Why Is It Easier For White Gay Celebrities To Come Out Of The Closet Than Black Gay & Lesbian Stars?
Entertainment Weekly’s new issue this week is about celebrities coming out of the closet. The pop culture magazine examines the changing attitudes society has about gay and lesbian stars coming out of the closet. Is this really progress? A quick glance at the cover of Entertainment Weekly and the majority of gay stars on the cover are white gay males. Only two lesbians are on the cover Wanda Sykes and Jane Lynch. The only non white person on the cover of this week’s Entertainment Weekly is comedian Wanda Sykes.
Fifteen years ago, when Ellen Degeneres came out she was on the cover of Time Magazine. It is true that North American culture is more accepting of celebrities coming out but only if they are white. Now Ellen Degeneres has a hit talk show and has made millions of dollars after coming out. Can anyone imagine an A list black gay or lesbian celebrity come out of the closet and actually acquire more fame just like Degeneres after coming out?
Degeneres received support from the mainstream white heterosexual and gay media after she decided to come out in 1997. Degeneres white skin privilege allowed her to navigate the terrain of coming out as a lesbian. Degeneres whiteness was her bargining chip to minimize the collateral damage of coming out.
Since the white image is still viewed as natural in society, Degeneres whiteness made it easier for her to declare she is a lesbian. Degeneres didn’t have to deal with any racial issues when she came out of the closet. Since whiteness is still constructed out of dominance in North America, Degeneres being gay wasn’t seen as a threat to mainstream white American society.
The paucity of black gay and lesbian stars coming out is because being gay in North American generally means being white not black.
The television shows such as Modern Family, Will & Grace, movies such as Brokeback Mountain and The Kids Are All Right all have the same white image about homosexuality. Entertainment Weekly’s cover about coming out reinforces the white gay image.
Hollywood just like mainstream society is still racially stratified. Heterosexual black actors complain about not obtaining decent film roles like their white counterparts. The entertainment industry does not have a level playing field for people of colour. Black gay actors probably fear coming out will destroy their careers.
It is easier for a white gay celebrity to come out than a black gay and lesbian star. There is a paucity of African American stars coming out of the closet.
Although the mainstream media promotes coming out as a magical, wonderful, moment in a gay person’s life this is not always the case.
In the black community, black gay stars fear criticism by the black media and their fans if they come out.
The black media also has a propensity to ignore queer black stars for a number of reasons. There is an attitude in the black community that homosexuality is a white issue and not a concern to blacks. There is also a don’t ask don’t tell attitude in the black community about homosexuality. Of course, black people already are cognizant Wanda Sykes is a lesbian but homosexuality is considered a private matter. Homosexuality is still a taboo topic to discuss in the African Diaspora.
Sykes was courageous in coming out because she is one of the few black celebrities to declare she is a lesbian. However, the mainstream white culture reinforces the subliminal message is gay people are generally white not black, Asian, Native American, or Hispanic. Of course, there are people of colour who are gay the question is why are most lesbian and gay stars of colour still in the closet?
Gay people of colour are marginalized not just because they are gay but also due to race and identity politics. Last year, the only high profile black celebrity to come out of the closet was CNN journalist Don Lemon. However, most black people yawned and didn’t care that Lemon came out because he’s not a real star he’s a journalist.
The black media only briefly mentioned Don Lemon’s decision to come out but he was generally ignored. The real big black gay and lesbian celebrities are unwilling to come out because they have already built their brand and audiences. If or when a higher profile black queer star comes out of the closet then the black press will pay attention.
There is a reason Queen Latifah, Tyler Perry, Tracy Chapman, Missy Elliott and the rest of the high profile black gay and lesbian stars are not out. Tracy Chapman is a multi platinum and Grammy award winning artist she chooses to not announce she is a lesbian because she believes it is a private matter. Chapman probably wants the general public to focus on her music and not on her sexual orientation.
Queen Latifah has high profile endorsements with Cover Girl cosmetics, Tyler Perry has a huge following in the African American Christian community, and Missy Elliott is a well respected rapper. Tyler Perry’s new movie Madea Witness Protection comes out this week Friday. Perry’s core audience are black Christians he can’t just come out of the closet and declare he is a gay black man. Perry is fearful if he does come out he will lose the audience he has worked so hard to reach.
For an A list black star to come out as gay and lesbian is still considered a form of career suicide. After coming out of the closet who will support the openly gay or lesbian black star?
One of the dilemmas some queers of colour experience is the struggle between coming out of the closet and losing respect from their race and cultural community. It might be difficult for a person that is not of colour to truly understand this point. We live in a white centered world despite the progress of the civil rights, feminist, and gay movements. The mainstream white culture is the dominant culture, but for people of colour there is a private sphere beyond the public realm.
Another issue that tends to be ignored is the fact that the gay media in North America is controlled by white people. Remember four years ago the controversy over proposition 8 in the state of California? Dan Savage the white gay activist blamed the black community for voting in favour of banning gay marriage. Even though, blacks account for about 4% of California’s total population.
Dan Savage’s racism and anger towards blacks underscored the racial tension and friction between white gays and blacks. Savage was condemned by black gay activists for his anti black racism.
On this blog, I have discussed numerous times the issue of racism within the gay and lesbian community. In North America there are even separate gay pride events for blacks and whites. In major American cities such as Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City, black gay pride is popular among black gays and lesbians. The reason African Americans decided to create black gay pride is due to the fact blacks wanted to claim their own space. Black gays and lesbians were aware that the mainstream gay community did not provide a safe space for them.
Across North American the lesbian communities have created their own Dyke March because they are cognizant of the sexism of gay men. Lesbians realized they needed their own space separate from male homosexuals to celebrate being lesbian.
