Multiple Minorities: Gay Students of Color
As a whole, rural communities, while often racially homogeneous, are tremendously diverse. As evidenced by small Chicano border towns, rural Plains Indian reservations, and predominantly black villages of the Deep South, people of color are an important segment of rural America. GLBT students of color face particular challenges in their schools and communities. Nearly half of GLBT students of color face harassment at school based on both their sexual orientation and racial background. As these students navigate their multiple marginalized identities, rural programs must be inclusive ones. In recognizing the critical intersection of race and sexual orientation these programs should consider the following questions: Does our organization reach out to students of color? Do students of color feel comfortable here? Do our materials include images of people of color? Do the topics we address appeal to multiple racial groups?