By Robin McHaelen | Executive Director
TR* just turned 21. She graduated from college in May and is trying to figure out what is next for her. She identifies as a Masculine of Center, African, Lesbian Woman – and she has no place to call home. Her African family rejected her because of her lesbian identity and masculine gender expression. Her white mentors and friends can’t fully understand the depth of her rage and fear about the events in Ferguson, Baltimore, New York and South Carolina. Her attempts to talk about her experience of systemic racism and/or homophobia have often led to further isolation. She has been rocked off her moorings when people she loves and admires spit out the taint of bias inherent in growing up white and/or straight in America.
Her story isn’t that unique. Many of our youth of Color have to juggle multiple social identities and loyalties – there are too few places where they get to bring their whole selves. At True Colors, we are working very hard to become a place that all of our youth experience as ‘home’.
Over the last several months, we have co-sponsored and helped organize a series of “Chicago Dinners” bringing people of diverse backgrounds and experiences together over dinner to talk about the ways in which racism impacts us all. We joined the Black Lives Movement and participate in weekly meetings, direct actions and even civil disobedience. (Our Executive Director was one of the “Hartford 17”, 17 activists who were arrested at a Black Lives matter action in downtown Hartford). We are training our staff; engaging in difficult conversations, and changing the look and feel of our office to be more inclusive.
Undoing racism isn’t a destination – it’s a journey. With the support of people just like you, we are walking it side by side, day by day, with our youth.
PS. Marriage Equality also happened in June when the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to prevent same sex couples from marrying if they chose to. True Colors was quite active in the marriage rights movement and we are thrilled with the results. Many, many volunteers, advocates, donors and individuals just like you and I, invested time, energy and resources to make this happen. We are very grateful. And, we are excited to know that because you help us, help us our kids grow up safely, the world will now allow them to marry if they choose. How cool is that?
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