"Straight”… But Not Narrow Ladies

“Straight”… But Not Narrow Ladies is a bi and bi curious femme community for women of color. It was created to provide a safe space for discussion, exploration and meaningful interactions/connections for bi and curious women of color. The intersection of race and sexuality can be interestingly complexed for women of color as they are inherently faced with many challenges. Studies show that bisexuals are the largest group in the LGBTQIA+ community. But with this said, they are the most invisible and underrepresented as their existence and legitimacy is often questioned or even denied by not only heterosexuals but also members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Women of color often struggle to find visibility and representation. In a sense, women of color that fall outside of the heteronormative box are often isolated. They fall subject to the internal and external cultural stigmas, taboos, microaggressions and stereotypes around gender, race, sexuality and sexual expression.

Communities of color are struggling with hunger, employment, violence, systemic racism and the residual effects of slavery, among other challenges. A place and a space to discuss sexual identity, curiosities or preferences is a privilege not afforded to many households. “Straight”… But Not Narrow Ladies recognizes the challenges and the need for safe spaces to discuss the aforementioned issues while creating meaningful connections. We strive to rewrite the toxic narrative of women of color, to empower them to own their truths and to support them in their search for liberation through open non-judgmental dialogue and curated events.

What do we need?

“Straight”… But Not Narrow Ladies needs funding to create our safe spaces and curated events. Specifically, funding will assist us with the following tasks:

• Host retreats to disconnect from societal pressures/constraints and create space to discuss feelings/emotions, unpack issues and mentally decompress.
• Create and host curated events across the country to connect with our audience and provide them with opportunities to be seen and heard.
• Develop branded materials to promote introspective work related to understanding and defining one’s sexuality, finding and embracing one’s authentic self, owning own’s truth, and being an unapologetic bi femme of color.
• Hire a photographer to capture images reflective of our women of color community for our website and branding.

“Straight”… But Not Narrow Ladies truly appreciates your support. Your contribution makes a huge difference in our work and our ability to extend our reach. We thank you for believing in us, our work, and our community. With you, we can continue to find our voices and know that we are not alone.