Black History Month & LGBTQ+ Voices
As we go into Black History Month, it’s essential to centre not just the narratives that are well known, but those that sit at the crossroads those lived by people who carry multiple identities. For Black, racialised, or global majority LGBTQ+ individuals, the intersection of race, sexuality, gender, class, and more creates unique experiences of discrimination, resilience, and hope.
At Support U, we believe in the power of intersectional support recognising that people don’t exist in single-issue silos. In this blog, we want to reflect on the additional layers of challenge, the paths forward, and how we plan to respond by launching monthly groups specifically for global majority LGBTQ+ communities.
The Added Layers: Why Intersectionality Matters
The term intersectionality was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw to explain how multiple axes of oppression such as race, sexism, class, and sexuality don’t just add up, but compound in ways that change the nature of someone’s experiences. consortium.lgbt+1
For Black and global majority LGBTQ+ people, that means:
Racism within LGBTQ+ spaces, can sometimes make people feel othered even within queer communities, where whiteness can be seemed as the default norm.
We acknowledge that Homophobia or transphobia within Black or racialised communities can be hard to navigate, with tension between cultural, familial, or religious expectations and their own identity.
Studies show there is a heightened risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and trauma for populations experiencing multiple marginalisations. The Barriers to accessing support can feel unsafe or alienating and they do not reflect their experiences.
These are not just theoretical burdens, written only in studies but they affect real lives, day to day:
People may not feel safe to disclose parts of themselves.
Some avoid seeking help because of previous negative or alienating experiences.
Isolation increases when the space you might reach out to doesn’t see or understand you fully.
When we plan support services, these are not edge cases, they must be understood at the core.
The Urgent Case for Better Support
When Black and global majority LGBTQ+ people can find spaces that understand them holistically, it builds resilience, reduces isolation, and strengthens mental health. It helps shift culture too, because when you see people like you in leadership, you internalise possibility and belonging.
It also challenges systemic exclusion by existing, we believe these groups give a level of legitimacy of intersectional identities and demand better representation in policy, media, health, and support systems.
Finally, it helps all of us grow support services that centre intersectionality become better, more responsive, and more just overall.
So what is our plan?
To put theory into action, here is how we intend to build support:
Monthly support & peer groups
Dedicated sessions for people who identify as global majority LGBTQ+ (Black, Asian, Latinx, mixed heritage, etc.).
Facilitators will be trained in intersectionality, cultural humility, and trauma-awareness.
Topics will range: identity & belonging, navigating barriers, coming out within cultural contexts, mental wellbeing, resilience practices, joy, and creativity.
Call to Action: Let’s Build This Together
At Support U, we believe that change starts in community by listening, learning, and standing alongside one another.
We’re now building our Global Majority LGBTQ+ monthly groups, and we want to hear from you:
If you’d like to join or access support, we’d love to welcome you.
If you’d like to volunteer or become a group facilitator or ambassador, your lived experience and compassion can help shape a safe, empowering space for others.
If you’re an organisation or partner who shares our mission to uplift and amplify global majority LGBTQ+ voices, let’s collaborate and make this movement stronger together.
Together, we can turn barriers into bridges creating spaces where every voice is heard, every identity is honoured, and every story matters.
“Our work is to undo invisibility.” — Zanele Muholi