How Black LGBTQ+ Activism Shapes Black History

Though some may view Black history and LGBTQ+ history as totally independent entities, the reality is quite the opposite.

Black queer activists have fueled countless social justice campaigns. And in turn, they have become important parts of Black liberation movements. To thoroughly explore Black history is to explore LGBTQ+ history, as the experiences of Black people, specifically Black queer people, are multifaceted.

People believe that marginalized identities exist in a vacuum. A person holds one predominant identity in the public’s eyes: typically race. And activism generally encompasses a singular cause or campaign. However, personalities and experiences are layed and not restricted to one category.

Many people believe that some social identities should be given precedence over others. And though the root of these beliefs may be understandable, tarnishing the validity of someone’s experience to fit a narrative is detrimental.

Reducing the depth and complexity of the Black community to a one-size-fits-all form of Blackness does not advance progress. Truthfully, it reinforces the notion that Black people are a monolith and that harmful stereotypes are inherent for the community.

Due to queer erasure within the Black community, many Black LGBTQ+ people outwardly present as queer as a form of gender validity or as a signal to other community members.

Individuals who have multiple identities and advocate for each one are often the backbone of social progress. Because they understand the levels of complexity in being marginalized, Black LGBTQ+ people often see how oppression can affect a person on several different systemic levels.

Throughout quuer Black history, Black LGBTQ+ people have given much to their communities, yet still face discrimination within them.

Queer people are marginalized in every space they occupy, with a special emphasis on transgender people. However, it is critical to recognize that LGBTQ+ people are not wholly accepted as significant contributors to Black liberation. Support from queer-allies is integral to Black LGBTQ+ people and, ultimately, the Black community.

Black queer people face negative stereotypes twice over because of the intersection of their sexuality, gender identities and expression, and race. Sometimes, this disdain presents itself as ultra-targeted violence toward Black people who fit queer stereotypes.

And this kind of energy is not concentrated solely within the Black community. It also stems from non-Black people as well.

Additional support from queer-allies would help expedite the inclusion of Black LGBTQ+ people. It would unify the entire community toward fighting systemic oppression with more power. When Black queer people fight for their rights, both the LGTBQ+ and Black communities benefit.

As Black history is written, queerness will always be vital to its composition. Individuals like the LGBTQ+ activists who have shaped queer Black history will continuously use their intersectional perspective to aid in the advancement of their communities.

In return, the communities profiting from their actions must recognize them both as assets and as human beings.