white supremacy, poverty among other social issues, sometimes happening all at once.[1] These intersections highlight problems of concern for marginalized individuals within an already marginalized community, such as cultural competency, the School to Prison Pipeline (STPP), and school push-outs. [3]

Mobilization of LGBTQ youth of colour activities aimed to provide safe spaces and support generally take place in: libraries, schools, non-for-profit agencies and designated community spaces.[2] The spaces outreaching to LGBTQ youth of colour provide support and education through providing practical pro-sex sexual education, mental health support, empowerment and positive role models.[1] Many spaces such as these require state grant funding under the umbrella of HIV/AIDS prevention.[1]

Activism through media

Different types of performance such as theater, drag shows, and street theater, have been utilized as an influential resource for queer communities in response to LGBTQ rights, such as during the AIDS crisis in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.[5] LGBTQ youth of colour have been using performance to tell their stories through similar means of expression and also through more modern conventions of media, such as social media, video production, blogging, and podcasting.[7][8][9]

Media initiatives

There has been an increase in media initiatives to be more inclusive for youth that identify as members of the LGBTQ community.[10] Many platforms now have channels that can be considered 'safe,' or 'welcoming' for LGBTQ Youth of Colour.

Hashtags

When looking at LGBT youth of colour and their presence in media, there are some hashtags that bring forward issues they face because of their intersectionality. The hashtag #morecolormorepride celebrates the addition of both a brown and black stripe, changing the iconic rainbow flag originally designed by Gilbert Baler.[11] The additional stripes were added to make the LGBTQ community more inclusive and an advocate for racial discrimination.

 
Pride Flag

In addition, the hashtag #VisibleMe was created to highlight stories from LGBT youth from all over the world. The hashtag was used by a diverse community on multiple platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Many young teens shared their stories and created a channel on Instagram[12]. There are also movements such as the #40toNoneDay that raised awareness regarding POC youth homelessness and within the LGBT community.[13] Sara Ramirez, who plays a bisexual doctor on Grey’s Anatomy, is an advocate for the movement to bring attention to how 40% of youth who are homeless identify as being part of the LGBT community. With LGBT youth making up less than 7% of the general youth population.[13]

Blogs

Blog posts are another popular form of media where representation and expressions of LGBTQ youth of colour can be found. Best-selling author and trans activist Janet Mock began blogging in 2010 and writes about gender, race, and representation. Mock was named as one of Time magazine’s 30 most influential people on the internet. The blog features a variety of posts relevant to teens ranging from bullying to the phenomenon known as “Black Girl Magic”[14].

Black Girl Dangerous is a social justice blog written from a QTPoC perspective and was founded by writer Mia Mckenzie in 2011.[15] The blog has featured over 300 queer and trans-writers who have contributed their voices to topics such as the queer male gaming experience.[16] Despite having over 7 million readers, Black Girl Dangerous ended its online publication as of July 31, 2017.[17]

The social networking site Tumblr also features a variety of blogs geared towards LGBT youth of colour such as Fuck Yeah Queer People of Color and LGBT + PoC.[18] These blogs serve to provide a space for LGBT youth of colour to engage in community with other LGBT PoC youth.[19]

Podcasts

With the rise in popularity of podcasts, the LGBTQ of colour community has entered this space to connect with one another and freely discuss triumphs and issues they face. In Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Kaila Story and Jaison Gardner, two black members of the LGBTQ community, discuss a variety of topics weekly on their podcast Strange Fruit.[20] Some of their topics pertain to the interests of many youth such as “politics, pop culture, and black gay life".[20] Nia King produces the podcast We Want the Airwaves, which focuses on queer and trans people of colour, especially those that identify as artists.[21] In an interview, King focuses on fighting oppression against this marginalized group and raising awareness for queer and trans artists of colour.[22] Trans Youth Equality Foundation funds a podcast, TransWaves, which focuses on education, advocacy, and support for transgender youth and their families. Focusing on popularizing the trans child movement, the podcast features interviews and anonymous advice to listeners.[23]

