Between The Covers: The Diveristy Editon

Editorial: Listen with our ears, Listen with our eyes, Sing everything we see!

Over thirty years ago the writer Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term ‘intersectionality’ to describe how people who are part of marginalised racial groups, classes and genders have specific lived experiences that “intersect” and overlap. The term attempts to explain how people who are part of multiple intersecting groups can experience unique forms of discrimination. For example, how the experiences of a ‘woman’ of colour are different from those of a ‘man’ of colour.

Although originally used by Crenshaw for discussions about gender and race, the term has now to include many other characteristics that are used to discriminate against different groups, to deny people their civil rights and to keep them in poverty. That is to say, a person who is gay, black and disabled, will have a unique, increased and more varied experience of discrimination compared to a person who is part of just one marginalised group.

We should be mindful of this when we reflect on our own LGBT(TQQIAAP) community. Our sexualities and genders are writ large in an ever increasing acronym and in the evolution of the Progressive Pride Flag. But these aren’t the only things that define us. Our community is just as diverse in its ethnicities, religious beliefs, affluence (or poverty) and in experiences of disability and neurodiversity (autism, dyslexia) among others….

We’ve always advocated that, for our community, diversity is strength. But there’s still work to do if we want to be truly inclusive of the many marginalised groups within our community who experience intersectional discrimination.

We’re honoured to have a number of queer and gay authors and artists, who have physical disabilities and neurodiversities, contributing to this edition of Between The Covers. Their stories and experiences as disabled and neuorodiverse people enriches their experience of being LGBT+, and can bring to our community new perspectives, understandings and ideas that could not have been imagined from individual viewpoints. This is the power of intersectionality. There can never be enough colours in the rainbow to reflect and represent our true diversity.

For more information on who we are, please see the information pages on our website: s-x.scot. You can also chat to us through our website using the live chat service, drop us a message on Grindr and Scruff, or email us: info@s-x.scot

Editorial