In an effort to highlight experiences of queer people of color and integrate racial justice into the LGBT movement, the LGBT Center of Central PA will host a panel discussion Feb. 20.
The panel, “Queering Racial Justice,” will aim to open a dialogue on racism in the LGBT community.
“This is an important opportunity for our LGBTQ communities, as well as allies, to engage in the critical conversation of how we acknowledge the racism that exists within our movement and seek to take intentional actions to embed racial justice in all of the work that we do,” said Amanda Arbour, the center’s executive director.
LGBT Center of Central PA Board President Heidi Notario will kick off the discussion. Arbour will also speak on the importance of having white community members engaged in the conversation as well as how the center will carry out the message.
The center is led by volunteers who work to hold common ground for the LGBT community and allies in central Pennsylvania through educational and cultural services and community activities.
This event will focus on the voices of queer people of color by featuring a panel of individuals with diverse identities and lived experiences, which Notario will facilitate.
Four panelists will speak: Keisha McToy, Dre Ceja, Angela Kirkland and Adanjesus Marin.
McToy is the manager of operations at Alder Health Services, the only LGBT-focused health-care provider in the central Pennsylvania area.
Ceja is actively involved in local LGBT communities and is the founder of ARTS of PA, which uses art to raise money directly supporting trans and non-binary people who are starting their transitions. Ceja is also the facilitator for the Passageways group at the center.
Kirkland is a pro-black and queer activist, as well as writer and spoken-word artist. Marin is a community organizer, leader and director of Make the Road PA, a Latinx organization working for justice through organizing and building community leadership.
“We know that queer people of color are systematically excluded from queer spaces, that LGBTQ organizations are predominantly led by white people and that issues vital to the survival of queer people of color are often not prioritized in our movements agenda,” Arbour said.
The panel will explore various questions that will hone in on what racism looks like in the LGBT movement and queer spaces. Discussion also will center on the importance of integrating racial justice into LGBT movement work and what individuals and organizations can do to make that happen.
“It is essential that we engage in what can be an uncomfortable conversation about the ways that racism manifests itself in our communities and how we can intentionally seek to address that,” Arbour said.
There will also be time for questions and discussion with the audience following the panel. The event is anticipated to conclude at 8 p.m.
Queering Racial Justice will be held 6-8 p.m. at the LGBT Center of Central PA, 1306 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1215686848563541/.