Actress, writer and producer Lena Waithe has given a speech encouraging colleagues and members of the LGBTIQ+ community “come out, come out wherever you are – please don’t be afraid".
Waithe, the first black woman to win an Emmy for Comedy Writing, was speaking at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards after receiving the Ford Vanguard Award.
The 33-year-old, who is openly gay and currently writing a show for TBS about being a queer black woman, said: "So many of our black, gay, lesbian, queer, and trans foremothers and forefathers and those who never felt comfortable with either gender had to hide."
She continued: "They made sure not to look at each other too long in the cotton fields. They were forced to hide in plain sight at the March on Washington, even though they were the brains behind it. They had to prevent their truth from bleeding onto the typewriters when they when they wrote about what it meant to be black and human in Harlem in the 1920s."
Lena Waithe won an Emmy for her work on TV series Master of None. Source: Getty Images
"When they were killed by homophobic hands, they tried not to scream too loud, so as to not bring shame or embarrassment to their families or their race. Even in death, they hid. They were forced to hide with hopes that one day we wouldn’t have to, and now look at us," she continued.
“Still hiding. Hiding because we don’t want to lose an endorsement deal. Hiding because we want to be normal. Hiding because we don’t want to make white folks feel uneasy."
"But most of all,” she added, “hiding because we don’t want to make our own people feel uncomfortable."
“Being born gay, black and female is not a revolutionary act. Being proud to be a gay, black female is," Waithe said to applause.
She continued: “I ask those of you who are still hiding to come out, come out wherever you are, please don’t be afraid."
“And I hope that you know that I’m here to hold your hand whenever you decide to jump into this wonderful pool of people who refuse to be hidden.”