Advocates for Youth

Advocates for Youth is an online activism and informational resource portal for all youth, but puts emphasis on many initiatives for the LGBTQ Youth[24]. One of the segments of Advocates for Youth is YouthResource, a website "created by and for gay, lesbian, transgender, and questioning young people," that offers online peer educators to create an inclusive space. One of the most successful features of Youth Resource has been MyStoryOutLoud. MyStoryOutLoud is a digital storytelling campaign for LGBTQ Youth of Colour to use technology to allow their voices to be heard, and bring awareness to providing safe spaces in communities. Using platforms such as Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram, LGBTQ+ People of Color can highlight their experiences through narratives in video or written form, along with other forms of art, including poetry and pictures.[25] Another resource, Amplify, which is sponsored by Advocates for Youth, which is a self-claimed "online youth activism hub."[24] Advocates for Youth also have a Cultural Advocacy and Mobilization Initiative for helping create activities to empower youth through leadership training and allowing the youth to educate the community about safe spaces.[26]

Media impact

There are studies surrounding racism, heteronormativity, homonormativity, and positive role models for queer youth in media portrayals and how the lack of inclusion of visible LGBTQ people of colour in media can affect LGBTQ youth of colour in regards to coming out and psychological development.[5] There is also the physiological aspect in regards to homeless LGBTQ youth of colour as they rely on some forms of media, such as cellphones, as a means of survival by being a resource for getting a job, internet access, resisting police harassment and documenting police misconduct. [27]

Notable people

Many celebrities have used their influence on society to promote attention to this cause.

Transgender

 
Laverne Cox at San Francisco Trans March

LaVerne Cox, a black openly transwoman, has been known for her crusade for trans-youth rights. Though accomplished in filmography, she is known for her advocacy for trans-rights both on the screen and off. Earning a spot on Time’s 100 Most Influential People List and as one of the icons for the LGBT History Month, she has used her fame and success to try to affect policy and increase acceptance overall[28]. From speaking engagements to creating a documentary[29], Cox hones in on the intersectionality of being trans and of colour. Cox created a dialogue for youth of colour, and consistently shares support and resources to her trans youth followers.[30]

Gay and bisexual men

RuPaul Andre Charles became famous for his drag queen performance and his release of his single “Supermodel” in 1993. RuPaul gained recognition as a master of transformation gaining success in reality T.V. for “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. In this hit show, he has queens lip sync battle in order to stay in the competition. The show discusses issues surrounding masculinity and male femininity. Other issues include people living with HIV, recovering from addiction, trans community and the fight for marriage equality.[31]

Hip hop singer and songwriter Frank Ocean released his debut studio album Channel Orange in 2012. Days before the album's release, Ocean used the social media platform Tumblr to write an open letter in which he reminisced about his feelings towards another young man.[32] 

 
Frank Ocean is an American musician

The album received critical acclaim and garnered six Grammy Award nominations. Ocean also received wide support from within the music industry as Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons and other celebrities voiced their support. As one of the first openly gay hip hop artists, Frank Ocean is credited for breaking barriers within the hip hop/r&b genres which have had long a history of homophobia.[33]

Film and television

Kiki culture

Inspired by the underground drag ballroom culture of New York, Kiki culture is a subculture of the ballroom scene which is led by LGBT youth of colour[34]. Although more informal than the ballroom scene, it provides a space for LGBT youth of colour to express themselves through performance and allows them to network with other LGBT youth[35]. Kiki Culture also sets itself apart from ballroom culture through its focus on political and social activism, bringing attention to issues within the LGBT community such as homelessness and HIV. Kiki culture has been brought into the mainstream media through the documentary Kiki written by Sara Jordenö and co-written by Twiggy Pucci.[36] The band Scissor Sisters have also contributed to bringing Kiki culture into mainstream media through their song, “Let’s Have a Kiki” which was released in September 2012 and later covered on the Fox television show Glee.[37]

