Miss Cleo, famous for her TV psychic infomercials, has come out as a lesbian. In an interview Miss Cleo tells The Advocate that she has been afraid of coming out: "The reason it's scary is because in my personal experience, black cultures throughout the world have a more difficult time accepting homosexuality in their family."
...or with their friends.
In High School I had a couple of good black girl-friends; Wendy D. and Linda H. It was pretty damn clear that I and most of my friends were queer. It didn't seem to matter until it was said -- out loud. For Linda H. it wasn't a problem. For Wendy D., whose father was the pastor of a black evangelical church, it killed the friendship. I have to give it to Wendy though. She didn't just suddenly stop talking to me or ignore me in the hall. No, she was quite clearly distressed that I had chosen this lifestyle and was up front that she could no longer associate with me or my friends. She let me know that she was there for me, that Christ loved me and could change me and that I was welcome to attend her father's church anytime if I wanted to find Christ's love and redemption.
Pity. Wendy was one funny woman. Smart. Loving. Mistaken.
I don't know where she is today. I'm sure she's married and may even be a minister (she'd mentioned that she had been thinking about going into the ministry).
I wonder where she's at in the struggle for equal rights for ALL people.
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