LGBTQ POC : An Anthology

There are not enough books like this one. That's because a hierarchy of visibility and priority has long favoured white voices over those of colour; gay men over lesbian women; gay and lesbian people over bisexuals.

Transgender, non-binary and gender queer people are the most marginalized and this is especially true of people of colour. Today there are still 72 countries that outlaw same sex acts between consenting adults. In 27 of those, the laws apply only to men. In the rest, they apply to men and women. There are 8 United Nations member states where a person can be put to death for participating in consensual sexual activity with someone of the same sex. Even in countries where LGBTQ rights have become more accepted, trans women of colour have a life expectancy of only 35 years. Black gay and bisexual men in the US have a higher H.I.V. rate than any country in the world. About three-quarters of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) men in the UK have personally experienced racism on the gay scene. LGBTQ people of colour exist and fight for the right to exist in ways white narratives rarely acknowledge.

Representation matters.