Racism

Racism is a system of prejudice and discrimination based on race. It works on several levels at once: personal bias, the practices of institutions like schools and hospitals, and broad social structures that concentrate advantage and disadvantage along racial lines. Racism is not only a problem in the wider world; it also appears within LGBTQ+ communities, where whiteness can shape who gains visibility, leadership, safety, and desirability. A common example is the racial filtering seen on some dating apps, where profiles list exclusions by race under the guise of 'preference.' Anti-racist work, including confronting bias inside queer spaces, is treated by many as an essential part of the broader movement for LGBTQ+ liberation rather than a separate concern.