Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of African American Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrajano, M. (2010). Are Blacks and Latinos responsible for the passage of Proposition 8? Analyzing voter attitudes on California’s proposal to ban same-sex marriage in 2008. Political Research Quarterly, 63, 922–932.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, R., Buckley, P. M., and Tindall N. T. J. (2011). “Black Greek-letter fraternities and masculinities.” Pp. 114–135 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations 2.0: New Directions in the Study of African American Fraternities and Sororities, edited by M. W. Hughey and G. S. Parks. Jackson, MS: The University Press of Mississippi.

  • Bradley, S. (2008). “The first and finest: The founders of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.” Pp. 19–40 in Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Brandt, E. (1999). Dangerous liasons: Blacks, gays, and the struggle for equality. New York, NY: The New Press.

  • Brown, E., II. (2005). We wear the mask: African American contemporary gay male identities. Journal of African American Studies, 9, 29–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brumbaugh, S. M., Sanchez, L. A., Nock, S. L., & Wright, J. D. (2008). Attitudes toward gay marriage in states undergoing marriage law transformation. Journal of Marriage & Family, 70, 345–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnham, L. (2008). “A black scholar readers’ forum on President Obama”: Obama’s candidacy: The advent of post-racial America and the end of black politics? Black Scholar, 38, 43–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, A. S. (2005). “Black fraternal and benevolent societies in nineteenth century America.” Pp. 67–94 in African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision, edited by T. L. Brown, G. S. Parks, and C. M. Phillips. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Clarke, Sr., Kenneth, I., and Brown. T. L. (2011). “Faith and fraternalism.” Pp. 69–90 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations 2.0: New Directions in the Study of African American Fraternities and Sororities, edited by M. W. Hughey and G. S. Parks. Jackson, MS: The University Press of Mississippi.

  • Cohen, C. (1999). The boundaries of blackness: AIDS and the breakdown of Black politics. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, P. H. (1999). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness and the politics of empowerment. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cose, E. (2010). Drowning in hate. Newsweek, 155, 21–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, I., Allison, K. W., Zamboni, B. D., & Soto, T. (2002). The influence of dual-identity development on the psychological functioning of African-American gay and bisexual men. The Journal of Sex Research, 39, 179–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeSantis, A. D., and Coleman, M. (2008). “Not on my line: Attitudes about homosexuality in black fraternities.” Pp. 291–312 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Dickinson, G. H. (2005). “Pledged to remember: Africa in the life and lore of Black Greek-Letter Organizations.” Pp.11-36 in African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision, edited by T.L. Brown, G.S. Parks, C.M. Phillips. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Dunning, S. K. (2009). Queer in Black and White: Interraciality, same sex desire, and contemporary African American culture. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, S. Y. (2008). “The vision of virtuous women: The twenty pearls of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.” Pp. 41–66 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Finlay, B. & Walther, C. S. (2003). The relation of religious affiliation, service attendance, and other factors to homophobic attitudes among university students. Review of Religious Research, 44, 370–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garrison, J. (2008). “Black clergy both attack, defend Prop 8.” in Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA.

  • Gasman, M. (2010). “Passive activism: African American fraternities and sororities and the push for civil rights.” Pp. 27–46 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations, 2.0: New Directions in the Study of African American Fraternities and Sororities, edited by M. W. Hughey and G. S. Parks. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.

  • Gasman, M., Louison, P., and Barnes, M. (2008). “Giving and getting: Philanthropic activity among Black-Greek letter organizations.” Pp. 187–209 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Gates, Jr., and Henry L. (1999). “Blacklash?” Pp. 25–30 in Dangerous Liasons: Blacks, Gays, and the Struggle for Equality, edited by E. Brandt. New York, NY: The New Press.

  • Ghavami, N., & Johnson, K. L. (2011). Comparing sexual and ethnic minority perspectives on same-sex marriage. Journal of Social Issues, 67, 394–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, J., & Smith, B. (1990). Talking about it: homophobia in the black community. Feminist Review, 34, 47–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, H. (2000). Their own received them not: African American lesbians and gays in Black churches. Theology & Sexuality: The Journal of the Institute for the Study of Christianity & Sexuality, 6, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haider-Markel, D. P., & Joslyn, M. (2008). Understanding beliefs about the origins of homosexuality and subsequent support for gay rights: An empirical test of attribution theory. Public Opinion Quarterly, 72, 291–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J. (2008). “Women of vision, catalysts for change: The founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.” Pp. 75–94 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Harris, J., and Mitchell, V. C. Jr. (2008). “A narrative critique of Black Greek-Letter organizations and social action.” Pp. 143–168 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Harris-Perry, M. (2011). For birthers, Obama’s not black enough. Nation, 292, 10–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herek, G. M., & Capitanio, J. P. (1995). Black heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men in the United States. The Journal of Sex Research, 32, 95–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez, M. D. (2011). “Challenging controlling images: Appearance enforcement within Black sororities.” Pp. 212–229 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations 2.0: New Directions in the Study of African American Fraternities and Sororities, edited by M. W. Hughey and G. S. Parks. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.

  • Horton, S (2009) California Supreme Court classifies Proposition 8 as “amendment” rather than “revision”. Harvard Law Review. http://www.harvardlawreview.org/media/pdf/strauss_v_horton.pdf. Accessed 5 Nov 2011.

