Over the past several weeks, we have been studying the social dynamic of race relations among Atlanta's LGBT community so that we may be able to design an appropriate approach to improving multicultural relations and fostering interdependence in the face of our continued quest for equality in our state.
So far, a narrative is building which says:
- Most LGBT Atlantans feel as though our community has a race problem.
- Most feel it is slightly better than other cities.
- Most feel that the General White Citizenry as a cultural sub community is mostly the primary cause and contributor to LGBT Atlanta's failings on race relations.
"Because everything is separated and segregated. No one works together as a team. There is black gay pride and pride (white gay pride). Pride always gets the most attention yet it doesn't include most multicultural people at the planning stages."
"I'm not sure if any one racial group is responsible, because I know many white and black gays and Lesbians who embrace everyone. However, I also know many on both sides who don't. The big problem for me is that I feel that us gays should be the most welcoming of any group as we know how it feels to be discriminated against. We should be the most welcoming of all groups... but we aren't. In fact we are very segregated, and not just along racial lines, along male, female, and trans lines, among "masculine" and "feminine", rich and poor, hiv positive and negative... and the list goes on and on and on. It sickens me, but I don't know if it will change or how to even instigate change."
"It really just mirrors the issue of race relations in the city in general. White paternalistic views that only use blacks for show and never have a real seat at the table and dismiss them and their concerns"
"The city is filled with individuals who regardless of sexual orientation treat this as a playground. It is not where people move to for social change or political action"
"The dress code put up in Blake's is indicative of the racial tension in the Gay community."
"The white lgbt community tries to include the black lgbt community. However not recognizing the different culture experiences. The black lgbt community not willing to accept a compromise after the white lgbt community has extended and invitation."
"There are some racists on all sides. Other individuals are unfamiliar of the other races."
"These are oversimplified choices. But it is a question of privilege. Privilege mostly drives differences among different ethnic/racial groups. However, white straight males of a certain status drive most of the decisions that cause race relations problems"
"This is a very complex issue and I'm not sure if you can blame it on one group. This is not fair. I'm also not sure if both demographics are equally responsible since one may be more responsible than the other."
"White people in general are very hesitant or possibly indifferent to the Black culture completely. If Black people are not entertaining White people, there really isn't an interest from White people to understand who Black people are."
I thank all of these anonymous responders. Now if you wish, your participation in this narrative would be greatly appreciated. Follow the story, HERE
