Navigating the Complexity of Being BIPOC and Queer
Understanding the terms of this topic
BIPOC: BIPOC is an acronym that stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. People of Color also includes people who aren't white, who aren't only white, and those who are multiracial or racially ambiguous.
Queer (Is this the same as Gay or Lesbian): According to Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, originally the word “queer’ was used as an offensive term to describe a person who did not conform to heternormative prescriptions. In that case, the word ‘queer’ carried a negative and pejorative connotation. Now, the word “queer’ has been reclaimed by LBGTQQIA+ (Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and other identities) community. Queer is now often used as an umbrella term to refer to individuals whose sexual orientations are not exclusively heterosexual. Queer is widely used and highlighted in non-binary, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid communities.
What Does It Mean To Be Queer or BIPOC?
Imagine you are traveling to a different country where you don’t speak the language. You recognize that you dress differently. You speak differently, behave differently and you are having a hard time communicating your needs to the people around you. At some point, you start to feel threatened and unsafe and you start to do whatever it takes to ensure your safety. You might try to learn the language, dress differently and behave in a way that facilitates your assimilation with the environment around you in the hopes that you eventually will belong.
For those who identify with either being BIPOC or queer, we are familiar with the feeling of being out of place. In a society that is dominated by white heteronormative norms, BIPOC and queer people often experience difficulty in finding their place in the world. Oftentimes, we are either recognized or identified by our skin color or our gender expression yet we often feel as though no one really sees us.
Being BIPOC and Queer = Double Minority
Double-Minority refers to individuals who identify with more than one minority group. Even though it is difficult to measure one’s experience objectively, identifying as both queer and BIPOC can feel as though our struggles have multiplied. Trying to navigate our identities as BIPOC and queer can be challenging and oftentimes brings about a higher level of stress when compared to those who identify as white and heterosexual. For example, Black queer men are found to be more racially stigmatized in the LGBTQQIA+ community compared with Asian/Latino, and white queer men respectively (McConnell et al., 2018).
When experiencing stress, BIPOC queer folk might:
Try to assimilate into the dominating culture
Develop and internalize stigma, racism, and sexism within groups
Isolate themselves
Develop negative self-talk and become highly self-critical
Develop resentment towards their own culture
Idealize and idolize the dominating culture
Engage in reckless behaviors
Creating A Narrative Around Intersectionality = Navigating the Complexity of Being BIPOC and Queer
The first step to navigating the complexity of being BIPOC and queer is to recognize our intersectionality. Intersectionality can be described as the interconnection between different aspects of our identities. In order to recognize your intersectionality and create your own narrative, you can start by reflecting on yourself and identify who are you when it comes to:
Gender
Gender Expression
Sexual Orientation
Race
Ethnicity
Country of Origin
Citizenship
Social class
Religion
Immigration Status
Socioeconomic Status
Ability
Mental Health
Physical Size
Once you are able identify and recognize different identities within yourself, try responding to some of these questions/affirmations:
What does it mean to you to have this identity?
What are your feelings as you think of your identity?
What are your heart's deepest desires for who you want to become?
Can you create space for that feeling and how you feel about your identity?
I deserve to be myself
I am where I am meant to be and who I am meant to be
Self-reflection and creating your own narrative can be exhausting and anxiety-inducing, in order to minimize difficult bodily sensations and anxiety, you can try
Lastly, working with a therapist who is queer and BIPOC-affirming can help you learn how to navigate the complexity of being queer BIPOC and create a unique narrative around your intersectionality. Virtual therapy can be especially helpful as it can help you feel less alone with your experience while meeting with a therapist face-to-face in the comfort of your home.
At Repose Therapy, we have a diverse team of therapists who recognize and understand the importance of intersectionality and we are here to help and support you along your journey. Looking for affordable therapy services? Explore our reduced-fee services! Email hello@byrepose.com or call 212.920.1976 with any questions. Book your 15-minute consultation here.