Intersectionality is the balance between our merging identities and the singular lived experience that comes as a result. Coined in 1989 by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw to refer to the compounding impacts of simultaneous racial and gender discrimination, and now widely applied within many social justice spaces, intersectional theory gives language to the complex layers that make up each of us, uncovers where they intersect, and highlights how we then experience the world as a result.

Without it, efforts to address injustice, inequality, and inequity will never fully meet the needs of the people impacted. But how can we implement this more inclusive and accurate view of identity?

Turning our Awareness into Action

Be Intentional
Make a commitment to understanding what you’re getting right and what you’re getting wrong.

Give Holistic Attention
Center other people’s perspectives, how they are directly impacted by your decisions, language, and actions, and how it makes them feel.

Collaborate & Listen
Meet individuals at their intersections and be ready to respond with action.

Hold Yourself & Others Accountable
Check-in with yourself on how your actions impact others and if you are being an ally, and adjust as needed.

We all deserve to have our voices heard, our experiences understood, and our unique needs addressed through relevant policies and culture change. We can create deeply-felt inclusion through authentic connections in our personal relationships, workplace culture, and daily interactions with others—the work starts with each of us. Are you ready to take a step forward?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

A GUIDE TO PRONOUNS

LEARN ABOUT LGBTQ IDENTITIES

LEARN ABOUT ALLYSHIP

VISIT OUR RESOURCE CENTER

Interested in learning more about LGBTQ inclusion and how to create a more affirming workplace? Check out The Center’s LGBTQ Workplace Inclusion Workshops.