Sisterhood and Sexuality: Attitudes about Homosexuality among Members of Historically Black Sororities

Abstract

This research examines attitudes about homosexuality among members of historically black sororities. Drawing on 20 in-depth interviews, findings indicate that although most respondents were either completely accepting or somewhat accepting of gays and lesbians, and none were aggressive homophobes, homosexuality is typically not discussed within their sororities, and it can be difficult for a lesbian to be a member. The heterosexist nature of the sororities was attributed to the influence of conservative Christianity, the power wielded by socially conservative older members, and the construction of standards of femininity that exclude lesbians. However, all respondents noted that they knew or suspected that other sorority sisters were lesbians, but their acceptance in the organization was frequently premised on concealing their sexual orientation. The findings of this research suggest that characterizations of blacks as extremely homophobic are overly simplistic, yet black gays and lesbians continue to struggle for full acceptance in black organizations.