Outspoken:
Allison Bland

Searching for an identity is my form of activism. I have long wanted to understand my blackness, my femininity, my masculinity, and my sexuality--all the things that make up me. This identity has been hard to find at my small, conservative private high school in Virginia. While I was student council association president my senior year, I made presentations on antioppression activism to the student body, but that didn't help me discover who I was. Before that I started a hip-hop Web site for LGBT youth of color. While I was looking for resources for it online, I found the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network and applied for its Jump-Start Leadership Team. I went to a big training in Washington, D.C., last summer, where I was connected to a network of straight allies and queer students who also felt finding their identity was important. But I still questioned my blackness. So I decided that I should consider going to a historically black college or university. I did a research project on these colleges. In a survey I dubbed "Movement in Black: A Survey on LGBT Students at Your School " after black lesbian poet Pat Parker, I asked admissions directors if their schools had student clubs, a recognized coming-out day, antiharassment policies, resources available in the library, queer speakers, and more. I was encouraged when college presidents, provosts, and professors at about half of the 70 schools I contacted were willing to speak to me. Some even shared their own experiences as LGB students of color. It was amazing. For many reasons, I ultimately chose to attend Wellesley College, an all-women's school outside of Boston. This fall I plan to continue my search for identity while becoming connected to like-minded activists.