There are a lot of very important causes and dire needs out there right now that we can contribute money to. This was sent to me by someone I am close to, and it’s another ask for support that is unrelated to any of the natural disasters impacting the US right now, but absolutely vitally important. Sexuality and gender identity in Caribbean communities can be treated in very different ways that folks accustomed to generic US and/or white people culture are used to, and there is almost no structural support for Caribbean folks who are LGBTQ+ in the US--very little in terms of advocacy and organizational support, and social opportunities can be a double-edged sword.
If you can, consider supporting an organization that is advocating for LGBTQ+ people of color and immigrants. This is really, really important work.
I'm writing you today (uncomforably because fundraising makes me nervous!) to ask you to give your hard earned money to support a group I really care about and believe in- the Caribbean Equality Project-https://www.youcaring.com/caribbeanequalityproject-897304 . I know we're all being inundated with pleas for money right now, but I hope you can find $10 to send their way- and if you can't, I hope you'll share this fundraiser with your network- even if that's just sharing the you caring site on Facebook.
(Cut for length)
CEP is out of Richmond Hills Queens- they're my neighbors! They're a nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen the marginalized voices of LGBTQ folks of Caribbean descent and origin- and they're the only organization in NYC doing this specific work.
I met CEPs founder, Mohamed, last month. He told me how he started the project because his brother and he were attacked, in my neighborhood, at a Caribbean community event, for being gay. His brother was pretty badly hurt. The NYPD came, and didn't even investigate the incident as a hate crime or really investigate at all (but don't worry, they've found plenty of time to harass and arrest trans members of that community). And when Mohamed and other members of the Caribbean community sought resources at local, white dominated, LGBTQ groups, they found that those groups often weren't prepared or willing to address the racism and cultural structures that really impacted LGBTQ folks in the Caribbean community. So they set out to build CEP because they aren't living one issue lives, and needed an organization to understand all their identities.
CEP's work is focused on creating sustainable community partnerships, promoting family acceptance, and building a culture based on respect, inclusion and equality - regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. They run a support group, provide resources to the Caribbean community in NYC, set up STI and HIV screenings, help their immigrant members connect to important resources and do outreach work. Last week they hosted one of the only LGBT Eid dinners in NYC. Tonight they're at city hall fighting for DACA recipients.
One important part of CEPs work is their My Truth, My Story, campaign. There simply aren't representations of those of Caribbean descent who are LGBTQ in the media or in many of their communities- the videos CEP creates help tell the stories of this community. They've done educational screenings at schools, community centers, and museums, and the videos have really helped them reach people and expand views of what the Caribbean identity can be. When the group I'm a part of, Showing Up for Racial Justice Central Queens (which has been building a relationship with CEP for a year) asked them how we could best support CEP, they asked us to help fund 4 more videos.
You can watch the ones they've already made here- I promise they're worth your time:
My TRUTH, My STORY videos:
Shammie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKoyTtG5Hy0
Dominique (aka Tyra): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrsrLAAvcoo
Gail & Trina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI-xMEVqWjE
So, please give if you can and whether or not you're able please spread the word to your networks! https://www.youcaring.com/caribbeanequalityproject-897304
As part of the nationwide Welcoming Week initiative, representatives from The Immigration Project, ISU's Queer Coalition and Rainbow Railroad will discuss how immigration policies are affecting the queer community
