Black History Includes LBGTQ History
By Mike Platt, Executive GSA Liaison
Jan 31, 2008, 17:52
Black History Includes LBGTQ History.
Black History Month, established in 1976, is celebrated in February. This is the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. The Act to abolish slavery received Royal Assent on August 28th 1833 and became law throughout the British Empire. The Act came into force on August 1st 1834.
Black history includes LBGTQ history.
Black History Month, established in 1976, is celebrated in February. This is the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. The Act to abolish slavery received Royal Assent on August 28th 1833 and became law throughout the Empire. The Act came into force on August 1st 1834.
The following are some LGBTQ Black History resources:
Black History Month
175th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in the British Empire
Be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the first Day of August One thousand eight hundred and thirty-four all Persons who in conformity with the Laws now in force in the said Colonies respectively shall on or before the first Day of August One thousand eight hundred and thirty-four have been duly registered as Slaves in any such Colony, and who on the said first Day of August One thousand eight hundred and thirty-four shall be actually within any such Colony, and who shall by such Registries appear to be on the said first Day of August One thousand eight hundred and thirty-four of the full Age of Six Years or upwards, shall by force and virtue of this Act, and without the previous Execution of any Indenture of Apprenticeship, or other Deed or Instrument for that Purpose, become and be apprenticed Labourers; provided that, for the Purposes aforesaid, every Slave engaged in his ordinary Occupation on the Seas shall be deemed and taken to be within the Colony to which such Slave shall belong.
An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies, 1833
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On August 28, 1833 the Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies received Royal Assent and became law throughout the British Empire. The Act came into force on August 1, 1834. It was the result of a long and arduous campaign by abolitionists internationally, and in the British Parliament by an alliance of Evangelical Anglicans and Quakers led by William Wilberforce, M.P. (1759-1833).
Upper Canada, now Ontario, was a pioneer in this movement. In 1793, Governor John Graves Simcoe passed the Anti-Slavery Act. This law freed slaves aged 25 and over and made it illegal to bring slaves into Upper Canada, which became a safe haven for runaway slaves.
Simcoe’s law also made Upper Canada the first jurisdiction in the Empire to move toward the abolition of slavery. In so doing, it brought about the creation of the Underground Railroad through which approximately 30,000 Black people escaped to British North America between 1800 and 1865.
In 2008, the Government of Canada is commemorating the 175th Anniversary of the Act for the Abolition of Slavery in the British Empire and to recognize the courageous efforts of many men and women who succeeded against considerable odds in the fight for freedom and human dignity.
From Canadian Heritage Canada
Multiculturalism
Black History Month
http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/multi/black-noir/175_anni_e.cfm?nav=2
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The Blacklist |
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The list is in alphabetical order by last name. A key and reference list is included. Many of those listed are famous, while others are less well known. An asterisk (*) indicates those still living. Due to the lack of confirming sources, many people known to be gay have been omitted. It is impossible for any list to encompass the history of a people. No list is complete. Important people are always missed. Significant contributions often go unnoticed, unreported and unrecorded. While honouring those on this list, take a moment to reflect on how you, too, are making history. *Indicates still living. |
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Adams, Gregory* Activist. Media director for the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. Founder and executive director of the Bayard Rustin Alliance. [ BGLLF]
Adoma, Kofi* Activist, psychologist. Co-founder of Family, the Detroit Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays, The James Baldwin-Pat Parker Society, The A. Lorde Collective, The Ujamaa Investment Club, and The Karibu House Planning Commitee (An effort to start a lgbt people of colour community centre in Detroit). [NBLGLF]
Ailey, Alvin (1931-1989) Choreographer. Founder of the world renowned Alvin Ailey dance troupe. Ailey combined African American movement with spirituals, jazz and contemporary music in a unique fashion. [EB] BOOKS
Ajrian-Omari, Eden* Writer, poet, activist. Ajrian-Omari an artist, performer and fashion designer is currently a non-traditional student at the University of Oregon who serves on the President's Committee on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns. [BGLLF]
Alli, Waheed* (1964)Television producer, entrepreneur, and politician. First black gay man to serve in the esteemed British House of Lords and the only openly gay person in the chamber. Former owner of Planet 24 a production company that was the largest independent TV production company in Great Britain. [KB]
Als, Hilton* Author The Women and contributor to The New Yorker since 1994. Als is a former staff writer for the Village Voice and editor at large at Vibe magazine. His work has appeared in The Nation and The New York Times. He has written film scripts for "Swoon" and "Looking for Langston," and most recently edited the catalogue for the Whitney Museum of American Art exhibition entitled "Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in Contemporary American Art," which ran from November, 1994, to March, 1995. [TW] BOOKS
Arrington, Stanford S.* (1952) AIDS activist. Founder of CARE/Black Gays & Lesbians United Aganist AIDS, Denver Co. 1989. Colourado's first openly HIV positive, gay, African-American appointed to serve on the Colourado Governor's AIDS Advisory Council, 1990. Executive Director of Ohio's First Black AIDS Service Emporium (First B.A.S.E.) First B.A.S.E. provides case management, housing and HIV/AIDS education for gay men of colour. [P]