Documentaries 

One documentary that focuses specifically on the trans community is Laverne Cox’s Emmy winning The T Word[38]. The documentary looks into the lives of seven teens and young adults who identify as trans sharing their lived experiences and the struggles they have to face on a daily basis. The film focuses on issues pertaining to bullying on campus, challenges of changing gender pronouns, family issues, and insights on relationships and sex. A second documentary focuses on the problem of youth homelessness within the LGBT community. Approximately 500,000 youth experience homelessness and 200,000 identify with the LGBT community, PoC represent over 70% of the LGBT youth homelessness[39]. The documentary follows Beniah, Noel, Giovanno, Benjamin, Danielle and Zaykeem over the course of 18 months. Of the youth profiled, two are queer women: Noel and Danielle.

Youth LGBTQ PoC characters 

Many shows popular with today’s youth include main and secondary characters that are LGBTQ and of color. LGBTQ PoC Youth can watch these shows and see their ‘minority within a minority’ being represented.

Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black (OITNB) – Netflix’s Orange is the New Black include many characters that identify as LGBT or find themselves questioning their sexuality while at the penitentiary. Poussey Washington, played by Samira Wiley, is a black lesbian who was open about her sexuality before her incarceration. During the show, she developed a relationship with Brook Soso, played by Kimiko Glenn. Soso dated men before entering the prison, yet pursued a relationship with her fellow female inmate. Another character includes, Sophia Burset, a transwoman played by LaVerne Cox. The show includes her struggles as a transwoman from harassment to getting her necessary hormones.

Pretty Little Liars

 
Shay Mitchell plays a Emily Fields on ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars.

ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars includes a main character Emily Fields who is in a relationship for part of the show with Maya St. Germain. Maya, a black lesbian, is played by Bianca Lawson. Emily Fields, played by Shay Mitchell, a multi-raced woman, goes on to be engaged to Alison DiLaurentis in the show as well.

13 Reasons Why

Netflix’s series based on the book 13 Reasons Why includes Tony Padilla, one of the main characters in the show and distributor of the tapes. Padilla, is a gay Hispanic, played by Christian Navarro. Towards the end of the season, Padilla comes out to the main character, Clay, as gay. Padilla briefly mentions familial issues and lack of acceptance he faces in his Catholic household. He dates Brad in the show as well.

