9781422275238

In her original article on intersectionality, Crenshaw illustrates the concept with the idea of a traffic intersection. The cars that are traveling in one direction represent discrimination based on race, while those that travel in a perpendicular direction represent discrimination based on gender. When a black woman is facing discrimination, she is in the middle of intersection, and the injury she receives might come from either direction, or from both at the same time. When an LGBTQ person of color faces discrimination, the injury they receive might originate from their race, their status as an LGBTQ person, or from both directions simultaneously. In this book, the ways that LGBTQ people with intersectional identities that are different from the norm face a double—or even triple or more—challenge is explored. This work would not have been possible without the ideas and work done by the individuals mentioned by name in this book, as well as those of many countless others. A note on the language: when it comes to someone’s identity, it is important to listen to who they say they are and use the terminology they request. In some cases, a term or label may be widely accepted at one point but considered offensive as time goes by. Throughout this book, we have endeavored to utilize the language we feel best represents the individuals to whom we are referring, but it is not always possible to place historical figures into our current cultural understanding of identity. As two queer women, we hope that any offense will be recognized as unintentional. If you are not certain how a person would like to be identified, it is always best to respectfully ask what language they would like you to use.

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Double Challenge • Being LGBTQ and a Minority