Baker, Cornelius* AIDS Activist. President of the National Association of People With AIDS, NAPWA. [WB]
Baker, Josephine (1906-1975) Entertainer. Chorus girl who rose to fame in the Folies Bergere in Paris. Baker left home at age 13 to pursue a career in show business. Finding the United States difficult for black performers, she eventually settled in France. She and her husband had a large multiracial adopted family which she called her Rainbow Tribe. She was known to have had many same-sex affairs. [AA] MUSIC / BOOKS / VIDEO
Baldwin, James A. (1924-1987) Writer and civil rights activist. Baldwin was not afraid to speak out on issues of oppression. A prolific writer his works included: "Go Tell It On The Mountain", "Giovanni's Room", "Another Country", and "The Fire Next Time." An expatriate, Baldwin urged American society to discard its myths. He felt the most destructive myth was "white superiority." [AA, CQ] BOOKS / VIDEO
Banks Alicia* radio producer/host/columnist/author. Banks hosted AM and FM radio shows in Atlanta GA, the heart of the bible belt and is the only out homosexual in the nation known to have hosted a prime time commercial radio talk show. Her FM show mixes the musical and literary voices of Black women with musical, political and sexual diversity. She writes a column, Eloquent Fury. Her pending book of radical essays "Outlook: The Book" will soon be scheduled for release. She can be heard on KABF in Little Rock, Arkansas. [P]
Banneker, Benjamin (1731-1806) Mathematician. Self-taught mathematician, astronomer and inventor who designed Washington, DC. As a youth, Banneker invented a wooden clock that kept accurate time throughout his lifetime. Banneker also wrote essays on the evils of slavery. [AA] BOOKS
Barclay, Paris (1956). Producer/Director. Emmy Award winning producer/director of NYPD Blue. Barclay also directed episodes of ER and Angel Street. He directed the Wayans film Don't Be A Menace to Society While Drinking Your Juice In the Hood, which he described in a Los Angeles Times article as a homophobic experience. Other films to his credit include, The Cheroke Kid and America’s Dream. Barclay has also directed on Broadway. The Los Angeles Times article said of him:
Barclay is still working with so-called "white" material--it's the reason people say, “Oh, really?” when you tell them that the guy who won an Emmy last year for directing ABC’s “NYPD Blue” is black. You get another “Oh, really?,” the eyebrows arching a little higher, when you tell people he’s gay, too.
[LA] VIDEO
Batts, Deborah* (1947) Judge. In June of 1994, Deborah Batts was sworn in as a Federal District Judge for Manhattan, becoming the nation's first openly lesbian African-American federal judge. Batts was on the faculty of Fordham University School of Law before her appointment by President Bill Clinton. [WB, FT]
Beam, Joseph (1954-1988) Writer and activist. Responsible for "In The Life", an anthology of work by black gay writers. Beam's personal papers have been donated to the Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, the nation's foremost collection of black history. Beam died of AIDS-related complications. [BLK, ITL]
Bean, Carl* Clergy, activist. Founder and Bishop of Unity Fellowship Church Movement, which now has congregations in Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, Washington, DC and Philadelphia. Chief Executive Officer of Unity Fellowship Ministries, which includes the Minority AIDS Project (MAP). [BLK, OC]
Bell, Alan* Publisher. Heads firm that publishes five black lesbian and gay magazines including BLK The Black Lesbian and Gay Newsmagazine. He was editor and publisher of Gaysweek, New York's first mainstream weekly lesbian and gay newspaper. [P]
Bellinger, George Jr.* (1955) AIDS activist. Bellinger has been active in developing strategies to address the HIV/AIDS concerns of gay men of colour, adolescents, substance abusers and women. [BGLLF]
Bentley, Gladys (1907-1960) Entertainer. Bently left Pennsylvania at 16 to take part in the Harlem Renaissance and come out as a "bulldager." At around 250 pounds, she was larger than life. Bently played at rent parties, nightclubs and speakeasies around Harlem and became famous for her risqué parodies of show tunes. She made no effort to hide her sexuality. A 1952 Ebony talked of her being cured of her homosexuality. [CQ]
Bey, Andy* Musician. Bey has been making music since age three. His first public performance was at age 12 at the famed Apollo Theatre. Bey toured the US and Europe performing with his sisters. Bey also performed with legends Sarah Vaughn and Dinah Washington. Bey came out as gay and HIV positive in 1994. [WB] MUSIC
Birtha, Becky* (1948) Writer. Author of several books of poems and short stories including "Lover's Choice" and "For Nights Like This One: Stories of Loving Women." [BLK, CQ, HG] BOOKS
Blackberri* (1945) Musician, actor, activist. Born Charles Timothy Ashmore, Blackberri has appeared in "Word is Out" and "Tongues Untied." His music appears in "Tongues Untied" and "Looking for Langston." [BLK, ITL]
Boykin, Keith* (1965) Attorney, writer. Former Executive Director of the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum. Author, One More River To Cross Formerly with the Clinton Administration as Director of Specialty Press. Boykin was present when Clinton met with gay/lesbian leaders at the White House. [BLK] BOOKS
Brinkley, Sidney* Journalist. Brinkley's work has appeared in the gay press throughout the country. He also headed Blacklight Press, which published "BGM." [BLK]
Brown, Ronald K.* (1966) Choreographer. Choreographer. Artistic Director of the contemporary dance company Ronald K. Brown/Evidence. Brown works with loosely narrative pieces that attempt to address the issues of class, race, loss and identity. By his early thirties, Brown has already created work on such renowned companies as The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Philadanco, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. [NYT, P]
Buckmire, Ron* (1968) Mathematician. Founded and runs the Queer Resources Directory, the largest collection of information on gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/AIDS available on the Internet. [OL]
