LGBTQ + Focus Group
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LGBTQ + Focus Group
Date of focus group : October 15 , 2020 Facilitators : Jay Warren and Jennifer Wichmann Demographics of the group
• Gender : Male ( 4 ), Female ( 5 ), Non-binary ( 1 )
• Race / Ethnicity : White ( 5 ), African American ( 3 ), Latino ( 2 )
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Summary : The LGBTQIA Focus Group discussion themes included how Arlington can be more of a welcoming space for this community , how to provide resources to support LGBTQIA youth and the avenues that are available for this community to gather in Arlington without having to go to Dallas or Fort Worth for church , social events and sports . The demographics of the group were very diverse including male and female people from ages ranging from over 60 to early 20 ’ s and it included white , Black and Latino participants .
Quote Highlights
• I do know that I live in a community where I would not reach down and take my partners when I was walking through the grocery store .
• It has been kind of a positive change from coming from smaller town Waxahachie to coming to Arlington , but I will also add , it would be nice to have more of an LGBT friendly environment .
• I am Black , gay and a woman . And so I have to like , first burst through the glass of being a woman , then burst through the glass of being gay and also burst through the glass being black and it ’ s like that is a lot to go through as a person .
• The biggest challenge that we have is perception . There ’ s a perception that the city is not welcoming by the LGBT community . And there ’ s a perception by the non-LGBT community that the LGBT community isn ’ t in Arlington .
• There were times where I would have loved a [ school ] counselor to speak to you about some of the challenges and issues and the mental disparity that was facing with coming to grips with my religion and different things .
• We are still all persecuted the same so why can ’ t we find some common ground to where we can be a group and as a group .
Unity Council Report 103