People of Color: An LGBTQ experience.
I’ve never always identified myself as a leader in regards of my identity, every time I think about leadership–it has been attempting to help out an organization that supported others and in return learning from my experience and making wonderful friends.
But my color, my sexuality, and my background make up an important aspect of who I am and how I go about life–and slowly but surely I’ve learned to make many of my opportunities as being a leader related to working with my identities and helping foster a safe and inclusive environment.
There is a certain beauty when people use their identities in order to create a safe environment in which others feel empowered to be involved in the leadership process. Though not everyone may be explicitly a member of the LGBTQ, creating an environment in which people in all parts of the queer spectrum are allowed to grow and foster their leadership identities.
April 10th, 2013 at 1:48 am
Thanks for sharing this Rodrigo! This is a very valid point, especially within the college community where people are really starting to figure out who they are! It’s important to have a healthy environment as a resource so that people have the freedom to learn about themselves and what their identity is. Sounds like ODIME material!
April 11th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
I think it’s super important to create safe spaces for all identities! I think a big problem with people who are oppressed is that we are always told to let other, more privileged people, lead us. We are told that the legitimacy of our identities are based off of what the privileged group thinks! By creating safe spaces and cultivating people with oppressed identities into leaders, we can create better and more inclusive social change!
April 15th, 2013 at 11:20 am
Annette,
I certainly agree with your blog post. Each individual’s background influences their leadership style and ideologies. Your activism and advocation for gender appreciation is a social issue that needs to be recognized with understanding. This is only one of the reasons why I consider myself a Feminist.