Oppression Against Black Lesbians

The news article titled "Color Us Invisible: In the Shadows of Communities Black and Gay, Black Lesbians Forge Lives, Loves, And Family" by Mignon R. Moore talks about the different struggles of black lesbians.  The focus on the article is the comparison of lives of women within the black LGBTQ community versus white women in the same community.  In this blog post, I analyze Moore’s article and point out the different ways that black women of color are oppressed in the LGBTQ community.

           In Adrienne Rich's article "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" she opens it up by saying, "The bias of compulsory heterosexuality, through which lesbians experience is perceived on a scale ranging from deviant to abhorrent, or simple rendered invisible, could be illustrated." (Rich 32).  She's saying how lesbians are thought to be going against the social norm and inspiring to be disgusted because of this lifestyle that they choose to engage in which is far from the truth.  In Moore's article it tells a story of two lesbian black women who decided to go against these social norms and struggles that come with being an African American lesbian.

            Oppression is defined by prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.  Mistreatment is embedded within the LGBTQ community.  Whether it is by direct mistreatment or injustices that are embedded within society, it all falls under the category of oppression.  Moore's article points out obvious "economic differences among same-sex couples by race." (Moore.)  "Relative to white couples, black couples are less likely to own their own homes, less likely to be employed, and more likely to live in poverty." (Moore).  The article continues on saying black lesbians have more in common with black communities in general than they do with the LGBTQ community.  All the same hardships that black people face, black lesbians face too; they aren't an exception. 

            Also, let's not forget that they are women; women are also already seen as lower ranking status in society.  Rich says, "Women are not only segregated in low-paying service jobs, but that 'sexualization of the woman' is part of the job.  Central and intrinsic to the economic realities of women's lives is the requirement that women will 'market sexual attractiveness to men, who tend to hold the economic power and position to enforce their predilections.'" (Rich 36).  This forces some to believe that they must conceal their identity and lose their right of gender expression or risk losing their job.  For example, if their boss weren’t a fan of lesbians then he or she would easily let go of that person as a worker.  This is a form of oppression in that the boss has this control over their worker.  "A lesbian, closeted on her job because of heterosexist prejudice, is not simply forced into denying the truth of her outside relationships or private life; her job depends on her pretending to be not merely heterosexual but a heterosexual woman, in terms of dressing and playing the feminine, deferential role required of "real" women."  (Rich 36).

            "We often find it difficult to separate race from class from sex oppression because in our lives they are most often experienced simultaneously." (Smith 77.)  This is the case that occurs with black lesbians.  They fall into the category of black, lower class, and lesbian.  "Because black same-sex couples are more economically disadvantaged on average than are white same-sex couples, at the same time that they are more likely to be raising children, they are disproportionately harmed by laws that limit access of sexual minorities to certain rights." (Moore).  For example, this limits them from being able to foster or adopt children. 

            Smith goes on to talk about how activism has paved certain roads "but they have not had nearly enough impact upon the educational system itself." (Smith 78.)  This ties in with the article where Moore discusses how black lesbians are excluded and aren't a part of certain organizations.  This then has a domino affect on their lack of representation.  These are a few ways in which black lesbians are oppressed against.  Through more involvement and getting their voice heard, more needs will be met in the black lesbian community.  "…Making connections between oppressions is an excellent way to introduce the subjects of lesbian and gay male identity and homophobia, because it offers people a frame of reference to build upon." (Smith 78.)

Works Cited

Moore, Mignon R. “Color Us Invisible: In the Shadows of Communities Black and Gay, Black

Lesbians Forge Lives, Loves, And Family.” Posted 4 November 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mignon-r-moore/black-lesbians_b_1075251.html

Rich, Adrienne. "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" from Professions of

Desire: Lesbian and Gay Studies in Literature. ed. George Haggerty and Bonnie Zimmermann. New York: Modern Language Association, 1995.

Smith, Barbara. “Homophobia: Why Bring it Up?” from The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader.

ed Henry Ablelove er al. New York & London: Routledge, 1993.