Carlos Gin

Gin’s bio:

Gin (they/them) is a student at John Jay, double majoring in Sociology & Gender Studies. Their work and advocacy is guided by their experience as a queer, non-binary, undocumented individual.

An excerpt from Gin’s essay titled, “Reflections on Sexual Identities through an Intersectional Perspective”:

Queer People of Color

“The social scientific picture of the lives of queer people of color often focuses on the presence of discrimination, disease, and stigma. Without a doubt, queer people face many of these and other forms of oppression. But how can other stories be told about the queer people of color experience? [...] That is, how can examples or stories of success help us understand such things as survival and happiness?" (Harris, Battle, & Pastrana 2018: 20)

 This quote is very thought-provoking, because in academia and the narratives shared of queer people of color, often focus on oppression, disease, and stigma. While it is important to acknowledge that these are very much so present in the lives of queer people, the success and happiness of QPOC is rarely recognized. In order to see stories of success and happiness, we would have to first acknowledge that queer people of color are stripped of this. Rather than living and thriving, QPOC are denied opportunities, terrorized in their communities, and forced into survival mode. QPOC happiness can often be seen in community building, decolonization, and liberation movements. This of course is a direct conflict with the oppressive majority. Tying this into the centering of whiteness in queer theory, white people also continuously deny and separate their involvement in the terrorizing, erasure, and displacement of QPOC. Through the 'othering' of QPOC and their experiences, focusing on the narratives of suffering upholds white people's self-established feeling of superiority. Seeing QPOC as charity cases is dehumanizing as it forms a one dimension narrative to an entire community.

In short, for QPOC, living, thriving, joy, and happiness is resistance.

The Writing Across the Curriculum program applauds Gin for their ability to blend critical analysis and personal reflection in their full essay.