Jun 26th, 2006
Culturally Competent Straights
Can heterosexuals be effective leaders in queer organizations?
It’s a sign of progress to see that more queer organizations are saying yes.
A future of equality will be based in part by everyone’s ability to trust leaders regardless of their sexual orientation.
Elizabeth A. Perry reports in the Washington Blade: “Gay groups turn to heterosexual leaders”
[Newly appointed HRC political director Samantha] Smoot said that as a straight woman she went through some soul-searching before she went to work for HRC, but her passion for human rights won out over any doubts.
“One of the thought processes I went through was, “Am I taking somebody else’s spot?” she said. “I think that’s balanced out by the fact the movement generally, and HRC specifically, are strengthened when we include all kinds of diversity.”
As one of Perry’s subheadings declares: “Qualifications trump orientation.”