Black and gay: A difficult combination
Being Black in America is hard. After spending years in denial about racism, I’ve accepted that reality. Living in a world surrounded by certain white people who refused to acknowledge its existence fueled that denial. As if being part of one minority group weren’t stressful enough, I’m a member of two minority groups. While I’m black and beautiful, I’m also fabulously gay.
So, I face racism and homophobia. When I haven’t dealt with people trying to insure the Black boy knows his place, others question my intentions when in the presence of straight males, no matter the age—if they know I’m gay. Therefore, it’s not safe to be out 24/7.
Then, there are the outraged people. They include the Black church. Being gay in that community is worse than a brother dating a white woman. I guess I had to take it to the next level. I prefer dating white men. In fact, I married one.
While I won’t equate the struggles African-Americans and gays and lesbian Americans have faced, it doesn’t change the fact that both groups have endured their fair share of hardships. While many of fellow African-Americans didn’t deserve to be lynched, Matthew Shepard didn’t deserve his fate either.
It would seem some in the Black community could learn to be less judgmental, given what they and their ancestors have been through. Getting flak from brothers doesn’t make being gay any easier. Drag Queen and fashion designer Kevin Aviance attested to that during a recent appearance on the Tyra Banks Show.
September 22nd, 2007 at 3:43 am
Test myfunction comment
November 28th, 2007 at 9:21 am
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