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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2004)
been so disenfranchised, they’re not willing to disenfranchise anybody.” Prescod says the feeling of acceptance is amplified in Portland because the African American community here is so small. “If you do come out as queer, people still need you and love you and support you. There’s a feeling o f ‘you’re one of us.’ ” Even a conservative Republican acquaintance recently tcx>k Prescod’s sexuality in stride while asking tor his thoughts on a related issue. This surprised and delighted him. “It reminded me of how small the community is.” The size of Portland’s African American community has a flip side, however. “It’s a greater risk for a queer African Amer ican coming out in this community— it’s a bigger step," Prescod acknowledges. “It has a greater impact here. Coming out in a larger urban community, you have the ability to he more anonymous.” Pruitt echoes this and says, “If you go to Boston, Atlanta, places with huge populations of African Americans, they don’t have the same experience as people in the Northwest. They have a black gay community that’s strong. In Oregon we don’t have that, so the isolation is strong and people give up their identity.” He admits to being profoundly affected by the way he is treated and perceived by the world: “There are times I’m just tired of fighting. The thing that keeps me going is remembering it’s not as hard [as it was] 60 years ago.” Between Pruitt’s heartache and Cook’s ability to shut out the hurtful behavior of others, there is an entire continuum of ways queer African Americans cope with the racism and homophobia they regularly encounter. According to Brown ing, these differences in reactions occur “because we re all so different psychologically and emotionally. We can have the same set of experiences and come out the other side complete ly differently. I think it’s just really important to acknowledge the validity of every person’s experience. I personally believe that we’re the product of our experiences... or the victim of our experiences.” Browning muses, “Maybe one of these days the thread that flows through the black community—when we see each other on the street, we smile and acknowledge each other—maybe [all] gay people will do that as well. ” j n J.B. R a BIN is a Portland free-lance wnter. Choosing identity hen I encounter the world it’s first as an / African American man, then subsequently in terms of sexual orientation,” says Prescod, explaining that people interact with him ini tially based on his most obvious characteristic. “For some people it means ‘I have to deny this part of myself.’ For me it’s hard to do that separation, hut I think for some people they have to make a choice. They feel pressures from the black community or the queer community.” Others experience their identity with a kind of fluidity. Browning says: “I’m all of those people [a woman, an African Nicole Browning is not comfortable seeking community solely American, a lesbian], hut depending upon the situation, one with other black lesbians of those people is going to he the dominant person. There are very few situations where it’s all integrated and that’s mostly white friends, she feels “a comfort level [among whites] who I am." that not all black people do.” Hedgmon concurs. “In some situations my race becomes She goes on to say: “I refuse to confine myself to a black something I’m more strongly aligned to. In others it’s my les social circle. What we have in common is our race, so what bian identity,” she says. One rare place ever we talk about is racially motivated. of integration, she says, was SistahFest, It’s more important for me to be a part of an annual weekend retreat put on by the larger lesbian community because I the California organization United Les don’t want to limit my experience.” bians of African Heritage. “1 think that Many seek the safety of smaller circles was the only space when I didn’t have because of potential violence outside to pick and choose.” them. “I think [violence] can come from Explaining why people gravitate to anywhere; it’s always a possibility,” Hedg different factions and suhfactions, Prescod mon says. says, “I think it has to do with where peo Browning adds, “Black people have ple find community.” They often feel been disenfranchised so frequently that included in certain communities based the No. 1 fear of all black people every -Cecil Prescod on the environments they’ve been time they walk through a door is whether exposed to their whole lives. or not they’re going to be confronted.” “Seeking out a community of black lesbians is not the most Pruitt says black people “just want a piece of the pie. We comfortable for me; it’s not vital to who 1 am,” Browning says. want to walk into a room and be seen—to say something and be Having grown up in predominantly white communities with validated, not discredited.” “It ’s a grea ter risk for a queer Airican American coming out this it Autom otive M aintenance & Repair communi ’sa bigger step” S E L IW O O D The Dog Park ALL FOREIGN & DOMESTIC AUTOMOBILES QUALIFIED, HONEST, QUICK & FAIRLY PRICED SATISFIED CUSTOMERS TELL THEIR FRIENDS - t h e y ALL COME BACK! (references on file) The indoor place for your dog to hand out while you are at work or play! Morning a afternoon treats at no oxtrn charge! AUTO-MARINE 1717 Si UMSTIUS 4230 NE SUMNER ST. 503 - 282-0159 S03.230.1109 mark@thedodparkpdx.com Brother to Brother 800 N.W. 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