Growing up, it didn’t take me long to learn that my gayness detracted from my Blackness. Black, gay men are punch lines to the Black community. An anomaly to be ridiculed. Relegated to the role of church choir directors. We are a nationwide family secret, courtesy of masculinity and religion. I stare at my suitcase on the seat next to me and think about why I am often afraid of my own people. Afraid all the time that I’m not “Black enough.” Not Black enough because I am not man enough. Not man enough because I like men. What do you do when your own people don’t want you? How do you become
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