This study examines the relationship between racial justice organizations and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities, with the understanding that communities of color themselves, including their LGBT members, have a good deal at stake in strengthening that relationship. The inquiry included a survey of 81 organizations of color and interviews with 32 leaders of racial justice and LGBT organizations. Primary recommendations include:

• Increase support for groups of color
• Invest in tools for strategic clarity
• Lift up LGBT leaders of color
• Build the media and communications infrastructure

Click here to view the press release.

Many organizations working on racial equity also engage in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy. However, these examples are not highly visible. The case studies in this report embody models of possible collaborations between racial and LGBT justice movements. There is the story of a racial justice organization (SAN) that engages in LGBT advocacy, while groups, like SONG and FIERCE, are led by LGBT leaders of color who advocate broadly for social and economic issues, in addition to equity for queer and transgender people. These groups strengthen their missions by combining both intersectional analysis and strategic action on race, class and sexuality.

UPDATE: Better Together in Action has been edited since its original publication (June 7, 2012).