Some black gay stars are reticent to come out to the gay media because they don’t trust the mainstream white gay media.
Some black gay stars don’t see any benefit in coming out. The mainstream white gay publications Out Magazine, Instinct, and Advocate, are geared towards a white queer audience. The white gay media’s attention is focused on white queer culture not black queer culture.
More must be done in the mainstream society and queer communities so that real progress can take place and that black gay stars can come out and be successful.
When Will A Black Man Win A Grand Slam Singles Title?
Although the media say men’s tennis is exciting, the truth is the ATP Tour has been very boring for a long time. Men’s tennis is basically a white sport with a few sprinkes of colour.
A black man hasn’t won a grand slam since 1983. Yannick Noah of France, won the French Open twenty-seven years ago but a black manhas failed to win another grand slam.
An African-American man hasn’t won a grand slam singles title in thirty-five years!
If a black man won a grand slam singles title this would help black tennis. A black male tennis champion can inspire black boys to play tennis.
The Williams Sisters are now veterans, they have been very involved in black tennis and encouraging black youth to play the game.
The dilemma is, tennis is a very expensive sport to play. It takes time for a young tennis player to develop. The equipment, coaching, and court time is very expensive.
The Williams Sisters have already established themselves as legends in women’s tennis. The legendary Althea Gibson broke the colour barrier when she won the Wimbledon singles titles in 1957 and 1958 but Venus and Serena took black women’s tennis to the next level. Venus and Serena made women’s tennis profitable and brought new fans to the sport.
The quandary is, the black men have not progressed and reached the level of the Williams Sisters. James Blake, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, and Gael Monfils have all reached the ATP Tour top ten but they have failed to win grand slam singles titles.
Blake, Monfils, and Tsonga are attractive, and extremely gifted tennis players. In France, Monfils and Tsonga are the most talented male tennis players of their generation and the French public love them.
Gael Monfils of France is a sexy, talented, and athletic tennis player but he lacks the mental toughness to become a champion.
Today, Lleyton Hewitt of Australia defeated the Frenchman 6-3 7-6 6-4 in the third round of Wimbledon. Monfils had multiple chances to win the second set tiebreaker but was passive and after that he basically gave up.
Monfils has been ranked in the ATP Tour top ten he is six foot four, extremely quick, he also very physically fit but he just refuses to be aggressive on the tennis court. I am tired of the excuses people make for Monfils, it is time for Gael to become more aggressive and take chances in his matches.
However, Gael is only twenty three years old, he turns twenty four in September but I fear time is running out for him to win a grand slam.
Gael has only won two ATP Tour titles in his career yet he has lost multiple finals. Two years ago at the French Open Gael made his breakthrough and reached the semifinals and he entered the top ten. I thought Gael was on his way to becoming a champion but I fear he has regressed.
Meanwhile, James Blake is a lost cause he has a chronic knee injury and he was always an underachiever.
Blake is the male Anna Kournikova, he is very handsome, and charismatic but he has never proven he has the grit, the determination to become a champion.
In the year 2005, James Blake almost defeated Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals of the US OPEN but he choked and lost the match.
Blake has not recovered from his astonishing defeat at the 2005 US OPEN.
Some people say James Blake is just too nice, I think James Blake just doesn’t believe has the ability to become a champion.
Blake is now thirty years old he has dropped out of the ATP Tour top 100 and I fear it is too late for Blake to reach his potential.
One of Blake’s problems is, he refused to fire his childhood coach Brian Barker when he a top player. Many tennis fans and the media felt that Barker didn’t have
the expertise to make become develop into a champion. Blake and Barker are no longer working together but his time has passed.
Blake hasn’t reached a grand slam final in his career even though he was won 10 ATP Tour titles and reached a career high of number four in the world.
I think Jo Wilfried Tsonga has the mental toughness that his countryman Gael Monfils lacks but I am not sure he will become a champion? Tsonga reached the Australian Open finals two years ago and lost to Novak Djokovic.
I believe Tsonga has the grit that Blake and Monfils lack. Tsonga is inconsistent, he can play great tennis one day and terrible tennis the next.
However, my belief is Tsonga is the one I feel can win a grand slam but he has to play up to his potential to win. Tsonga has a complete game he has a huge serve, excellent groundstrokes, he volleys very well and he believes in himself.
I wonder, when will a black man ever win a grand slam singles title again? Only time will tell when a black man will break the colour barrier again in men’s tennis and win a grand slam singles title.
Why Are Darker Skinned Black Men Viewed As More Masculine Than Lighter Skin Black Men In Pop Culture?
I think darker skinned black men are viewed as more masculine, attractive, and as real black men.
In pop culture, lighter skinned black men are not given the same amount of respect in the black community.
I know some people think Kanye West is a jackass, but the guy is still hot! I love Usher too! I must say I can’t believe Denzel Washington is fifty five years old he doesn’t look fifty five! Denzel is hot!
I must admit, I tend to be more attracted to darker skinned black men that are my skin tone or darker. I don’t know why? Is it because lighter skinned black men are viewed in pop culture as effeminiate and not masculine? Are these just stereotypes projected on to lighter skinned black men?
I just love darker skinned black men but I think some light skinned guys are good looking as well. I remember this dark skinned African guy I saw on the TTC bus one day, I almost passed out he was so fine!
Anyway, I think there are some good looking liked skinned men in this world. I am curious what do you think? I am cognizant that Dwayne Johnson, Wentworth Miller, Corbin Bleu, Terrance Howard, and Lenny Kravitz are mixed race but they do have black heritage. All these men are absolutely gorgeous!
Gayblackcanada 
