For this resource guide, it will contain numerous tools to aid queer individuals of color in the age of social media, but it also can help those wishing to learn more about queer individuals of color and how their experience differ than Caucasian individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. Many times, queer individuals of color often get lost in the age of technology because of the Eurocentric beauty standards seen throughout dating apps, magazine covers, social media, etc. Therefore, queer individuals of color do not see representation and can feel ostracized in a community that claims to be inclusive. However, for the resources that I have provided, they are more geared towards resources that queer individuals of color can seek help and consolidation in, where others with similar racial/ethnic identities can relate to the differences in their lived experiences. There are some resources that I did find in regards to explaining some of the experiences that QTPOC experience in social media, and they come in the form of different types of media! In this guide, I have included different organizations and groups that queer individuals of color can take part in through activism and events without being silenced by the Caucasian majority, and although I would have loved to find resources for queer individuals of color to receive help in this age of social media, these resources address issues as a whole rather than only concentrating on social media.
- The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
- http://www.nqapia.org/wpp/home/
- For this first resource, I have chosen a resource geared towards Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. It contains information on conferences, programs, and numerous other tools that those with Asian racial/ethnic identities in the LGBTQ+ community can learn more about. Most importantly, this resource brings visibility to the different Asian identities that are present in the LGBTQ+ population, and individuals who visit the site can also donate money in order to support the programs that the NQAPIA puts on. It also has information about their national conference that they host every year that typically brings hundreds of individuals who identify with an Asian racial/ethnic identity together to share the different experiences that queer individuals of color go through.
- Audre Lorde Project
- https://alp.org/
- Based on the feminist Audre Lorde, the Audre Lorde Project focuses on not only the lesbian, gay, and bisexual aspects of the community, but it also puts an emphasis on two spirit and gender non-conforming individuals of color in the New York City area. This resource works by offering educational information in order to promote community wellness and advocate for social and economic justice for the LGBTQ+ community of color. It strengthens the morale of queer individuals of color in order to fight against society’s heteronormative status in order to feel apart of the LGBTQ+ community without feeling the need to fit in with Eurocentric beauty standards.
- DeQH (Desi lgbtQ Helpline for Queer South Asians)
- http://www.deqh.org/
- The DeQH stands for the Desi LGBTQ Helpline for Queer South Asians, and it is a coalition based in the United States that offers completely free, confidential peer support through a telephone hotline service. It is geared towards LGBTQ South Asian individuals, and they offer culturally sensitive information and resources to those in need by providing individuals willing to listen to them who have received trainings through their volunteers. They respect the multiple identities of their callers, even those that may be still questioning their identities, and they are able to be reached with a phone call or email with their hours listed on their website.
- Brown Boi Project
- http://www.brownboiproject.org/
- The Brown Boi Project emphasizes transforming how LGBTQ+ people of color are represented in today’s current society, with a concentration on utilizing this momentum to work towards social change. Through this organization, individuals are able to learn about the economic and social resources available to queer individuals of color, while also providing activism opportunities and ideas in order to spark change in one’s own community. This project has helped numerous individuals understand how their identities play a role in their lives and how to embrace their identities without feeling shamed of their intersectional identities. With numerous marginalized identities, it can be hard for individuals to accept themselves, which is why this resource is able to help individuals struggling with coming to terms with their multiplicative identities.
- National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
- http://www.nqttcn.com/
- The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network focuses on working with the mental health of the QTPOC community. It was launched in May of 2016, and they provide a space where individuals are able to express their concerns in a safe environment to better improve the mental health of the LGBTQ+ individuals of color community. They advocate on improving the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals of color knowing that the intersectionality of their identities may harm their mental health, especially while living in a society where “White” is the default racial identity. Through the media today, it can harm the mental health of queer individuals of color in wanting to look or be Caucasian in order to feel wanted, and this resource can help healers and individuals come together to help with these thoughts.
- El/La Para TransLatinas
- http://ellaparatranslatinas.yolasite.com/about-us.php
- The El/La Para TransLatinas is an organization that is focused on working to create a safe environment where transgender latinas can feel welcomed and accepted. This organization focuses on the risks that translatinas may face in today’s society, and through education, this organization can improve morale and be able to share to the world, the lived experiences of translatinas. Many times in the media, transgender individuals are typically Caucasian, such as Caitlyn Jenner, and this organization is aiding to promote the representation of translatinas throughout the community.
- Gayish Podcast
- http://www.gayishpodcast.com/
- The Gayish podcast is a LGBTQ+ podcast that discusses contemporary issues that LGBTQ+ individuals face in the world today. However, the most fascinating part about this podcast is that these two men, one who is in his late 40s and one in his late 20s, both have different experiences since they both grew up during a different time period. Although they are both Caucasian males, they do bring up the issues that LGBTQ+ individuals of color face in today’s current society, such as beauty ideals, social media presence, Instagram, etc., all in the convenience of a podcast! You can listen to this on the go through your phone and in the car, so there is no excuse as to why you shouldn’t just listen to one. They focus on how social media has created a new type of standard in the LGBTQ+ community, such as through these dating apps or even social media as a whole, and how queer individuals of color are still marginalized in them.
- IntoMore
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWPuCBWzfTIP3N4m8BNcRgA
- This Youtube channel, IntoMore, was actually brought up in one of my archive posts, but the entire YouTube channel is a great resource for any LGBTQ+ individuals of color looking to see how social media has played a role in lived experiences. This channel was created and sponsored by Grindr, a gay dating app, and they bring up current social issues and trends that frequently bring up QTPOC and how their experiences compared to their Caucasian counterparts in the LGBTQ+ community. Many of the topics that are brought up in videos have a diverse representation, such as including African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Latinx, etc., so there is an intersectional approach when delving into certain topics, such as a video on queer couples on consent, especially with the hookup culture aided by social media.