Burke, Glenn (1952-1995) Athlete. Played professional baseball 1976-78 with the Dodgers. Later traded to the Oakland A's 1978-79. Burke hit .237 with two home runs, 38 R-B-I and 35 stolen bases in his 225 major league games. Burke is credited with giving baseball's first "high five". He played basketball in the 1986 Gay Games. The November 21, 1994, issue of "People" magazine updated his life and his struggle with AIDS. Burke died of AIDS-related complications May 30, 1995. His autobiography, Out At Home was co-written with Erik Sherman. [AA, BW, CQ]
Burrell, Walter Rico (1946-1990) Publicist. Burrell worked for Universal, Motown, 20th Century Fox, MGM and ABC. Wrote one of the earliest pieces by a black gay man chronicling his life with HIV/AIDS. He died of AIDS-related complications. [BB, BLK]
Campbell, Tevin* (1976) Gained fame as an R&B singer at the age of 13 with the debut of his first album T.E.V.I.N. He was outted in 1999, when he was arrested for soliciting a lewd act. [EUR] MUSIC
Carter, Mandy* (1948) Activist. A founding Board Member of the International Federation of Black Prides. Former North Carolina Member-At-Large of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Former Field Director for the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum. Former Public Policy Advocate for the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF). Former Member of the executive committee of Stonewall 25 and a Co-Founder of the Bayard Rustin Commemorative Alliance. Carter works to counter the religious right's encroachment into communities of colour. [BLK]
Carver, George Washington (1864-1943) Botanist, Scientist, Educator. Born in Missouri, his mother and he were kidnapped and sold as slaves in Arkansas. His first owner Moses Carver, secured his return and gave him his last name. Carver worked his way through high school, later receiving a B.S. in 1894 followed by an M.S. in 1896 in Agricultural Science, from Iowa Agricultural College. Carver was persuaded by Booker T. Washington to come to Tuskegee Institute in 1896. He started work as a teacher and later rose to be director of Agricultural Research. Carver is best known for his work with the peanut for which he developed hundreds of uses. [P] BOOKS
Cassells, Cyrus C. Poet. Author of My Beautiful Signor, Soul Make a Path Through Shouting, and The Mud Actor [P] BOOKS
Chablis, Lady* Performer. "Benjamin Edward Knox", "Brenda Dale Knox", Chablis was featured in the John Berendt Novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and played herself in the movie version produced by Clint Eastwood. Chablis's autobiography is Hiding My Candy. [NBLGLF] BOOKS
Cheeks, Rainey* Clergy. Pastor of Washington, DC Unity Fellowship Church. Founder and Program Director of Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. Cheeks is a long-time AIDS survivor who has developed his own holistic treatments. [BLK, BGLLF]
Cheetam, Carlene* Activist. Co-chair of the DC Coalition of Black Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals. One of the founders of Washington DC's Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day. [BLK]
Clarke, Cheryl* (1947) Writer. Member of Kitchen Table Women of Colour Press. Works include: "Narratives: Poems In the Tradition of Black Women" and "Lesbianism: An Act of Resistance," in "This Bridge Called My Back." [BLK, HG, CQ] BOOKS
Cleveland, James (1931-1991) Clergy, gospel musician. Cleveland founded the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Los Angeles and served as its pastor. He is better know for his work as a gospel recording artist, receiving a posthumous fourth Grammy for the LP "Having Church." Toward the end of his life he moved beyond internalized homophobia to become active in the fight against AIDS. He died of AIDS-related complications. [BLK] MUSIC
Cliff, Michelle*(1946) Writer. Jamaican author of "Claiming an Identity They Taught Me to Despise" and co-author of "Sinister Wisdom." [HG, CQ] BOOKS
Clinton, Michelle T.* Poet. Clinton's publications include: "Good Sense and the Faithless" and "High Blood/Pressure." Her recordings include: "Black Angels" and "Blood as a Bright Colour" on Freeways Records. [BGLLF] BOOKS
Coleman, James Ellis Jr. (1946) Historian. Chief researcher, International Homophilics Institute (IHI) since 1966. Founder of IHI's Committee on Negro Homophilica,1967, now IHI's Africa Committee. Many of the historical names on the Blacklist were first brought to academic and public attention by Coleman. He is a descendent of Bishop Richard Allen (founder of the AME Church). Coleman was an early correspondent of Mattachine and the One Institute and IHI's Encyclopedia Homophilica which provided base data for the Encyclopedia of Homosexuality, 1990. In 1991 he served as Secretary of the American Historical Association Committee on Gay and Lesbian History . He has served as Editor of the Journal of Homophilics (1980-1990) and also as Editor of The Gay Review (1990-1991). [IHI]
Cooke, Welmore Alfred (1925-1992) Activist. W.W.II and Korean War veteran who was one of the founders of Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day in Washington, DC. Cooke was president of Washington's Pinnacle Club and a charter member of Best Friends of Washington, a people of colour AIDS support organization. He died of AIDS-related complications. [BLK]
Cooper, Mario* (1955) Attorney. Cooper served as the Convention Manager for the 1992 Democratic National Convention in New York. Cooper managed a staff of more than 200 and a budget of more than $12 million. He also served on President Carter's advance team and was responsible for the President's domestic and foreign travel. [BGLLF]
Corbin, Steven (?-1995) Novelist. Last work was "Fragments that Remain." Previous work, "No Easy Place to Be." Corbin died of AIDS-related complications. [BLK] BOOKS
Cox, Debra* Activist. Director of finance and administration for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). [WB]
Crawford, Brenda* (1946) Activist. First African American out lesbian inducted into the Alameda County Women’s hall of fame (Oakland CA). Alameda county woman of the year (1999). Chair of the National Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Forum (NBLGLF). First African American lesbian to serve as President of the East Bay Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club [P].
