Introduction
You can be "in the closet" about your sexual orientation or gender identity, but you can’t hide your race. The outside world sees race first. For people of color — a term used to describe African-Americans, Latinos/as, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans, Arab-Americans, mixed-race people and others — that means we often identify first with our race or ethnicity before we identify according to our sexual orientation or gender identity. We have unique experiences and need to find ways to feel safe and to express our power. What does it mean to be an African-American gay male or lesbian, for instance? What does it mean to be "out" as Mexican and bisexual? Through partnerships and programs, the Human Rights Campaign strives to develop the tools and resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning people of color to live full and healthy lives without fear or oppression at home, in our communities, in the workplace and in our places of worship.
