During my break from school, I built strong relationships with some Black Gay men who became my idols. That all changed when I took a break from my white institution and engulfed myself into the world of the District of Columbia. TV shows like “Queer as Folk,” a program I snuck to watch, did not have Black gay characters and Davey Wavey, the white gay YouTube star I looked up to, did not discuss race, so going to college I was the only Black Gay man in the world and, oh, how that task. Up until this point, there were no Black Gay men in my life to befriend and as someone who went to a 100% African American school, I never found another man I could find solace in over my sexuality. I thought as a Black Gay man I was the conundrum that people only heard about in myths. I fear that the relationships I build will hurt me and I fear that the life I always thought I wanted was something that did more damage than good.Īs funny as it sounds, when I got to college, I thought I was an anomaly. As much as I crave the community of other Black gay men, I also fear it. If I were asked a year ago, it would be the easiest thing in the world, back when my life revolved around being what I deemed a “Black Gay Man.” However, as of recently, I am at a loss for words when it comes to this idea of Black gay men.
I am tasked with writing an article about Gay Black men, one of the hardest things I must do to date.