Cruz Wilson* (1973) Actor. Best known for his role as Rickie Vasquez on critically- acclaimed teen drama My So Called Life. In the show's most famous episode, he was kicked out of the house, an event he lived through in real life. Known also for his role as Victor on Party of Five. [LO] VIDEO
Cullen, Countee (1903-1946) Writer. Harlem Renaissance poet known for "The Ballad of the Brown Girl", "Copper Sun" and "The Black Christ and Other Poems." Cullen married W.E.B. DuBois' daughter but two months later sailed off to Europe with Harold Jackman, his best man at the wedding. He is known for the verse questioning the pain of his existence. "I DOUBT not God is good, well meaning, kind,...Yet do I marvel at this curious thing: To make a poet black, and bid him sing!" [AA, CQ] BOOKS
Curry, Dee* Transgender activist. Member of the Metropolitan Washiington HIV Planning and Prevention Council. An outspoken supporter of the needs of the underrepresented, she has worked hard for transgender inclusion. [NBLGLF]
Davidson, Jaye* Actor. British actor with lead role in the film, "The Crying Game." [OL] VIDEO
Davis, Angela* (1944) Activist. Professor and activist Angela Davis made what many are interpreting as her coming out statement during her keynote address and press conference at the Sixth Annual BGLLF Conference (1993) in Long Beach, California. [BGLLF, WB] BOOKS
Davis, Paul* AIDS Educator. Director of Education for the Minority AIDS Project of Los Angeles, (MAP). [AL]
Davis, Sharon* (transgendered author, activist) Author of "A Finer Specimen of Womanhood" A transsexual speaks out, New York, Vantage, 1985. As an African American woman who was once an African American man, Ms. Davis offers an enlightened and very personal account of her transition. She has appeared on television and radio to speak on transsexual issues, and is presently president of an AIDS outreach program.[RAD]
Dee, Roberta Angela* (transgendered author, activist) Dee has been writing about feminist, gender and racial issues since 1959. Author of several novellas on transsexual issues, including "The Business of Being a Woman." She writes regularly for TG Forum, and is founder of the Women on the Net (WON) website -- a resource for women of colour.[P]
Delaney, Beauford (1901-1979) Painter, Entertainer. James Baldwin considered Delaney his "spiritual father." Delaney raised in Knoxville, spent time in Harlem and Greenwich Village before moving to Paris. His portraits of Baldwin, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marian Anderson, and Duke Ellington are considered classics. [CQ]
Delany, Samuel* (1942) Writer. Popular and critically acclaimed science fiction writer. Delany is one of the few African Americans writing in that genre. His works include: "The Jewels of Aptor" and "The Motion of Light in Water." [AA, CQ] BOOKS
DeLoatch, Gary (1951-1992) Performer. Principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. [BLK]
Dixon, Melvin (1950-1992) Writer, scholar. Author of two novels, "Vanishing Rooms" and "Trouble the Water" and a volume of poetry, "Change of Territory." He translated "The Collected Poems of Leopold Sedar Senghor." He died of AIDS-related complications. [BLK, OC, CQ] BOOKS
Dodson, Owen Vincent (1914-1983) Educator and Writer. Drama director at Spellman 1938-1941. Instructor and director of drama at Atlanta University 1938-1942 and Hampton Institute 1941-1942. Chair of the Drama Department, Howard University 1960-69. In 1949 Dodson led the Howard University Players on the first State Department-sponsored European tour by a black theatre company. It was the first European tour by any American college group. Their success was influential in the establishment of the federally funded cultural exchange program. [TW]
Duke, Raymond R.* (1962) AIDS Activist. Program Director of Men who have sex with men (MSM) Program at the Murtis H. Taylor Multiservices Centre HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Care Team. Raymond provides prevention education, human awareness, sexuality, adult living skills training, & HIV/STD prevention education for the African-American MSM population in Cleveland, Ohio and Cuyahoga County. [P]
Duplechan, Larry* Novelist. Author of a series of novels including: "Eight Days a Week", "Blackbird" and "Captain Swing." [BG, BLK] BOOKS
Ellis, Ruth (1899 - 2000) When she died in October of 2000 at 101, Ellis was the oldest known out Lesbian. She was born June 23, 1899. She is active in LGBT and senior citizen's movements. Ellis has been in attendance at the annual NBLGLF conference. At age 97 she conducted an informal workshop at the National Women's Music Festival. Ellis was also a business woman and owned a printing company. She held social gatherings in her home at a time when there were few places for Black LGBT people to gather. It is hoped that film about her life will be completed by her 100th birthday. [BL]
See also 100 Years Young by Rhonda Smith. VIDEO
