Pride Month Interview #1 Raven Barlow
Interview with Raven Barlow High Priestex of the Stonewall Coven
1. What is your experience with the LGBT community of Crossroads?
“Overall my experience with the LGBT community has been a positive one, but there are always aspects that are frustrating. Being intersex in a binary world is a challenge in itself, but when you have to face ignorance, prejudice, and misunderstanding in a community which is supposed to be open and accepting it can be incredibly disheartening. That’s why I’m so proud of the work that Stonewall has done with the Pride Center, and the educational resources that we offer the community. Working with Stonewall, and getting really connected with the cryptid community of Crossroads has helped me gain a better understanding of myself and my own needs, as well as how we can work to improve our community to be more accepting of all people.”
2. How has your identity as a member of the LGBT community shaped your perception of the Crossroads City Magic User Council?
“Going straight for the hard questions, huh? [laughter] Being a member of both the LGBT community and the magical community of Crossroads means that I get to see its best and its ugliest sides. In general the magical community is much more accepting of LGBT community, which can make learning how to accept yourself for all of your individual traits much easier, and it can make learning magic a positively enabling process. However, we do have a lot of community members that are from times where the LGBT community was more oppressed and more run underground than we are today - that means we have magical community members that both accept and reject us. That’s what makes a coven like Stonewall so important it gives a universal safe space for LGBT members of the magical community that is backed by the council. We’ve had to fight for our place in this community, but it has been worth it and I’m glad that we’re able to provide a safe space for younger LGBT people.”
3.If there was one thing you could suggest to the Magical Community on how to improve its relationship with the LGBT community what would it be?
“Just one? Oh that’s hardly fair there are so many ways we could improve! [laughs] Well if I have to pick only one I’d go with just listening - actively listening. If we’re talking about ways we can improve as a community or how we can be more accepting and make our community more welcoming then people have to actually listen to what we’re saying. We don’t need lukewarm allies, we have enough of those from the non-magical communities. What we need is for people to get up off their high horse and listen.”