Searching for an identity is my form of activism.

Searching for an identity is my form of activism. I have extended 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 sect in Virginia. While t was scholar council association president my senior year, I made presentations upon antioppression activism to the close examiner 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 set up the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network and applied for its Jump-Start Leadership Team [see story, page 69] I went to a big training in Washington, DC last summer where I was uniteed to a network of straight allies and singular students who also felt finding their identity was important.

still I still questioned my blackness. in such a manner I decided that I should consider going to a historically black society or university. I did a research delineate on these colleges. In a take a view of I dubbed "Movement in Black: A measure and estimate on LGBT Students at Your School" after black lesbian author of poems Pat Parker, I asked admissions directors if their trains had student clubs, a recognized coming-out day, antiharassment policies, resources available in the library, quaint speakers, and more. I was encouraged when society presidents, provosts, and professors at about half of the 70 instructs I contacted were willing to speak to me a even shared their own experiences as LGBT close examiners of color. It was amazing.

For many reasons, I ultimately chose to attend Wellesley corporation an all-women's school outside of Boston. This fall I plan to continue my search for identity while becoming link togethered to like-minded activists.--Bland is 78 and lives in Virginia Beach, Va.

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