Is It Easier For White Gay A List Stars To Come Out Than Black A List Stars?
Singer Ricky Martin is ‘letting it all out’ in his memoir ‘Me’
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I commend Latin pop star Ricky Martin for coming out of the closet and declaring he is a gay man. I feel more responsive to Ricky Martin’s coming out than say Neil Patrick Harris because Martin is technically an ethnic minority due to being hispanic. However, Martin is a white Hispanic, and I do believe he is indeed courageous for coming out because the Latino community does view homosexuality differently than mainstream liberal white America. However, I cannot help but wonder, why hasn’t an A list black gay celebrity come out of the closet?
Why are the A list black gays and lesbians still hiding? Ricky Martin probably felt he had a lot to lose since most of his fans aren’t even from the English-speaking American market but the Spanish-speaking market. Since the United States has an interesting racial classification system Ricky Martin is placed into the Hispanic category even though he is indeed a white man. Ricky Martin is a different kind of white man, since he’s Spanish speaking, but he’s still a white man. Would the mainstream American media & African American media really be supportive of an A list African American celebrity coming out? Does an African American celebrity have more to lose than a white gay celebrity to coming out? Or is the reason black gay A list celebrities aren’t coming out of the closet is because they know they have a lot more to lose than gain?
Would high profile white gay organizations such as GLAAD & HRC support the A list black gay star? I ask these questions because anyone black and gay knows black gays and lesbians we have a contentious relationship with the white gay elite and media. However, I must acknowledge black gays and lesbians we also have a problematic relationship with the black heterosexual press and community as well.
So what do you guys think? Do you think in the year 2010 almost 2011 that the media and public would be supportive of an A list black or lesbian star coming out of the closet? Would this A list black gay or lesbian star still have a career? Or are the issues of race, class, and culture, still a barrier that prevents black gay and lesbian stars from coming out of the closet?
Gayblackcanada 
Not sure how germane this is, but my BF is Black (I’m white), and we’ve had our uncertain moments when in a predominantly Black neighborhood. He has made it plain that there’s to be no outward show of affection when we’re hanging in certain areas of Harlem, Bed-Stuy, etc. We are not shy about who and what we are in (so-called) mainstream areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn, but when Blacks are the majority, we cool it — on his orders.
If it’s possible to extrapolate from this how the Black community nationwide might react to a major Black celeb coming out, then I can understand why he/she would be very leery, indeed.
Hello Dan I can understand your boyfriend’s discomfort I don’t think its because he isn’t proud to be gay. I believe your boyfriend is being smart he wants to protect both of you from potential verbal abuse or even violence.
I think also there is a psychological fear to black gays coming out the fear of losing our place in the black community.
Remember, white gays are still white there is still a white gay community that whites can go to for support. However, for black gays we have to negotiate between the white gay community and the black heterosexual community. So there is a tug of war between both communities.
Orville, I can appreciate the dilemma you’ve outlined. As my BF points out to me, Blacks are a minority within the majority white culture, and then as a gay Black man, he is a minority within the minority. And he stresses that it is important not to cut oneself off from the support of this minority community, even if it is suspicious or even outright hostile toward his homosexuality.
As you put it, there is a tug of ward going on. Wheels within wheels.
What a shame, eh?
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I saw Ricky on Opreh yesterday, I am so proud of him…He was GLOWING with happiness and joy… . Its difficult for any man black , white , other to come out… for a Black man its propbably more difficult because the thought of losing ones support and community can be overwhelming….For a black celeb/ man . its probably more so because now one will have 2 strikes against you… I would recommend that one should only come out when one is ready…Its a process of growth and one has to be ready.
I admire any man/woman who comes out as it takes courage. what I would recommend is for one to just like your own life in a place wher you feel safe, confident, and ok.. If others assume you are gay so be it. its not your problem if they cant accept you……
Hello Victor thanks for your comment. It is true, ultimately it is up to us to live our own lives on our own terms. I just think it is very sad that some gay people worry about coming out for fear of losing their places in their own racialized communities. I do believe it is harder for gays of colour to come out than white folks. In the pop culture and media gays of colour tend to be under represented and that’s unfortunate. Pop culture is very powerful too. I would like more A list black gay stars to come out but we do have to live our own lives and not live through role models.
Black culture for some reason does not seem to be as excepting of homosexuality. They would rather males be down-low and spreading HIV than out and happy and safe…
Go figure.