This action was met with anger from white gay men who felt the flag represented unity despite skin color - a particularly tone-deaf defense given that Philadelphia's gay bars had recently become a hotbed for racism. Want more articles like this? Sign up for the THINK newsletter to get updates on the week's most important cultural analysisĪlthough white queer people share in our queer oppression, they are still beneficiaries of white supremacy - and are not above wielding that power in our “safe spaces.” In 2017 during Philly Pride, for example, the attempt was made to add a black and brown stripe to the rainbow flag. Unfortunately, when HIV stopped being known as a primarily white gay epidemic, it began to feel more and more like an afterthought. AfricanAmericans make up more than 40 percent of all people living with HIV in the United States, despite African Americans comprising only 12 percent of the U.S. The intersection of race creates additional barriers like access to healthcare, medication and a proximity to higher infection rates.

Look no further than the HIV epidemic, which remains a major problem for Black and Brown men who have sex with men. White queers often benefit from the work of Black queers, only to distance themselves once their particular needs are met. Such revisionism is not just a feature of movies, however.