Evans, Herbert (1951-1996) Clergy. Former Pastor MCC, Philadelphia. Serves on MCC Judicial Affairs Board and on the AIDS National Interfaith Network (ANIN), the Ecumenical AIDS Committee. Evans died of AIDS-related complications. [BGLLF, CO]
Farajaje-Jones, Elias* Theologian, activist. Farajaje-Jones, a bisexual of mixed heritage (African & Native American, Tsalagi/Cherokee), specialized in African Religions at the University of Bern in Switzerland. Formerly on the faculty of Howard University. [BGLLF] BOOKS
Fashanu, Justin (1959) Athlete. Nigerian born British soccer player who came out in the London tabloid "The Sun." [The soccer star committed suicide in May of 1998. [AA, BLK, GT]
Frechette, David Warren (1948-1991) Journalist. His film, music and gay culture articles appeared in "Advocate", "Black Film Review", "City Sun" "Essence", and "Right On!" His chapbook, "Too Through" was anthologized in "Here To Dare" 10 Gay Black Poets." He died of AIDS-related complications. [BB, OC]
Furh, Gayle L.* Writer/storyteller. Founder and advisor of "Circle of One" theatre arts performance troupe. [AL]
Garner, Darlene* Clergy. Pastor of MCC, NOVA. First African American Elder in the MCC Church. [BLK]
Gibbons, Michael J. (1949-1994) Educator. Educator and mentor for 20 years of students. First African American teacher in a predominantly Black Catholic School in East Harlem, New York from which he himself had graduated and returned to teach. Volunteer Gay Men's Health Crisis. [P]
Gerald, Gilberto* Activist. Founder and director of the African American Gay and Lesbian Studies Centre (AAGLSC). Fought with Immigration and Naturalization Service for four years to gain US citizenship finally admitting to his sexual orientation during the process. He was naturalized in 1982. [BLK, ITL]
Gomes,Peter J.* (1932) Clergy. Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard University. (Harvard University Chaplain). Author of The Good Book Gomes came out during a rally to support gay and lesbian students following a rash of homophobic incidents at Harvard. Gomes delivered sermons at Ronald Reagan and George Bush's inaugurations. [10%] BOOKS
Gomez, Jewelle*(1948) Writer. Author of "The Lipstick Papers," co-editor of "Gap Tooth Girlfriends" and author of "The Gilda Stories" a collection of vampire tales. [HG, CQ] BOOKS
Gonsalves, Roy (1960-1993) Writer. Gonsalves was the author of two books, "Evening Sunshine" and "Perversions." Founder and editor of the "Pyramid Poetry Periodical." He died of AIDS-related complications. [BLK]
Grant, Annie Lee Various. Grant passed as "Jim McHarris" for 20 years in order to get higher-paying "men's work." She worked as a short order cook, cab driver, gas station attendant, preacher and shipyard worker. Grant's secret was discovered when she was stopped for a traffic violation in 1954. [20]
Greene, Kenny (1969 - 2001) Singer. Greene the lead singer of 1990s R&B group INTRO was outed by a shoddy article that appeared in Sister2Sister magazine discussing his battle with AIDS. Greene penned hits for Mary J. Blige and Jodeci and sang lead on INTRO's two hits Love Thang and a remake of Stevie Wonder's Ribbon in the Sky. [S2S, EUR]. MUSIC
Grimké, Angelina Weld (1880-1958) Poet, Playwright. Grimké began writing as a child. One piece which she wrote at age 11 was included in Alain Locke's The New Negro Her major work the play, Rachel was staged by the NAACP as an answer to Birth of a Nation. The story was of a Black woman who rejects marriage and motherhood bacuse she does not want to bring a child into a racist world. In one of her love poems to another woman she wrote, "If I might taste but once, just once / The dew / Upon her lips." Much of Grimké's work dealt with woman to woman love and therefor remains unpublished. Grimké the daughter of a fomer slave, Archibald Grimké and his white wife, Sarah Stanley, was named for her abolitionist great aunt, Angelina Grimké Weld. [HG, CQ]
Haizlip, Ellis B. (1929-1991) Producer. One of the first black producers at PBS. Produced the program "Soul" which aired on WNET, New York from 1967 - 1973. [BLK]
Hampton, Mabel (1902-1989) Entertainer, Activist. Hampton was one of the catalysts for the Lesbian Herstory Archives. At the 1984 NYC Gay Pride Rally, Hampton said, "I have been a lesbian all my life, for eighty-two years, and I am proud of myself and my people. I would like all my people to be free in this world, my gay people and my black people." [20, CQ]
Hansberry, Lorraine (1930-1965) Writer. Author of "A Raisin in the Sun" and the first African American woman to have a play produced on Broadway. She is also known for putting Mike Wallace in his place. When he asked if she had won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award because she was a black woman, she calmly replied no. Then said if she had, it would be the first time in America that anyone had been given an award for being a black woman. [AA, CQ] BOOKS
