black lgbtq
-
Don Lemon Helped Me Come Out to My Mother and It Changed My Life Forever
Love for a black gay man is a scary endeavor, even radical, in a country where racism isn’t such a throwback, its reverberations leaving only harmful residue in communities of color. And when you consider the pervasive homophobia in a heteronormative and patriarchal society, living in your truth as both African American and queer almost…
-
The Breakthrough: Vanity Fair Breathes New Life with Lena Waithe on the Cover
If you’re a follower of Hollywood, politics and society—or a journalist who covers all three—you’re likely familiar with Vanity Fair. Though first published from 1913 to 1936, the magazine as we know it today has been in print since 1983 and until recently was under the editorial direction of Graydon Carter, who took the helm…
-
According to Laverne Cox’s New Video, the ’90s Are Officially Back
For those of us who came of age in the late ’80s and ’90s, we remember a time full of post-’80s optimism, the rise of hip-hop in the grunge era and the unabashed flamboyance of the “club kid.” All were in full effect at the New York City-area college I entered in 1993. Actress Laverne…
-
Don’t Play With Our Emotions: Black Panther and Queer Representation
It’s been a while since I was so excited for a movie that I saw it twice in its opening week. While waiting to prepurchase tickets for Black Panther, I developed an unhealthy obsession with Fandango, and my wallet wept when the Funko POP! figures were released. I was excited to go to Wakanda, y’all,…
-
Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart Is a Loving Look at the Legacy of Lorraine Hansberry
I wanted to be able to come here and speak with you on this occasion because you are young, gifted and black. … I, for one, can think of no more dynamic combination that a person might be. … And that is why I say to you that, though it be a thrilling and marvelous…
-
Finally, a Seat at the Table: Jay-Z’s ‘Family Feud’ Makes a Major Statement About Who Belongs in the Family
Because of Jay-Z, this New Year’s Eve, I found myself thinking about families and feuding. When he released 4:44 in June 2017, the reception was mixed, not because the music wasn’t good or poignant—no one who understands hip-hop can deny Jay’s lyricism or his ability to catch our attention with interesting melodies. But men and…
-
Thoughts Can Do Harm: In Defense of ‘Policing’ Our Fantasies
I wanted to kill my boyfriend in ways that let me observe his suffering and return the power in our relationship to my hands. The thought crossed my mind in the heat of an argument. It is a dangerous, albeit relatable, thought for many people who have experienced romantic love. Although I will not commit…
-
She’s Gotta Have Her: The Great Str8-Girl Debate
It was around 1994, and I was crushing hard on L. She was fine—like an Asian Apollonia, but just a bit thicker, with a dynamite smile and an easy laugh. She was also the sister of a guy I worked and hung out with, and I liked her immediately. Up to that point, my dating…
-
Masculine of Center Stage: Progressive Politics Don’t Replace Progressive Thinking
When I was a kid, there was an older black woman in the house next to ours named Ms. J. who took care of her older, invalid sisters. I loved Ms. J. I was a rascally little kid who got into constant trouble and who was visibly crushing on the girl across the street. Today…