Cross Roads: Where Being Black Meets Being LGBTQ+. An Exploration of Intersectionality.
By Lucia Ene-Lesikar
Intersectionality is a term that was first coined by second-wave feminists. It was used to explore how different identities and factors can overlap. This can be empowering or oppressive. Though it initially was used to explore feminism and how it centered around white middle class women , it can be used as an analytical framework to explore how other identities overlap and how that can impact individual’s experiences of the world. Though perceptions and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community are getting better, black communities often still have lingering homophobic attitudes which can make it more difficult for black LGBTQ+ people to come out to their families, and live without stigma and descrimination. One of the reasons for this is that some churches/religious groups still condemn sexuality as sinful, while others claim that cultural factors conflict with being LGBTQ+. This creates a stigma that LGBTQ+ people are ‘unnatural’ or ‘wrong’ which can make it very difficult for people to come out.
LGBTQ+ people often face a number of challenges. This includes a lack of visibility, stigma, rejection and violence. This can make it even more difficult to access help and support. Understanding that being LGBTQ+ and black are not separate identities is crucial to understand when it comes to intersectionality and the dynamics and layers of oppression. This can be confounded with more layers of oppression, including gender, religion, disability and class. The unique challenges (or strengths) can layer to create different experiences for different people.
Even once they have come out, black LGBTQ+ folks can face homophobia from family or community members, and racism from other LGBTQ+ people. This highlights the work that still needs to be done addressing both inequalities, so that black LGBTQ+ people can live, and love, in peace. Increasingly there are more and more spaces for the celebration and appreciation of being black and LGBTQ+, and all the challenges and experiences that come with it. In the UK, the UK Black Pride Event was created to celebrate and appreciate this intersection. Some feel as though they have to perform their blackness, and that the mainstream pride events are not geared to making black people feel included.
Below, we have lots of articles that explore the complexities of being black and part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Photo by @south_nostalghia via Twenty20
ARTICLES/BLOGS/WEBSITES
We’ve found a great collection of different articles/blogs/websites that provide more information about what it is like to black and LGBTQ+.
The Invisibility of Intersectionality: Being Black And LGBTQ+ https://sites.imsa.edu/acronym/2020/09/08/the-invisibility-of-intersectionality-being-black-and-lgbtq/
5 Women Reflect On What It Means to Be Black And Queer In The Uk -
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/what-is-it-like-to-be-black-queer-woman
Notes From Black & Queer Britain
https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/notes-from-queer-black-britain
LGBTQ+ History Month: “There is no black liberation without queer black liberation”
Black and Transgender: A Double Burden
https://www.theroot.com/black-and-transgender-a-double-burden-1790866418
Being a Black, British, Queer, Non-Binary Muslim isn’t a Contradiction
Black LGBT Organisations you Should Know About
It’s Time to Acknowledge the LGBTQ Community Is Not A Safe Space For Black People
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/pride_uk_5ee729e0c5b6f42dfbf69cd2
11 Students Explain What Being Queer, Black, And Proud Means to Them
https://www.glaad.org/amp/11-students-explain-what-being-queer-black-and-proud-means
Tanya Compas
@tanyacom
https://www.instagram.com/tanyacompas/?hl=en
Munroe Bergdorf
@munroebergdof
https://www.instagram.com/munroebergdorf/?hl=en
Josh McKenna
@joshmck
https://www.instagram.com/jshmck/?hl=en
Ericka Hart
@iharterika
https://www.instagram.com/ihartericka/
Char Ellesse
@ellesechar
https://www.instagram.com/ellessechar/
Sade Giliberti
@sadegiliberti
https://www.instagram.com/sadegiliberti/?hl=en
Jessamyn
@mynameisjessamyn
https://www.instagram.com/mynameisjessamyn/
Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black)
@lavernecox
https://www.instagram.com/lavernecox/
Zanele Muholi
@muholizanele
https://www.instagram.com/muholizanele/
Blair Imani
@blairimani
https://www.instagram.com/blairimani/
Tunde Olaniran
@tundeolaniran
https://www.instagram.com/tundeolaniran/
YOUTUBE CHANNELS
If you want to watch some videos about Black LGBTQ+ experiences, these videos are a good place to start.
Creating Your Own Space To Be Black and Gay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EttFAzpnXM
Why some Black LGBTQIA+ Folks Are Done ‘Coming Out’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdCKe0QBuwQ
White vs. Black Pride? Why is the Gay Community segregated?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxd42A3xFPs
Black and LGBT+ History Month
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OYY-hykYjw
Billy Porter Giver A Brief History of Queer Political Action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoXH-Yqwyb0
Janelle Monáe on Growing Up Queer and Black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgdsZJpnthg
The Grapevine - A Conversation with Black LGBTQ Millennials
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYbek83ZG4U
Finally, here are a couple of youtube channels which are great if you’re interested in film
PODCASTS
A fan of podcasts, here are some fabulous podcasts hosted by Black LGBTQ+ people.
Two Twos
https://open.spotify.com/show/6YgTGwMxC20HUIgjNcgc2z
Still Processing
https://open.spotify.com/show/1wr19EefQb1OLldzfOR1KH
LGBTQ&A
https://open.spotify.com/show/37E7LIv89GodYNEBAWREd8
Hoodrat to Headwrap (a decolonized podcast)
https://open.spotify.com/show/0QuoMdZrq07nwX4GftLNjz
The Read
https://open.spotify.com/show/1YZW7v12Ty11OSJ2hoIX
The EntreQueerNeur Show
https://open.spotify.com/show/52ug8vbZh0cdrd0Cl2YzWI
Black Radical Queer
https://open.spotify.com/show/5h9Vd2p5qxc5rvjv0sSLzY
Marsha’s Plate: Black trans Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/4Iv5ymzrIouiCGHsOBNB47
FILM
Here are some great recommendations with it comes to Black LGBTQ+ Film. As an East African I have to recommend Rafiki!
10 Movies About Queer Black Women to Stream Now!
https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/my2cents/10-movies-about-queer-black-women-to-stream-now/
17 Essential Queer Black Films
https://www.advocate.com/film/2018/2/26/17-essential-black-queer-films
BOOKS
If you’re interested in reading some fiction, check out these amazing resources with tons of great recommendations:
LGBTQIA+ Book REcommendations by Black Authors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZTmoC69Jbg
20 Must-Read Black Authors of LGBTQ Books
https://bookriot.com/black-authors-of-lgbtq-books/
Best Black Queer Books, According to Black LGBTQ Leaders
And to finish on a personal note, I love The Colour Purple by Alice Walker. Happy Reading!
We hope that this has been helpful, we love to engage with your thoughts in our Black Youth Forum or over on our social media.