Hardy, James E. Writer. Author of B-Boy Blues, his first novel about same-gender black love. [BBB] BOOKS
Harris, Craig (1958-1992) Writer, AIDS educator, activist. Harris went out like a meteor. His works appear in the anthologies: "In The Life", "Brother to Brother", and "Sojourner Black Gay Voices in the Age of AIDS." He died of AIDS-related complications. [ITL, OC, CQ]
Harris, E. Lynn* Novelist. Harris' two best sellers are "Invisible Life" and its sequel "Just as I Am." [BGLLF] BOOKS
Harris, Sherry* Politician. Seattle City Council Member. The first openly lesbian African American elected official. [BLK]
Haven, Nada Milford (1896-1963) “Nadezhda ‘Nada’ Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven and Countess de Torby. English society hostess and sexual rebel, descended from Pushkin and Czar Alexander I.” This renowned socialite was also renown for her pornography collection and liaisons with eminent men and women (including a princely nephew and Gloria Vanderbilt) during the Roaring Twenties. [CS]
Headley, Jubi Jr.* Activist. Executive Director of the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum (NBLGLF). Formerly lgbt advocate with United States Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC. Former Executive Assistant and Press Liaison to former Cambridge Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves, the nation's first openly gay mayor. [NBLGLF, P]
Hemphill, Essex (1957-1995) Writer, cultural activist. Hemphill edited "Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men." His works are featured in the films: "Tongues Untied" and "Looking for Langston." He narrated the black gay documentary "Out of the Shadows." His essays have appeared in "Advocate", "Gay Community News", "High Performance" and "Out/Week." He died of AIDS-related complications. [BB, ITL, CQ] BOOKS / VIDEO
Hendryx, Nona* Entertainer. Former member of the groups LaBelle and Patti LaBelle and the Blue Bells. [BLK] MUSIC
Herndon, James (1895?-1983)Pioneer, precursor. Called "Sweet Evening Breeze," or "Miss Sweets", Herndon is remembered as Lexington, Kentucky's most colourful character. He often wore make-up, occassionally performed or appeared on Main Street on Saturdays in drag, and was apparently quite effeminate. Long before there was Ru Paul, Lexington's Sweet Evening Breeze was titillating and gaining respect from locals. [TL]
Hill, Marjorie* Psychologist. Assistant vice president for Special Populations at the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the nation's largest public health network. As former director of the New York City Mayor's Office for Lesbian and Gay Issues she was instrumental in negotiating the inclusion of the lesbian and gay contingent in the St. Patrick's Day parade, by having former NYC Mayor Dinkins march with the group. [BG, BLK, BGLLF]
Hite, Ernest* Activist. Co-founder of Image Plus an organization to instil pride in Black Lesbian and Gay youth and provide HIV/AIDS education. [BLK]
Hughes, Langston James Mercer Langston Hughes (1902-1967) Writer. The writer most identified with the Harlem Renaissance. A prolific writer, he used almost every conceivable form to arrange his thoughts on paper: poems, songs, novels, plays, biographies, histories and essays. His works include: "Not Without Laughter", "The Dream Keeper", and "Tambourines to Glory." His most quoted work, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" includes the verse: "I have known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers." He often said of his life, "There are some things I don't tell nobody, not even God. He might know about them, but it certainly ain't because I told him." [AA, CQ] BOOKS RECORDINGS
Hunter, Alberta (1895-1984) Singer. Hunter was the last of America's original blues/jazz stars performing right up until the end of her life. Hunter retired from music in 1956 but regained her popularity during the 1970s. [AA, CQ] MUSIC / BOOK / VIDEO
Hunter, B. Michael* Activist, writer. Editor of Other Countries', Sojourner: Black Gay Voices in the Age of AIDS. [OC]
Hunter, Tyra (Tyrone Hunter) Transgender, hairstylist. Hunter was a resident of Washington DC left to die following an automobile accident in 1995. Upon discovering that Hunter was anatomically male, the EMS squad member stopped treating her and laughed out loud. Hunter was pronounced dead at DC General Hospital. [NBLGLF]
Icard, Larry* Educator. Associate professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work. Icard's publications include: "Counselling Black Gay Men" and "Black Gay Men and Conflicting Identities." [BGLLF]
Johnson, Cary Alan* (1962) Former Executive Director, Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) an advocacy, support and HIV service organization. Johnson has served as Regional Director for Amnesty International, in D.C. and as AI's Country Resource Coordinator in NYC. He was also the Country Representative for Africare in Kigali, Rwanda and worked with the United Nations High Commission in Bukavau, Zaire. Johnson is an accomplished author with work appearing in Brother to Brother and Sojourner[CL, VS]
