[More about this]

People of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, and cultural affiliations are represented in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) populations. Some are struggling with their sexuality or gender identity, while others are more comfortable and able to offer guidance to others. For LGBT persons who also identify with and belong to other ethnic/racial groups, the stigmatization and discrimination they experience can be compounded. For these individuals, it may be comforting to find a gay-friendly group that shares a common cultural identity.

It is important to remember that culture affects our experience, how we think and act, how we relate to others, how we respond to our environments, and what we believe. Not everyone perceives "gayness" in the same way. "In some populations of color, the labels 'lesbian,' 'gay,' and 'bisexual' are meaningless and do not relate to the self-perceptions of people who engage in same-sex relationships, or who relate sexually to both sexes. These people remain doubly invisible." [Source]

However, many people of color do identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, and see the lack of those self-references in populations of color as reflective of underlying homophobia.

We are seeking brief 'stories' about the substance abuse experiences of many lgbt people. It is particularly important to us and to the audience we hope will benefit from this new set of resources that these stories reflect the true diversity of lgbt culture, including all ethnic/racial minorities, lgbt people with disabilities, older lgbt's, youth, etc. If you are interested a contributing your story or have questions about how to participate, please e-mail: lgbt@health.org