Glee

Unique Unique Adams - played by Alex Neweel is a young black trans woman on Fox’s musical comedy-drama television show Glee, which aired from 2009 to 2015. In the show, prevalent issues such as using the school’s bathroom policy, shed light on issues that trans folk face. She is also pivotal in the support of Coach Beiste after his transgender operation on the show.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Brockenbrough, Ed. "Becoming Queerly Responsive: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy For Black And Latino Urban Queer Youth". Urban Education 51.2 (2014): 170-196. Journal.
  2. ^ a b Vaccaro, AnneMarie, Gerri August, and Megan S. Kennedy. Safe Spaces: Making Schools And Communities Welcoming To LGBT Youth. California: ABC-CLIO, 2012. Print.
  3. ^ a b "GSA Network and Crossroads Collaborative,. LGBTQ Youth Of Colour: Discipline Disparities, School Push Out And The School-To-Prison Pipeline. San Francisco, CA and Tucson, AZ:". Gay-Straight Alliance Network and Crossroads Collaborative. 2014. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  4. ^ Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network,. Shared Differences: The Experiences Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender Students Of Color In Our Nation's Schools. New York: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 2009. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Clay, Andreana. The Hip-Hop Generation Fights Back. 1st ed. New York: New York University Press, 2012. Print.
  6. ^ Terriquez, Veronica. "Intersectional Mobilization, Social Movement Spillover, And Queer Youth Leadership In The Immigrant Rights Movement: Table 1.". Social Problems 62.3 (2015): 343-362. Journal.
  7. ^ YTH (2016-06-10). "#MyStoryOutLoud: Digital Storytelling for LGBTQ Youth of Color". YTH. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  8. ^ "[Amplify] True Colors: Documentary Film Featuring LGBT Youth of Color in Love, Friendship, and Theater! - QWOC Media Wire". Qwoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  9. ^ "BQY: Creating Space, Creating History - SKETCH". Sketch.ca. 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  10. ^ http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about-us/programs-and-initiatives/1067?task=view
  11. ^ Gilbert Baker: The Gay Betsy Ross (video). In the Life Media. June 23, 2016. Event occurs at 2:31. Retrieved 2017-06-02 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Webster, Emma Sarran. "Instagram Just Launched Its First LGBTQ Channel". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  13. ^ a b "#40toNoneDay - Ending LGBT Youth Homelessness". TrueColorsFund.org. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  14. ^ Wilson, Julee (2016-01-12). "The Meaning Of #BlackGirlMagic, And How You Can Get Some Of It". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  15. ^ "The BGD Podcast Archives - BGD". BGD. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Black Girl Dangerous -". Black Girl Dangerous. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  17. ^ "About BGD Press and BGD Blog". BGDBlog.org. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Fuck Yeah Queer People of Color!". fuckyeahqueerpeopleofcolor.Tumblr.com. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  19. ^ "16 Thought Provoking Social Justice Blogs on Tumblr".
  20. ^ a b "Strange Fruit - 89.3 WFPL News Louisville". 89.3 WFPL News Louisville. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  21. ^ "We Want the Airwaves". qtpocart.Libsyn.com. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Nia King's Urgent Message: "We Were Here and Our Lives Matter"". KQED.org. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  23. ^ {{|title=Trans Youth Equality Foundation}{cite web|url=http://www.transyouthequality.org/}}
  24. ^ a b "Advocates for Youth". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  25. ^ "VidCon 2017: LGBTQ creators and panels to check out". GLAAD. 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  26. ^ "The Impact of Homophobia and Racism on GLBTQ Youth of Color". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  27. ^ Post. "LGBT Youth of Color and Mobile Technology". Slideshare.net. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  28. ^ "Laverne Cox by Jazz Jennings: TIME 100". Time. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  29. ^ Dry, Jude. "Laverne Cox Rallies Trans Youth in Short Doc 'Gavin Grimm Vs.' — Watch | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  30. ^ Toce, Sarah (2014-10-13). "Interview: Laverne Cox Presents New Hope for Trans Youth With Documentary The T Word". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  31. ^ Hargraves, Hunter. ""You Better Work:" The Commodification of HIV in RuPaul's Drag Race" (PDF). {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  32. ^ "Frank Ocean". Frank Ocean. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  33. ^ "A Close Look At Frank Ocean's Coming Out Letter". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  34. ^ Gamarel, Kristi E.; Walker, Ja’Nina J.; Rivera, Lillian; Golub, Sarit A. (2014-07-03). "Identity Safety and Relational Health in Youth Spaces: A Needs Assessment with LGBTQ Youth of Color". Journal of LGBT Youth. 11 (3): 289–315. doi:10.1080/19361653.2013.879464. ISSN 1936-1653.
  35. ^ "Kiki movie highlights activism in young ballroom scene". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  36. ^ "KIKI_landing". kikimovie.com. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  37. ^ "Kiki: The wild dance movement formed out of radical resistance". Huck Magazine. 2016-09-10. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  38. ^ MTV (2016-08-09), Laverne Cox Presents: 'The T Word' Full Documentary | MTV, retrieved 2017-11-27
  39. ^ "True Colors Fund | Our Issue". True Colors Fund. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Media_and_LGBT_youth_of_colour_in_the_United_States&oldid=812440487"