“It Really Is Not Just Gay, but African American Gay”: The Impact of Community and Church on the Experiences of Black Lesbians Living in North Central Florida

ABSTRACT

The experiences of Black lesbians highlight the unique circumstance found at the intersection of sexuality, race, and gender. However, most sexuality research tends to focus on White lesbians and White gay men, and most race research tends to focus on Black heterosexuals. Furthermore, research on the Black gay community tends to focus on those living in the Northeast or on the West Coast, neglecting experiences of those living in the more politically, socially, and religiously conservative South. This article draws on data obtained from semistructured interviews with 12 Black lesbians living in north central Florida, exploring their perspectives as they negotiate a social world of intersecting oppressions. Participants especially highlight how they contextualized their sexuality in racialized terms and negotiated it in racially defined communities.

KEYWORDS:

• African American
• Black
• heterosexism
• homophobia
• lesbian

Notes

1. I use the term Black to refer to people of the African diaspora who live in the United States. My participants used the terms Black and African American interchangeably and expressed no preference for either term.

2. The statement on homosexual practices released by NBC, USA (2015b) stated:

We believe in the local freedom of each member of our Convention to decide for itself on such issues as homosexuality. However, if you were to take a poll of traditional, missionary Black Baptist Churches, it is very safe to say that you will find a majority of them: against homosexuality/lesbianism as a legitimate expression of God’s will; against ordaining practicing homosexuals and lesbians for any type of ministry in the Body of Christ; against, but permits persons guilty of illicit acts of a heterosexual nature, for example adultery and fornication to continue in the practice of ministry in the Body of Christ (with the proper accountability measures, i.e., censure, repentance, counseling, etc. in place).

Moreover, as it relates to LGBT issues, the NBC, USA affirmed that marriage is a sacred biblical covenant between a man and a woman (NBC, USA, 2015b) and recognized that each minister can agree or refuse to marry anyone based on his or her prerogative (NBC, USA, 2015c).

3. PFLAG (Parents and Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) is an organization that promotes the health and wellbeing of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons, their families, and their friends through support, education, and advocacy. Specifically:

PFLAG Jacksonville provides the First Coast Community with support, education, and advocacy. Through monthly support meetings, annual scholarships, and providing visibility we work to make our community a better place. (PFLAG of Jacksonville, 2012)

4. Jacksonville Florida Black Pride began in the summer of 1995. Their mission statement is as follows:

The Jacksonville Florida Black Pride is a social network created to build the unity and fellowship of the African American, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning (LGBTQ) community in Jacksonville, Florida. We accomplish this mission through community empowerment activities and initiatives focusing on education, health, leadership, and a philosophy of fellowship and inclusiveness of all. (Jacksonville Florida Black Pride, 2012)