Centering Black figures this LGBTQ history month
LGBTQ History Month is commemorated annually both nationally and globally each October. It is a critical tool to honor, share, and teach Black queer history, as it’s rarely included in academic curricula, cultural organizations, or institutional priorities.
There are many reasons why this continues to occur. However, as a Black queer educator who works and is an alumnus of an HBCU, it’s critical to name the erasure and invisibility of Black LGBTQ historical figures who attended and worked at our D.C.
Black institutions. Washington, D.C., is considered one of the best places for LGBTQ people to live. But which people are we talking about?
Are Black and Brown people centered in that narrative? Are working-class queer folks centered in that narrative? For far too long, institutions and organizations have erased the contributions and plight of LGBTQ people.
