Sexualities.
Mural by Marc-Olivier Lamothe. Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash.
How Does Sexuality Impact Black Migrant Lives?
Black. Migration. Houston. understands sexuality as a key factor restricting the movement, migration, and citizenship of Black LGBTQIA+ migrants in the U.S. South.
Sexualities refers to the various ways humans experience and express their attractions to and relationships with other humans. Rather than strictly personal, sexualities take on a public meaning when they are understood in the context of other human social relationships, such as in the family, the community, and the workplace. At times, sexualities also have a political dimension, in particular when the nation or governing body restricts the rights, movements, or civil liberties of persons with certain sexual experiences and expressions.
OUR PERSPECTIVE
What do we mean by sexual minority?
“Minoritization,” or the disenfranchisement of a group, is not only about the number of people of a certain group, but also about not having access to power and resources. By power we refer to the ability to make long term changes that impact our communities. Our goal at BMH is to highlight how disadvantage is not a “one size fits all” experience. Instead, we want to focus on the diversity of experiences and needs across sexual identity, especially as it intersects with anti-blackness and migration.
What is heterosexism?
We define heterosexism as the assumption that everyone is heterosexual and then privileging those who identify as heterosexual by providing more access to resources and power. We also recognize the assumption of a desire for sexual activity and privileging of relationships centered on sexual behavior.
Our Goals
Our aim is to provide an accessible list of local resources, teaching and learning curriculum about sexuality for a variety of age groups and data that reflects the experiences of the Black LGBTQIA+ migrant population-particularly in the Southern United States.
Our Research Method
A research methodology refers to the way we think about and conduct examinations of people's experiences with oppressive systems. At BMH, we use a transnational feminist approach. This means that we use a community centered approach that addresses the impact of colonialization and sexism among the Black LGBTQIA+ community.
Untitled by Jaylen Pigford, 2020. @jayypigford96
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This work is supported in part by The Joseph Sydney Werlin Sociology Award to Promote Latin American-US Cultural Understanding.