It begins, "It would not be inaccurate to describe Michael Hinson, Jr. as a gay, African-American male. But that does not mean he'd like it. 'Sexual minorities of color will generally define themselves by their race first,' says Hinson, executive director of Colours, a support and educational agency for black, Hispanic and Asian homosexuals." It discusses the struggle to find acceptance and understanding from both other African-Americans and white gay people.

"After a history of being closeted by the violence-ridden homophobia of the majority and shunted into denial by what some black homosexuals describe as a 'don't ask, don't tell' ethos in their own community, African-American lesbians and gays, prodded, in part, by the AIDS epidemic, are now charting an increasingly public course," it says.

"Despite similarities between the glimmerings of acceptance claimed by both African-Americans and white homosexuals, there are differences in the experiences of gays and lesbians of different races." It also discusses the particular relationship between historically black churches and lesbian and gay congregates, and the "strong conviction that one of the best ways to attack the spread of [HIV/AIDS] is by promoting and supporting stable, monogamous homosexual relationships."

It points to an gay male couple of 18 years and the relationship of black lesbian filmmaker Cheryl Dunne and her partner, Alexandra Juasz, who are "expecting a child." [Editors note: Dunne actually just recently gave birth.]

Too often, the media pits lesbians and gay men against communities of color, making the two seem mutually exclusive. This story not only looks into some of the issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of color, it also highlights several leaders of the lesbian and gay community who are also African-American talking about their experiences in their own words.

Please let Knight-Ridder Newspapers know that the distribution of the excellent article is a welcome addition to mainstream media coverage of the full diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Contact:

Kathleen Carroll, News Editor
Knight-Ridder Newspapers
529 14^th St. NW, #700

Report defamation in the media by calling GLAAD's Toll-Free AlertLine! 1-800-GAY-MEDIA (1-800-429-6334)

Visit GLAAD Online at http://www.glaad.org