by Ren S.

Created on: July 27, 2008   Last Updated: January 19, 2009

Heterosexual and closeted GLBT+* individuals alienating open members of the GLBT+ is a popular topic of conversation, and a quite a bit of time is spent contemplating what can be done to achieve equality in society for such alienated individuals. However, a much less-explored topic is just as, if not more, important: how to achieve equality within the GLBT+ community itself.

I know of many different types of alienation occurring within the community, but my personal experience has been racial alienation. I have joined GLBT groups or been to lesbian bars where others present would barely speak to me but would speak to each other. They couldn't argue that everybody in these places already knew each other as one of the reliable standby-excuses that non-blacks often whip out to justify ignoring blacks and sometimes other minorities. No one in the majority-white GLBT+ group I joined knew each other on the first day of the meetings, but towards the end of the 11 or so group meetings almost all of the whites were very good friends. Two of the women even started dating and moved away together. And the lesbian bar didn't have a "regulars" vibe, but rather more the standard type of clubs or bars where people come with their own little group of friends every once in a while just to have fun. But white women would approach other white women whom they didn't know to talk, introduce themselves and/or with romantic queries. You can imagine that not only is attempting to get involved in the GLBT+ community difficult when someone who is "different" keeps walking into environments like this, but you should also be able to tell that finding a partner is more challenging in these situations. Many people would ask "why not find more resources for GLBT+ minorities." The "minority gay community" is barely even existent or visible around the US nation, let alone big enough to constitute enough support, events or organizations. Most of the time, white GLBT+ resources are the only ones around.

I have also realized that the "gay community" and "gay culture" in the US, and "white," i.e. "American" culture, are almost exactly the same thing. However, it's clear that white GLBT+s don't realize this. This is also problematic for many minorities. My experience is that GLBT+, much like blacks do with black people, expect all GLBT+ people to be similar and/or a certain way. That is, for example, lesbians expect that we all love "The 'L' Word," going to lesbian bars, playing softball and listening

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