The central issue of my exit project centers the silencing and erasure of Black lesbians within the framework of Black feminism. The first article I chose is by Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Georgia State University, Dr. Monique Moultrie. Her article, “Standing in: Self-determination, power, and faith activism of Black lesbian religious leaders.” serves in many ways as a precursor to her book which discusses Queer Black female leadership in spaces of religious practice.  

Moultrie argues that not only are Black lesbian religious leaders participating in activism by choosing to exist out loud, but that the ways in which they lead can be a blueprint for other oppressed groups including the larger Black community. Moultrie’s research spans over the course of five years.  Using a quantitative approach to collective data, Monique conducts first person interviews with five religious leaders on their journeys to becoming heads of spiritual influence. 

Black lesbians have long stood at the margin of Black political interests which has often created feelings of unworthiness and exclusiveness. This ostracizing meant that for many Black lesbians, if they wanted to  be included in Black society, they would have to choose between being Black and being a lesbian. (Moultrie 2021)  

It is this intersection of Black lesbians and leadership that I am most attracted to in regards to this article. Moultrie admits that while the Black church has been known for shunning gay and lesbians as immoral and deviant, they are not any more or less homophobic than other races. I would argue that while that may be true on paper, the growing number of trans murders and sexual assaults that occur within the Black community towards LGBTQ members is more than homophobia, but an expression of suppressed desire.

The courage to be oneself is a recurring theme in this article. Moultrie contends that self-identification can be the most important tool in reclaiming the narratives surrounding Black lesbians. For much of Queer Theory history, projections were placed upon Black lesbians without regard for input from their lived experiences. Thus the self-proclamation of being lesbian or same gender loving (SGL) is an important step for identifying black lesbians to vocalize their communities needs. 

This is why it is important to contextualize Black lesbian religious leadership within the space of Black liberation. It adds cultural dimension and nuance to the issues that need to be raised in order for all Black people to be free.