Gay black women

As Black queer women, what we contain to consider when traveling abroad can be discouraging. But sharing our stories with the nature can be a source of empowerment.

I love traveling to new places and seeing things I’ve never seen before. I feel enjoy a kid the night before, especially when going on an international trip. I look forward to the things that most people don’t care much for, like riding to the airport and boarding the plane. I approach each trip as if it’s going to change my life. And it always does in some way. Although it may not always seem to be for the better, as I learned on a solo trip to Cartagena, Colombia where I was robbed.

Even that trip taught me how to be a more conscientious traveler. Although that lesson had more to act with naiveté than being who I am (Black and queer), even just a quick Google search beforehand would have made me more cautious while I was there. Sometimes a swift Google search is all it takes!

Nobody wants to acquire a bad exposure when they explore. It sucks to even have to consider that you could have a bad experience when going on vacation. While some people can have a happy-go-lucky approach to traveling, let̵

16 queer Black trailblazers who made history

From 1960s civil rights activist Bayard Rustin to Chicago's first lesbian mayor, Lori Lightfoot, Black LGBTQ Americans have drawn-out made history with innumerable contributions to politics, art, medicine and a host of other fields.

“As long as there have been Jet people, there acquire been Black LGBTQ and same-gender-loving people,” David J. Johns, executive director of the National Ebony Justice Coalition, told NBC News. “Racism combined with the forces of stigma, phobia, discrimination and bias associated with gender and sexuality have too often erased the contributions of members of our community."

Gladys Bentley (1907-1960)

Bentley was a gender-bending performer during the Harlem Renaissance. Donning a highest hat and tuxedo, Bentley would warble the blues in Harlem establishments enjoy the Clam Dwelling and the Ubangi Club. According to a belated obituary published in 2019, The New York Times said Bentley, who died in 1960 at the age of 52, was "Harlem's most famous lesbian" in the 1930s and "among the best-known Black entertainers in the United States."

Bayard Rustin (1912-1987)

Rustin was an LGBTQ and civil rights activist best known f

1.2 million Black LGBT adults exist in the US

A new research by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds that an estimated 1.2 million adults in the U.S. spot as Black and LGBT.

Researchers establish that Black LGBT people fare worse than their non-LGBT counterparts in many measures of economic and social vulnerability, including employment, income level, food insecurity, and healthcare access. In addition, Shadowy LGBT adults face disparities in mental and physical health, such as depression, asthma, and disability.

However, similarities were found between the two groups, including the likelihood of being a parent among women, experiences of victimization and discrimination, and levels of resilience through social support systems.

“The notable disparities in economic security and health outcomes indicate a critical need for policies and service interventions that address the singular needs of Black LGBT adults,” said lead author Soon Kyu Choi, Project Manager at the Williams Institute.

Key Findings

Demographic characteristics

An estimated 1,210,000 U.S. adults self-identify as Black and LGBT.
Over half (57%) of Black LGBT adults are under age 35 compared to 34% of Bl

As we reflect on the legacies of various Shadowy ancestors and trailblazers, it’s evident that there are so many stories of Black LGBTQ historical figures that we aren’t conscious of. Often, prominent Ebony people have even had their queerness erased from history. This erasure extends even further for Shadowy queer women in history, whose very existence challenges patriarchal heteronormativity and confronts white supremacy.
In examining the struggle around notions of identity and community, it’s crucial to understand the complex social, political, and cultural landscape in the U.S. that influences our lived experience. While even the most well-intentioned people, programs, and organizations aim to uplift marginalized voices, they often fall fleeting by homogenizing the diverse experiences within communities. As Kimberlé Crenshaw astutely points out, identity-centered activism can ignore intragroup differences, perpetuating a narrow narrative that fails to capture the full spectrum of experiences.
Those who live at the intersection of multiple systems of oppression often tackle unique challenges due to their very identities. The particular challenges that Dark queer women face, for e