  • Hughey, M.H., and Parks, G. S. (2011). Black Greek-Letter Organizations, 2.0: New directions in the study of African American fraternities and sororities. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.

  • Hughey, M. W. (2011). Re-membering Black Greeks: Racial memory and identity in stomp the yard. Critical Sociology, 37, 103–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughey, M. W. (2008). “Constitutionally bound: the founders of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.” Pp. 95–114 in in Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Johnson, E. P., and Henderson, M. G. (2005). Black queer studies: A critical anthology. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

  • Joseph, P. E. (2010). Obama cannot be our racial Healer-in-Chief. Chronicle of Higher Education, 56, B10–B11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimbrough, W. M. (2003). Black Greek 101: The culture. Rosemont Publishing and Printing Corporation.

  • Konnoth, C. J. (2009). Created in its image: The race analogy, gay identity, and gay litigation in the 1950s–1970s. Yale Law Journal, 119, 316–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landis, L. (2009). Blacks lack standing on marriage question. Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, 16, 4–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemelle, A. J. Jr., & Battle, J. (2004). Black masculinity matters in attitudes toward gay males. Journal of Homosexuality, 47, 39–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, G. B. (2003). Black–White differences in attitudes toward homosexuality and gay rights. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 67, 59–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClure, S. M. (2011). “College student satisfaction and Greek organization membership.” Pp. 294–308 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations 2.0: New Directions in the Study of African American Fraternities and Sororities, edited by M. W. Hughey and G. S. Parks. Jackson, MS: The University Press of Mississippi.

  • McKenzie, A. (2005). “In the beginning: The early history of the Divine Nine.” Pp. 181–210 in African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision, edited by T. L. Brown, G. S. Parks, and P. C. M. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Miller, S. J. (2011). African-American lesbian identity management and identity development in the context of family and community. Journal of Homosexuality, 58, 547–563.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munroe, I. (2009). Proposition 8 and black homophobia. Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, 16, 6–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, S., & Golden, M. R. (2010). Persistence of racial differences in attitudes toward homosexuality in the United States. JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 55, 516–523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumann, C. E. (2008). “Black feminist thought in black sororities.” Pp. 169–186 in Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Okamura, J. Y. (2011). “Barack Obama as the post-racial candidate for a post-racial America: Perspectives from Asian America and Hawai’i.” Patterns of Prejudice, 45, 133–153.

  • Parks, G., and Hughey, M. (2011). “The Obamas and a (post) racial America?” in Series in Political Psychology, edited by J. Jost. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

  • Phillips, C. M. (2005). “Sisterly bonds: African American sororities rising to overcome obstacles.” Pp. 341–362 in African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision, edited by T. L. Brown, G. S. Parks, and P. C. M. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Ross, Jr., and Lawrence, C. (2000). “The Divine Nine: The history of African American fraternities and sororities.” New York, NY: Kensington.

  • Stombler, M. (1994). ‘Buddies’ or ‘Slutties’: The collective sexual reputation of fraternity little sisters. Gender and Society, 8(3), 297–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stombler, M., & Padavic, I. (1997). Sister acts: Resisting men’s domination in Black and White fraternity little sister programs. Social Problems, 44(2), 257–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shelton, C. L. (2008). “Strategic essentialism and Black Greek identity.” Pp. 213–231 in Black Greek - Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun, edited by G. S. Parks. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Smith, B. (1999). “Blacks and gays: healing the great divide.” Pp. 15–24 in Dangerous Liasons: Blacks, Gays, and the Struggle for Equality, edited by E. Brandt. New York, NY: The New Press.

  • Strauss, A. L., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torbenson, C. L. (2005). “The origin and evolution of college fraternities and sororities.” Pp.37-66 in African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision, edited by T.L. Brown, G.S. Parks, C.M. Phillips. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Walker, C. F. (2011). “We’re losing our country”: Barack Obama, race & the Tea Party. Daedalus, 140, 125–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, E. G. (2005). Homophobia, hypermasculinity, and the U.S. black church. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 7, 493–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Washington, M. H., and Nunez, C. L. (2005). “Education, racial uplift, and the rise of the Greek-letter tradition: The African American quest for status in the early twentieth century.” Pp. 137–180 in African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision, edited by T. L. Brown, G. S. Parks, and C. M. Phillips. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky.

  • Whaley, D. E. (2010). Disciplining women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, black counterpublics, and the cultural politics of black sororities. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Windmeyer, S. L., and Freeman, P. W. (2000). Secret sisters: Stories of being lesbian and bisexual in a college sorority. Los Angeles, CA: Alyson.

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Gregory S. Parks and Dr. Matthew W. Hughey for compelling us to undertake this project and granting us access to their BGLO listserv. We also thank California State University, Fullerton, which supported our research with the Junior Faculty Research Grant.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. California State University, P.O. Box 34080, Fullerton, CA, 92834-9480, USA

    Patricia E. Literte

  2. Howard University, Washington, DC, USA

    Candice Hodge

Authors
  1. Patricia E. Literte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Candice Hodge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricia E. Literte.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Literte, P.E., Hodge, C. Sisterhood and Sexuality: Attitudes about Homosexuality among Members of Historically Black Sororities. J Afr Am St 16, 674–699 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-011-9201-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-011-9201-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation