African and Black Queer Experience and Public Education
A. Intro: Hypermasculinity is not ‘Premium’ Masculinity Hypermasculinity rarely reflects true confidence. Many men adopt exaggerated displays of masculinity to mask feelings of shame or boost social standing. While it …
Hypermasculinity in Black Gay Men—How Fear Creates the ‘Macho Act’ Read More
Strong But Not Smart: The Creation of a Myth American slavery promoted a harmful narrative that defined Black men’s worth by physical strength rather than intellect. The “strong bodies, weak …
Impact of Slavery on Black Masculinity and Black Gay Desire Read More
‘Hood’ Stereotype in Black Gay Culture While other definitions exist, in queer discourse and LGBTQ+ digital spaces, the term “hood” takes on a specific, troubling meaning. “Hood” in gay culture …
How ‘Hood’ and ‘DL’ Performance Harms Black Gay Men Read More
Introduction—Rethinking the Western Closet Paradigm Western culture often portrays “coming out of the closet” as a transformative experience for gay men—a narrative promoted by the media, popular culture, and mainstream …
Why Black Gay Men Don’t Have to ‘Come Out’ Like Other Races Read More
As Black gay men, we navigate a world layered with intersecting oppressions—racism from broader society and homophobia within our own racial communities. Knowing this, one would think that any gathering …
How Black Gay Men Promote Stigma That Comes Back To Hurt Us Read More
Malik’s phone lit up with messages the way it always did—fire emojis, quick compliments, the same shorthand that reduced him to a silhouette. He had just posted a photo from …
Trade vs. Thinker: The Cost of Valuing Black Bodies Over Black Minds Read More
By Daniel Nkado. “DL” stands for “down-low,” a term describing men—often Black or Latino men—who publicly present as straight but privately engage in same-sex relationships. Originating as an African-American slang …
DL Posing: How some gay men monetise down‑low identity for gain Read More