Intersectionality and Social Justice
In 1989, Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectional” to describe how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics “intersect” with one another.
Intersectionality noun
the theory that the overlap of various social identities, as race, gender, sexuality, and class, contributes to the specific type of systemic oppression and discrimination experienced by an individual (often used attributively): Her paper uses a queer intersectionality approach.
When Our Repro Rights Community was first founded we focused on intersectionality. Reproductive freedom is tied to all other facets of our lives and we wanted to make sure our work reflected that. It’s a thoughtful, wonderful plan of action, and one that we messed up many times. We believe the uncomfortableness that comes with learning about intersectionality, privilege, and being an active ally is what makes you a good activist. You will get it wrong sometimes; what you do after is what is important. Acknowledge, apologize, and listen to do better.
Intersectionality is here to ensure our work is inclusive and fight the overwhelming amount of white feminism pretending to be real activism. When you look at discrimination you may think of: racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, classism, and the list goes on. How many have personally affected you?
As our society finally begins to wake up to the violence against Black bodies, we are entering Pride Month and already there have been missteps in combining activism work. LA Pride had been cancelled due to COVID-19 but was reignited in response to the Black Lives Matter movement — LA Pride would be combined to take action together against racism and homophobia. However, this announcement was made before reaching out to Black Lives Matter leaders. LA Pride has since apologized, dropped out, and said it will support all actions and marches hosted by Black Lives Matter. We highlight this error not to further admonish LA Pride but to use it as a learning tool - how easily we can overlook intersectional activism, the real harm this neglect can cause, and how to best respond.
An advisory board of all Black LGBTQ leaders has since organized an All Black Lives Matter march for Sunday, June 14 in LA. In a statement, the advisory board said the following: ‘Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera bravely started a movement at the Stonewall Inn in 1969. They stood up to systemic racism and bigotry. We must acknowledge and recognize the many tireless years of service and action by Black LGBTQ+ people. The LGBTQ+ community must extend its support to unite against oppression, police brutality, racism, transphobia, and the many other disparities disproportionately impacting the Black community.’"
In New York, “Queer Pride is going back to its roots”, the Queer Liberation March for Black Lives and Against Police Brutality hosted by Reclaim Pride Coalition will take place on Sunday, June 28 in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Our activism will be imperfect, but we must always try to be intersectional.