Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol. 2 No. 5

Within the Black community, there seems to be
a stigma around having a conversation about
sexuality and gender identity. As a community,
it is frowned upon and this ignorance is justified through
religion and the Bible. Marginalized groups such as Black
people having that intersectionality of being Black and a
part of the LGBTQ+ community is a huge challenge for
some.
When Ose Arheghan was in the 8th grade they came out
as queer. Middle school is a pretty challenging time for
many students. Approximately 20% of students between
the ages of 12 and 18 are bullied in some way. Arheghan
didn’t know this stat but they knew that as a Black queer
non-binary teenager they would be susceptible to such
things and that the children like them would be too.
Throughout high school, Arheghan made it their goal
to be an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, actively working to
change their school’s discrimination policy
At just 17-years-old Arheghan was honored as GLSEN’s
Student Advocate of the Year in 2017. Creating safe
environments for LGBTQ+ and fighting for the rights of
the community
GLSEN is a nonprofit organization that’s goal is creating
safe learning environments for LGBTQ+ youth, specifically
K-12 students. And that’s exactly what Aheghan’s goal was
and still is today.
Now attending Ohio State University, Arheghan still
advocates for the rights and inclusiveness of minority
and marginalized students and groups on the campus.
They also work closely with Know Your IX, a nonprofit
that teaches students about their rights under the Title
IX law.
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a
federal law that states: “no person in the United States
shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation
in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any education program or activity
receiving Federal financial assistance.”
There are many non-profit organizations and activists
that people don’t see advocating for the LGBTIA
community, but one person that makes sure their voice
is heard is Twiggy Pucci Garcon. Garcon goes by she/they
pronouns and is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Garcon is the Chief Program Director of True Colors
United, an organization that strives to find solutions to
homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth.
“I’ve been doing advocacy and social justice work, and
public health work since high school. Most of that work
was centered around public health, for Black and Latinx
communities, particularly queer communities,” Garcon
said.
Garcon has also gone on to make films about LGBTQ+
homeless and young people who have come together to
create a safe space to unapologetically be themselves.
“I feel as much as I fight the urge and desire to be more
low key…I show up unapologetically everywhere all the
time and try to raise the profile and visibility of those
specifically in the ballroom scene along with Black and
brown LGBTQ people globally,” said Garcon.
While also being a part of the LGBTQ+ community and
a person of color, Garcon has a platform by using their
creativity “as a lens by which to open the door for those
conversations to happen.”
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