African-American Gays Often Shunned at Historically Black Colleges

We often look to our institutions of higher learning to be on the cutting endge of social change, but according to this Associated Press story, one thing has been very slow in changing at America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)---GLBT students aren't particularly welcome.

At numerous black colleges students say outdated rules and homophobia block them from forming the gay campus voice common at majority white institutions.

According to the report, a cause-and-effect of this is likely many of these institutions having been founded by religious institutions and African-American churches' (often passionate) opposition to homosexuality.

It's kind of hard to be out on campus and still be successful," said Vincent Allen Jr., head of Safe Space at Atlanta's Morehouse College. "As an out gay man, if I wanted to pledge, that door is pretty much shut to me. That's just the way it is."

This report draws a comparision between some of the major HBCUs in Virginia and large universities like Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia regarding their acceptance of GLBT students and organizations. The HBCU's do not stack up very well.

I have written before that I believe GLBT activists need to find their own voice in the 21st century and not try to piggy-back onto the African-American civil rights struggles of the 1960's, but I still find it ironic that the HBCUs appear to be a stronghold against rights for GLBT students, even more so because of their ties to religious organizations.

Hopefully giving that situation some national attention will help enbarass leaders at those schools to reevaluate their policies and consider making ALL students feel welcome.