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Growing Up Black and Gay in the South
Despite the picture of what society now paints of LGTQIA+ community on national platforms there are still those in rural south regions of America that are living the reality of the discrimination of being black and gay. Being black, gay and in the south comes with much mistreatment expressed through racism and misconceptions in the workforce, by police officers, even in health care; to name a few. 2020 survey highlights the discrimination of black gay in workplace, police interactions, and mental and physical health. This survey gives attention to real life inequalities in the black gay community. In addition to this survey, there are real-life disparities with education not because of learning disabilities but the struggles with everyday affairs of being black and gay. According to Movement Advancement Project (MAP) black young LGTQI are most at risk of dropping out the educational system; because of” unsafe and under-resourced schools, and a lack of support for LGBT students.” Consequently, black young gays suffer in silence of the agony of feeling ashamed by their families, friends, and local communities of their sexual orientation; which affects some chances of finishing school. This truth raises significant issues such as mental health trauma that affect their wellbeing. The Trevor Project states that “44% of Black LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months.” With this understanding as such it is time to give the black, gays an avenue to express themselves and find safety and self-worth. Rongarrius Davis, a black, gay, male gives some of his experiences growing up gay in the south. Davis was raised in a rural city of Cleveland, Mississippi. Davis did state that “things happen” to him as a child, that he feel like cause him to choose to live a gay lifestyle. “When I was growing up in second and third grade I was teased and called gay by my peers, because my friends was girls or I didn’t play sports” states Davis. Davis talks about fighting and being jumped leaving school headed home on many occasions because of his sexual orientation. Davis opens up and tell his mother of his sexual orientation when he was in 11th grade. “Telling my mother and she accepting me was “big” relief, because it allowed me to be me more,” says Davis. Davis feels better now that his mother has accepted him, he has no worries about others' opinions or comments. In fact, Davis is comfortable in his black and gay skin and is pursuing his own goals and aspirations. Davis now is in school completing his education in cosmetology in Jackson, Mississippi and later plans to travel the world “making people beautiful.” The struggle of being black, gay, and in the south is reality and there are many in the black LGBTQIA+ communities that need the support and safety during discrimination acts.
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AuthorHello my name Seth Mitchell. I am a vibrant and energetic personality. I'm a native of Arkansas and now reside in Missouri. I am a Life and Culture journalist covering stories that are meaningful and entertaining to the people of color (Black and Brown communities) and minorities in Northeast Arkansas. Archives
February 2022
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Kheel Center, Cornell University Library, Pest15