Johnson, Michelle* (1956) Journalist. Formerly with the Boston Globe. Member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA). Johnson took part in the groundbreaking NABJ conference session dealing with lesbian and gay issues. Johnson now runs her own Internet Consulting company.[NJ]
Jones, Bill E.* Psychiatrist. President of New York City's Health and Hospitals Corporation, the nation's largest public health network. Formerly commissioner of New York City's Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services. [BGLLF, BLK]
Jones, Bill T.*(1952) Choreographer. Founder and Director of the Bill T. Jones /Arnie Zane Dance Company. The "Last Supper at Uncle Tom's Cabin The Promised Land." is Jones' most famous pieces. His work "Still/Here" deals with the connections between life and death, sickness and wellness. [BG, CQ] BOOKS / VIDEO
Jones, John "Bernard"* (1965) Publisher. Jones left a career in human relations to publish the magazine formerly known as JFY; he currently publishes the all-Black magazine, Millennium, and the soon to be published BlackPride. Jones is the youngest of child of his adopted family and the eldest of his biological family. [P]
Jones, Zachary* Clergy. Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church New York. Church Elder. [BLK]
Jordan, Barbara (1936-1996) Attorney, Stateswoman, Educator. Jordan was the first black woman to be elected to the Texas state senate. The first black Southern woman to be elected to the House of Representatives, serving three terms from 1972-1978. Jordan addressed the Democratic national convention in 1976, becoming the first black woman to do so. Jordan's oratory skills received national attention during the televised coverage of the House Judiciary Committee's debate regarding impeaching President Nixon. Following her tenure in Congress, Jordan took a teaching position at the University of Texas at Austin. Jordan was "outed" posthumously by an article in the March 1996 issue of The Advocate.[AV] BOOKS
Jordan, Jeffrey* (1963) Clergy. Interim Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia. [P]
Jordan, June* (1936 - 2002) Writer. English professor and author of Passion, Civil Wars , Kimako's Story, Kissing God Goodbye: Poems, and Haruko/Love Poems. Jordan was the recipient of numerous awards including: A Rockefeller Foundation Grant, the National Black Journalists Award and National, Massachusetts, and New York Arts Council awards. Jordan founded Poetry for the People at UC Berkley. Her memoir, Soldier: A Poet's Childhood, was published in 2000. Jordon died of breast cancer on June 14, 2002 in Berkley California[HG, CQ] BOOKS
Julien, Isaac* (1960) Filmmaker. British film maker responsible for "Looking for Langston" and "Young Soul Rebels." [BLK, CQ] BOOK
Keene, John* (1965) Writer. Author of the award-winning novel ANNOTATIONS (1995). A graduate of Harvard College, he is a New York Times Fellow at New York University. Keene's work has appeared in Brother to Brother and Shade [P] BOOK
Kenan, Randall* (1963) Writer. Author of "A Visitation of Spirits", "Let the Dead Bury Their Dead" and a biography of James Baldwin designed for young people. [BGLLF, CQ] BOOKS
Kelly, Patrick (1954-1990) Fashion designer. Kelly, a transplanted Mississippian with an outrageous sense of fashion, became the toast of Paris. He died of AIDS-related complications. [BLK]
Kinnard, Rupert* Cartoonist. Creator of the Brown Bomber and Diva Touche' Flambe'. [LB] BOOKS
Knuckles, Frankie* (1955) DJ, musical producer, remixer) Known as the "Father of House" Knuckles is credited with innovating this form of dance music while a DJ at The Warehouse in Chicago. Knuckles also played stints at NYC's Better Days and Continental Baths. He has worked with artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Elton John. [BL] MUSIC
Lewis, Edmonia (1844-1911) Artist. Born of a Chippewa mother and an African father, Lewis worked in clay and changed the notion of black art around the time of the Emancipation. [AA]
Levan, Larry (1954-1992) DJ. Larry Levan is the performing name for Lawrence Philpot the legendary New York DJ who held court at the Paradise Garage for 11 years. The large "sit in" disco speakers that he helped design were named "Levans" after him. [BLK, OUT] MUSIC
Lindsey, Melvin (1955-1992) Radio and TV personality. "For 15 years Lindsey reigned as the smooth, handsome prince of Washington evening radio. His show, 'The Quiet Storm,' ran for nine years on (Washington, DC's) WHUR-FM and then he took his formula to (Washington, DC's) WKYS-FM for five more years. His name was synonymous with romance." His "Quiet Storm" concept is now heard nationwide. Lindsey also hosted "Screen Scene" for BET and worked for WTTG-TV and WFTY-TV in Washington and WJZ-TV in Baltimore. [WP].
