On September 15, 2010, the Applied Research Center and the Arcus foundation did a study called "Better Together: Research Findings on the Relationship Between Racial Justice Organizations and LGBT Communities." The study is here and the executive summary is here.
Seattle Gay News reported that:
On September 15, a new landmark study on the relationship between racial justice organizations and LGBT communities found that the lack of resources, funding, and community support are obstacles to engagement.
The study[...]points out that there are damaging perceptions about LGBT communities and racial justice groups - specifically, that LGBT identity and politics are for white people, and that communities of color are disproportionately homophobic.
'These myths harm LGBT communities of color and continue to be perpetuated by divisive, politically motivated platforms such as the Proposition 8 Campaign,' said Rinku Sen, president and executive director of ARC.
The study was commissioned in order to discuss the differences and similarities between the two communities and to provide recommendations on how best to work together to fight these problems.
"The report focuses on current engagement efforts, perceived barriers, potential opportunities, and key recommendations for advancing work in this intersectional area,"[...]"When racial justice groups, including those focused on LGBT people, take on the intersection of race and sexuality, they can build enduring political power to make the policy and practice changes that improve communities nationwide."
I wrote yesterday that the NAACP is becoming more involved in working with the LGBT community and that we in the LGBT community need to do more to extend our support to them as well. We all mostly have the same interests and goals. We're all on the same side in life, and especially on a forum like this, for progressive thinkers. We can try to work together and fight later.
The ARC's press release on the study lists some recommendations:
"Better Together" is a result of surveys and interviews with more than 80 organizations and 30 key leaders, based on the premise that significant numbers of LGBT people are of color and comprising an important part of the racial justice constituency. The report focuses on current engagement efforts, perceived barriers, potential opportunities, and key recommendations for advancing work in this intersectional area. Said Sen, "When racial justice groups, including those focused on LGBT people, take on the intersection of race and sexuality, they can build enduring political power to make the policy and practice changes that improve communities nationwide."
Primary recommendations are to increase funding and support for LGBT organizations of color, invest in tools for strategic clarity, support leadership development for LGBT leaders of color, and build media and communications infrastructure. "The significance of philanthropic support for racial justice engagement of LGBT issues cannot be overestimated," says Roz Lee, senior program officer for Arcus Foundation’s Racial Justice, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity program. "There is a critical need for general and targeted funding for LGBT organizations of color and partnership-building. Additionally, funders must support media and leadership development in order to increase visibility for the incredible work that is happening every day."
One problem is that programs for LGBT people of color exist but they do not get media attention. We're 'media' aren't we? Let's write more about them:
Better Together" also warns that many existing programs focused on LGBT people of color do exist but are not receiving media attention and visibility that would support expansion, much less impact public perception of the issues necessary for policy change. Through its daily news site, ColorLines.com, Applied Research Center has already devoted a considerable amount of coverage to exposing racial injustices related to the LGBT community. "We applaud concerted efforts by news outlets and organizations that extend a platform beyond the established voices to include LGBT leaders of color." said Sen.
The report notes that lack of media attention isn't just a problem but one of the biggest setbacks:
[P]rojects start with internal discussion and political education, and develop through issue campaigns to change policies and institutional practices. Some of this engagement is quite mature. Furthermore, there is significant interest among racial justice organizations in integrating LGBT issues, but they cannot learn from others’ experiences because these stories receive relatively little attention from the media and other institutions.
And they're right. What do we get with our media? Rich white guys speaking for gays, and divisiveness between our communities, especially after Prop. 8 and the flawed CNN exit poll which was promoted endlessly by the media to stoke racial resentment. Horrifyingly enough it worked. We can't rely on the media to get things right or to report on things that will help us. We have to write it ourselves.
Hopefully this study will reach more people.