We've heard your concerns

Dear community, community partners, and advocates,

With recent events happening, we have heard concerns loud and clear. We are committed to hearing, understanding, and healing.  And we will be addressing the concerns in open, direct, honest, and equitable face-to-face conversations.

Through in-depth dialogue, we acknowledge the unique and intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ communities of color, who often experience compounded marginalization and discrimination. These communities have long been at the forefront of social justice movements, yet they continue to face systemic barriers and inequities that impact their well-being and access to resources.

Our commitment is rooted in the understanding that true equity and justice can only be achieved when all members of our society, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual identity, are free from discrimination and have the opportunity to thrive.

We recognize that racism and social injustice has deeply affected LGBTQ communities of color. As an organization, we are committed to owning our part and actively confronting these issues.

We will be engaging with and listening to the voices of LGBTQ people of color to better understand their experiences and the specific challenges they face. This includes ongoing education and training for our leadership and volunteers to address unconscious biases and foster a culture of inclusivity.

We are committed to working with community partners, stakeholders, and allies who share our values. Together, we aim to build trust, foster community healing, and amplify the voices of LGBTQ people of color. We will actively seek out and support partnerships with organizations led by and for LGBTQ people of color.

Through these efforts, we will hold ourselves accountable by regularly assessing our efforts and progress. We will be transparent in our actions and open to feedback from the communities we serve.

Our goal is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all LGBTQ people of color feel valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that healing and growth is essential to this process, and we are dedicated and committed to doing so.

Our journey continues with a meeting with Diverse & Resilient leadership on Friday, August 9. And we are on this journey together.

We invite our community members, allies, and partners to join us in this vital work. Together, we can create a more just, equitable, and compassionate society where everyone is free to live authentically and without fear. 

Our Board of Directors has begun doing the work.  We are committed to reconnecting and healing our relationships with our recent community partners, community, and other stakeholders.

We look forward to sharing updates as our collaboration continues, as well as your ongoing involvement in the process.

If you have questions, please contact us at wislgbtqhistory@gmail.com.