Livingston, Derek Charles* Activist. One of four national co-chairs of the 1993 March on Washington. Currently Executive Director of North Carolina Pride PAC, a gay & lesbian lobbying & political action committee for all of North Carolina. [OL]
Locke, Alain L. (1886-1954) Philosopher. The first African American Rhodes Scholar and the chief interpreter of the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes gave him the title, "midwife of the Harlem Renaissance." [AA, CQ] BOOKS
Lorde, Audre' Audrey Geraldine Lorde; Zami; Gamba Adisa; (1934-1992) Writer. Lorde was named the Poet Laureate of New York State. A writer of prose and poetry, Lorde's work is deeply personal and at the same time intensely political. Works include: "Sister Outsider", "The Cancer Journals", and "Zami: A New Spelling of My Name." In "I am your sister", she wrote: "When you read the words of Langston Hughes you are reading the words of a Black Gay man. When you read the words of Alice Dunbar-Nelson and Angelina Weld Grimké, poets of the Harlem Renaissance, you are reading the words of Black Lesbians. When you listen to the life-affirming voices of Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, you are hearing Black Lesbian women. When you see the plays and read the words of Lorraine Hansberry, you are reading the words of a woman who loved women deeply." She succumbed to cancer after a long struggle. aditional information available at Tom Sullivan's Maximum File. [AA, BG, BLK, HG, CQ] BOOKS
Lowe, Sandra* Attorney, activist. Director of the New York State Office of Gay and Lesbian Affairs under Governor Mario Cuomo. [BLK]
Mabley, Jackie "Moms" (1897-1975) Comedian. "Moms" rose to prominence performing at the Cotton Club and Apollo Theatre in the 1920s and 1930s. Her 1960 comedy album "Moms Mabley at The U.N." sold over a million copies. She appeared at Carnegie Hall in 1962. Her first television appearance was not until 1967, toward the end of her career. [AA] RECORDINGS / BOOK
Manago, Cleo* (1963) Activist, Writer, Instructor, Social Architect. Founder of the Black Men's Xchange (BMX), an Africentric national communications clearinghouse and support system for the empowerment of Black men of diverse sexual expression. Cleo Manago founder and director of the AMASSI Institute is also known for popularizing the terms for Black-men-who-Love-men and same-gender-loving people of African descent. [P]
Mason, Abner* Activist. President of Log Cabin, an organization of gay Republicans. [BLK]
Mathis, Johnny* (1935) Entertainer. When activists decided to "out" the singer, they were embarrassed to discover he had been out for years. [BLK, CQ] MUSIC / VIDEO
May, Gregory* (1958) Activist. Former Co-chair of the Los Angeles-based Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum. [BGLLF]
Maye, Patrick* Clergy. Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church, Philadelphia. [P]
McAlmont, David* (1967) London, UK - singer/songwriter. First and foremost Out Black Gay personality in Britain, who has been out since his career began in 1990. Works include: two albums and several successful singles in the UK. He co-wrote the song Surrender sung by K.D..Lang on the Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies soundtrack and covered Diamonds are Forever from an earlier Bond film. He is a positive role model to young black gays and lesbians in Britain. [R]
McCoy, Renee* Clergy. Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church, Detroit. Church Elder. [BLK]
Miller, Tom (1945-2000) Artist. Whimsical Baltimore artist know for inventing ‘Afro-Deco’ style of brightly painted furniture. Miller used discarded furniture he found in thrift shops and painted the surfaces in magical patterns, both inside and outside. His work was widely shown in galleries throughout Baltimore and he was among the first local African-American artists given a one man show at the BMA. He died of AIDS-related causes. [BS]
Moragne, Tim* Psychologist. Former president of the Association of Black Psychologists. Moragne came out to the members of the organization in his first keynote speech. [BGLLF, BLK]
Morgan, Tom* Journalist. New York Times. Former president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Morgan, along with Linda Villarosa, and Michelle Johnson, organized the NABJ's first conference session on lesbian and gay issues. [NJ]
Morrow, Bruce* writer. Recipient of the 1995 Frederick Douglass Fellowship for young African-American Fiction Writers. Editor of Shade His work has appeared in The New York Times, Callaloo, aRude, and the anthologies Speak My Name and Ancestral House. [P] BOOKS
Ndege'Ocello, Me'Shell*Recording Artist. Her name, pronounced (n-Day-gay-o-Chell-o), is Swahili for "free like a bird." Her debut album was the innovative Plantation Lullabies. [BLK] MUSIC
Nero, Charles I* Educator. Currently teaching in the Department of Rhetoric at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. His research about black gay literature, black women's history, HIV/AIDS education, and black political conservatives has appeared in academic journals as well as popular anthologies such as Essex Hemphill's Brother to Brother . [P] BOOKS
Nkoli, Simon (1957-1998) Activist. South African involved in the anti-Apartheid and HIV/AIDS struggles. Nkoli dies in 1998 due to AIDS related complications. [BLK]
Nugent, Bruce (1906-1987) Writer. The Bohemian of the Harlem Renaissance, Nugent is considered the first black writer to deal openly with homosexuality. His 1926 "Smoke, Lilies and Jade" appeared in the first issue of the short-lived literary quarterly, "Fire!!" The critic for the "Baltimore Afro-American" wrote, “I have just tossed the first issue of 'Fire!!' into the fire." [BW, ITL]
Oden, Ron
