Peter Tatchell

Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell has criticised organisers of Black History Month for not acknowledging the contributions made by black LGBTs (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). In particular he mentions the "cover up" around the bisexuality of black civil rights activist Malcolm X.

In a statement Mr Tatchell said:
"October is Black History Month in Britain - a wonderful celebration of the huge, important and valuable contribution that black people have made to humanity and to popular culture.

"It is also worth celebrating that many leading black icons have been lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, most notably the US black liberation hero Malcolm X.

"Other prominent black LGBTs include jazz singer Billie Holiday, author and civil rights activist James Baldwin, soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, blues singer Bessie Smith, poet and short story writer Langston Hughes, singer Johnny Mathis, novelist Alice Walker, civil rights activist and organiser of the 1963 March on Washington Bayard Rustin, blues singer Ma Rainey, dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, actress, singer and dancer Josephine Baker, Olympic diving gold medallist Greg Louganis, singer and songwriter Little Richard, political activist and philosopher Angela Davis, singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman and drag performer and singer RuPaul.

"Few of these prominent black LGBT achievers are listed on the most comprehensive UK Black History Month website.  It hosts biographies of notable black men and women. In the section People, only Angela Davis is mentioned and her lesbianism is not acknowledged. The website fails to identify the vast majority of black public and historical figures who are LGBT.

"Why these omissions? Black people are not one homogenous heterosexual mass. Where is the recognition of sexual diversity within the black communities and black history?

"In contrast, LGBT History Month, which takes place in the UK in February, devotes a whole section of its website to the lives of leading black LGBT people and links to the websites for Black History Month.

"Disappointingly, this solidarity is not reciprocated. On the Black History Month websites I could not find a LGBT section or a LGBT History Month link.

"Perhaps it is unintentional but Black History Month sometimes feels like Straight Black History Month. Famous black LGBT people are not acknowledged and celebrated. Either their contribution to black history and culture is ignored or their sexuality is air-brushed out of their biographies.  

"A good example of this neglect is the denialism surrounding the bisexuality of one of the greatest modern black liberation heroes: Malcolm X.

"This lack of recognition is perhaps not surprising, given that some of his family and many black activists have made strenuous efforts to deny his same-sex relationships and suppress recognition of the full spectrum of his sexuality.

"Why the cover-up? So what if Malcolm X was bisexual. Does this diminish his reputation and achievements? Of course not. Whether he was gay, straight or bisexual should not matter. His stature remains, regardless of his sexual orientation. Yet many of the people who revere him seem reluctant to accept that their hero, and mine, was bisexual.

"Young black lesbian, gay and bisexual people can, like their white counterparts, often feel isolated, guilty and insecure about their sexuality. They could benefit from positive, high-achieving role models, to give them confidence and inspiration. Who better than Malcolm X? He inspires my human rights activism and was a trailblazer in the black freedom struggle. He can inspire other LGBT people too.

"Having an internationally-renowned gay or bisexual black icon would do much to help challenge homophobia, especially in the black communities and particularly in Africa and the Caribbean where homosexuality and bisexuality are often dimissed as a "white man's disease."

"For over half a century the Nation of Islam and many black nationalists have suppressed knowledge of Malcolm's same-sex relations. It is now time for Black History Month to speak the truth. Malcolm X was bisexual. Get over it."

For more information about Black History Month view:
www.black-history-month.co.uk

For more information about Peter Tatchell view:
www.petertatchell.net