Color Coded Queers June 2015 | Page 9

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6. Have you ever felt racism within the LGBT+ community?

Not particularly, I haven't spent much time in the LGBT+ communities outside of twitter/tumblr,where most people are generally educated on race issues. In the GSA at my school a couple of us are PoC and we share our experiences with racism; our white members are good allies.

7. Have you ever experienced anti-LGBT+ sentiments within your own race's community?

Yes, definitely, as a large portion of Latin@s are devoted Catholics and generally don't hold LGBT+ individuals in high regards.

8. What do you think is the LGBT+ community's biggest internal problem?

Intracommunal fights between lesbians/bisexual women. We should be supporting eachother instead of bickering constantly.

9. What do you think is the best way to fix the LGBT+ hatred within your own community?

Education and visibility

10. What's your own advice to QTPOC who feel excluded from their own race/ethnicity's community because of prejudice and the LGBT+ community because of racism?

Remember you're not the only one. I used to constantly worry that I'd be shunned from my family and subsequent Guatemalan/Latin@ community after I came out. It's something I still worry about for when I finally do come out, but now I have LGBT+ Latin@ friends online who I can turn to if things turn sour within my own family.