Blog #1 The Importance of Intersectionality and Self-Determination in the LGBTQIA+ Community

 Anna Corso

WGSS 275

September 20, 2021

The Importance of Intersectionality and Self-Determination in the LGBTQIA+ Community 

Movements for LGBTQIA+ and women’s liberation have historically been driven by the work of Black Queer feminists working for their communities while battling gender, sexuaility, and racial discrimination on several fronts. Audre Lorde famously stated that “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives”, which perfectly encapsulates the necessity of intersectionality in liberation movements. 

 Lorde’s Hierarchy of Oppression examines the way in which multiple identities converge around different types of oppression, specifically around race and gender. Instead of creating a hierarchy of identites that allows for racism and gender discrimination, Lorde asserts that the true way to liberation for all movements is unity and intersectionality. However, uniting a movement requires a shared understanding of these identities which begets a shared vocabulary. An inclusive vocabulary is essential for the identification, affirmation, and self-determination of people in the LGBTQIA+ community because it challenges our attachment to binaries and examines the way that language evolves with culture. Language allows self-determination, while intersectionality encourages us to work across identities towards solidarity and liberation. In this way, both intersectionality and self-determination play essential roles in the liberation of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

   Oppression can take place in the form of systematic biases, purposeful exclusion on an individual and systemic level, actively discriminating against or denying the rights of marginalized groups. Feinberg’s “In the Spirit of Stonewall'' suggests we “fight back shoulder to shoulder”, implying an unwavering commitment to solidarity being key to resisting systems of oppression. This piece also explores the idea of intersectionality, pointing out that gay, lesbian, and trans liberation are inseperable issues; not seperate on paper or in real life.The first brick thrown in the Stonewall Riot was by Marsha P. Johnson, a Black Puerto Rican Trans woman, which is significant because it demonstrates how liberation movements are seldom one-dimensional and the convergence of these identities breeds the opportunity for an intersectional understanding of issues and, ultimately, unity and solidarity across liberation movements.

Intersectionality acknowledges that there are layers to the discrimination one faces that must be considered when examining systems of gender and sexuality oppression. If a person is Black and gay, their experiences would occur at the intersection of those identities, experiencing what Audre Lorde named “The Hierarchy of Oppression” in 1983. Alternatively, a white gay person would not experience oppression the same way as a Black gay person because of systemic racism in addition to gender and sexuality discrimination. However, it is essential that Lorde’s identification of the Hierarchy of Oppression does not divide those who experience oppression because internal conflict and discrinimation within the community weakens the movement from within. Think of it like this: focusing on what we have in common, where our identities converge, and connecting through our shared experiences is much more effective than creating a hierarchy and infighting over where our identities may differ. Labeling identities can help one find validity and community, but we must be careful not to let them divide us because divided movements pose little threat to systems of oppression.

Language is another powerful way to break boundaries and contribute to social change because it is an evolving force that holds the power to reflect our cultural understanding of social issues and other people’s identities. Because the English language is limited in its ability to accurately identify and affirm trans, nonbinary, and intersex individuals, self-determination is also limited for these groups. Because the language we use is representative of our biases, emotions, and assumptions, naming people and identities accurately is a powerfully simple way to demonstrate self-determination. This allows each individual to say, “Yes, this is who I am!” and be supported, respected, and accepted by others.  Dreilinden describes how self-determination plays into LGBTQIA+ liberation: 

“Sexual self-determination thereby includes the right to live one’s desired sexuality freely and stay free and safe of unwanted sexuality. Protection of human dignity also means that due weight has to be given to both elements of this sexual dignity as defined by human rights. Naturally, this includes the right to gender self-determination i.e. to be in command of one’s own sex/gender as in the case of transgender or intersex people.” 

Naming identities has the potential to allow marginalized groups to take their power back through reclaiming words. For example, Dr. Scerbo’s ‘Safe Zone’  list of gender-inclusive vocabulary includes words such as queer and dyke, which are words that have historically been weaponized against gay folks, but have since been reclaimed by some members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The modern usage of these words has strayed from their original connotations, demonstrating the elasticity of language which reflects our shifting culture. By expanding our vocabulary around gender and sexuality, we can hopefully come closer to LGBTQIA+ liberation by using language that holds space for every identity and therefore grants self-determination to marginalized groups.  

Both intersectionality and self-determination play essential roles in the liberation of the LGBTQIA+ community, as demonstrated through Feiberg’s piece on the Stonewall Riots, Audra Lorde’s “Hierarchy of Oppression”, and Safe Zone’s gender-inclusive vocabulary. 

Words: 840

Bibliography

            Dobson, M. (2013, July 12). Intersectionality: a fun guide. beyond these mountains. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://miriamdobson.com/2013/07/12/intersectionality-a-fun-guide-now-in-powerpoint-presentation-formation/?blogsub=confirming#blog_subscription-2

            Dreilinden & SOS Kinderdörfer. (2016, April). "Skirt? Nope, not for me!" Sexual and gender self-determination for children and youth in alternative care settings (P. P. Baumgartinger, Ed.; M. Belka, Trans.; Issue #1). SOS Children's Villages International. Retrieved September 18, 2021, from https://www.dreilinden.org/pdf/Skirt-Nope-not-for-me.pdf

            Feinberg, Leslie. Trans Liberation : Beyond Pink or Blue . Beacon Press, 1998.

 Lorde, Audre. “There is no hierarchy of oppressions.” Bulletin: Homophobia and Education. Council on Interracial Books for Children, 1983.

Scerbo, R. Core Vocabulary.