Marcus’ story: intersectionality in practice
When Marcus Hough first learned about intersectionality, it was a light bulb moment. “It’s a theory from black feminists who are talking about a subjective experience they’ve had… about what it means to be a black woman, to be queer,” they say. For Marcus, an African American queer person with lived experience of poverty and addiction, the theory helped them better understand their own difficult experiences in the world, and how having different, intersecting identities can increase a person’s experience of discrimination.
When Marcus joined The Zone as a Senior Youth AOD Practitioner, they couldn’t wait to put their passion for intersectionality into action. The Zone is a unique program that supports diverse young people struggling with alcohol and drug use. The program focuses on supporting African Australians, Pasifika and LGBTQIA+ young people, and many of the workers come from those communities. Marcus has a connection to all three. “I’m part of the African diaspora, and I’m out as queer and non-binary,” they say. “I play American football, and a lot of the people that I play with, who actually welcomed me the most [when I came to] Australia was the Pasifika community.”
Marcus says most services are designed for straight, cisgender Anglo people. “The scientists, the doctors, the psychologists, so many of the people who come up with the theories, they are the demographic in mind.” The Zone is trying to create that same experience for people who have traditionally been ignored and marginalised.
“That’s the big thing with the lived experience workforce – you understand it, and it reduces stigma and judgement,” Marcus says. “There’s a lot to be said for not having to explain things in depth.”
Marcus was recently working with a young Samoan man whose offending had led to child protection becoming involved. Although his mother spoke conversational English, Marcus and a fellow worker fluent in Samoan visited the family to explain the situation in more detail. “We’re actually explaining to the mum why child protection is involved, and unpacking that it’s nothing to do with what she’s done as a mum. Now [that] it’s being explained to her in her native language, the level of understanding and nuance starts to come together.”
Work at The Zone varies a lot from day to day. “Sometimes someone is like, ‘I just had a terrible day, I want to go to Maccas and eat a burger,’” Marcus says. “Sometimes it’s like real nitty-gritty clinical.” Recently Marcus took a trans female client bra shopping.
“That was kind of a riot, because we were both assigned male at birth, and we had no idea how messy that section of the store actually is. But that can be a really trying experience…just going and being stared at when you’re picking out your underwear.”
Marcus says the best part of the job is getting to work with so many diverse young people. “How many programs do you get to use a theory that changed your worldview? I get to work with, support and hang out with queer, black, brown kids in any combination in between.”