African lives have already greatly improved over the past decade. The next...
"I've started to come out but am finding it hard work and difficult. I'm 21 and black and know that some of my family are going to have a major problem when, or if, I tell them. In fact I'm finding out first hand that some of the black community are never going to accept me. Any advice?"
Being black and gay puts you in not one, but two minority groups. Gay black men can often feel like they don't fit in either mainstream (predominantly straight) black community or in the mainstream (predominantly white) gay community. It seems to be true that the fear of rejection, hatred or violence can lead young gay black men to hide their sexual identity. This can lead to a lack of visibility. Religion is often very important in predominantly black communities and, unfortunately, these churches often have a hostile relationship with the gay community. Don't be afraid to seek help from the numerous gay organisations out there.