Mainstream America hasn’t been particularly accepting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community, and that goes double in the African American community. With strong “traditional church” backgrounds and the fear of the down- low brother choosing to express your homosexuality can be detrimental or even dangerous in some situations. Despite this fact, there are some celebrities who’ve decided to endure the inevitable criticism and come out, some publicly, some not so publicly, sharing just one part of who they really are.
Josephine Baker
This iconic entertainer was known for her ability to seduce. What many people may not know is that she worked her mojo on men as well as women. While many of the biographical books and movies on Baker ignore her affairs with women Jean-Claude Baker’s 1993 book Josephine: The Hungry Heart details the true nature of her lifestyle. Although she married men, Claude Baker, Josephine’s play-son, records several affairs with both sexes. It’s rumored that Baker was even involved with Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
Sheryl Swoopes
This basketball player, who’s been called the Michael Jordan of the WNBA came out to ESPN magazine in 2005. This was a bit of a shocker to some people, considering Swoopes was married and had a son. When she came out she said she was tired of hiding and has since become an advocate for other lesbian athletes.
Audre Lorde
Poet and activist Audre Lorde began exploring her lesbian sexuality after she graduated high school and was enrolled in Hunter College. Yet she married Edward Rollins in 1962 and had two children. She met her long-time partner toward the end of the marriage and the two divorced in 1970. From then on, her sexuality was never hidden again. She claimed it was a part of who she was and was subsequently reflected in her writing.
Wanda Sykes
This politically charged, keep it real comedienne shocked some folk when she came out, in what seemed like a spontaneous moment, at a 2008 gay rights rally in Las Vegas. The move didn’t seem to disrupt her career not one bit. In fact she’s since added jokes about her French wife and their twins Olivia and Lucas to her routine.
Barbara Jordan
Jordan, the first African American woman elected to the Texas senate, never came out publicly and acknowledged her sexuality. Yet she lived with a woman for Nancy Earl for close to 30 years. In 1996, when she died due to complications from leukemia and multiple sclerosis, Earl was identified as her “long-time companion” in the obituary.
Octavia Butler
This sci-fi writer grew up as a bit of a recluse. She suffered from dyslexia and was unusually tall, which often translates to bullying. She started writing to combat the boredom and loneliness. Even when she reached notoriety she still revealed very little about herself but there is great speculation that the writer, who died in 2006 from a head injury, was a lesbian.
Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey, one of the first blues singers to record, also married a man William “Pa” Rainey when she was 18 years old. The two performed together in minstrel shows. It was while she was traveling, doing shows that she met fellow blues singer Bessie Smith. Rainey served as a mentor for Smith and the two began performing together. It’s rumored they were also together romantically. Whether they were or not it’s hard to refute some of Ma Rainey’s lyrics. For example in “Prove it to Me Blues” the singer says flat out: “I don’t like me no mens.”
Alice Walker
The Pulitzer Prize winning author hasn’t been shy about asserting who she is, in any regard, including sexually. In 1996 she told Essence that she’s bisexual but she doesn’t feel like she has to tell everybody. The author who was also married and had a daughter was in a relationship with folk singer Tracy Chapman in the mid 90’s.
Amber Rose
Whether we like it or not, for one reason or another Amber Rose is famous, so she makes the list. When she appeared on Kanye’s arm a couple years ago people were curious to learn about who she was. While we’re still trying to figure that out, it didn’t take long for people to realize the blonde baldie was bisexual. Now that there are pictures, there’s no denying that fact.
Billie Holiday
Singer and songwriter Lady Day had a troubled life filled with memories from a rough childhood and drug use. In the midst of her career and marriage, Holiday was linked to some high profile women in Hollywood, including actress Tallulah Bankhead.
Me’Shell N’DeGeOCello
This soul singer, bassist performer has an incredibly recognizable voice. The singer who has identified as bisexual had a son in 1989 and was in a relationship with Alice Walker’s daughter, Rebecca, for years before they parted ways.
Felicia “Snoop” Pearson
The former convict, turned actress, who was recently busted for drug possession, released her autobiography Grace After Midnight: A Memoir in 2007. In the book Pearson detailed her life as a lesbian who identifies with the socially accepted male gender role.
Angela Davis
The former Black Panther turned educator was never shy about her beliefs, whether it be civil rights, feminism, or most recently health care. Yet she caused some double takes in 1997 when she appeared on the cover of Out Magazine, confirming longtime rumors that she was a lesbian.
Did anybody on this list surprise you? Did we forget anyone?
