Black and LGBTQ+

 Connie Oliver

Professor Jaleesa Harris

African American Literature

November 15, 2022

Black and LGBTQ+

This essay will explore and compare the Black and LGBTQ+ identities in order to understand them and show how much they affect each other. It will show a first-hand identity experience and how they could be like someone else's. Then it will show Black experiences with passing and identity. Both communities have a form of passing in a way, specifically in the trans and nonbinary sides. Both forms of passing are the same but different in that they are trying to pass as different things. In trans passing, one tries to present masculine, feminine, or however they feel, but with Black passing, if one's skin is light enough, they could potentially pass as white. Either way, passing is a way to get more success in certain things as well as to avoid discrimination and hate. 

Most experiences with identity are rough. For some, it is not too bad; they will have to get over their own suppressed emotions and internalized bigotry. Plus, with other peoples' bigotry, it will not be easy. However, if there were 10 bigots, then there were 20 people supporting me. For many, friends can be a sort of family and a big support group. They can help with the confidence needed to explore identity and figure out who they are. As for passing, it can be easy and can be incredibly difficult. One needs confidence in order to pass well because no matter how one looks, if they are confident enough, then most people will see them as how they are presenting. It can be hard if one has no confidence as well as if they are in a place where everyone knows them. It is difficult for some people to change how they see someone. 

Black passing and identity are different from LGBTQ identity. However, they are also very similar. Black passing is when someone's skin is light enough to pass as white. It can both help and hurt. In Homegoing, a woman’s husband had light skin and passed as white, but it ended hurting their family, “There were so many people walking around them that Willie was surprised she even noticed at all, but she did. It was Robert” (Gyasi 201). After a couple years, she was able to recognize but barely. He had passed so well that she did not notice him. It was not all bad, though; he was able to have a better life thanks to his passing. Passing overall is a good thing, but people should not have to be “passing” to be seen as who they are. 

Identity is a very important to many people, especially in Black and LGBTQ communities. It makes them who they are and discrimination against them is a big issue. In Equiano, “I no longer looked upon them as spirits, but as men superior to us; and therefore I had the stronger desire to resemble them” (Equiano 133). Discrimination and bigotry regarding identity can cause major issues. This is why Black and LGBTQ communities being together is a very important thing for change. 

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