About OutSpoken Noire: Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories
OutSpoken Noire is an active and evolving audio archive of Black lesbian coming out stories in the words of folks who are 1.) Black, and 2.) identify or have identified as lesbian. Initial interviews were recorded in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Fall 2020.
Future episodes of OutSpoken Noire will feature more coming out stories, as well as topical discussions of Black lesbian culture. Stay tuned for more interviews and check us out on Instagram @outspokennoire.
Transcripts of episodes will be available on outspokennoire.com.
Lee Levingston Perine (he/him) was based in the DMV area at the time of this interview. Lee discusses coming out twice, finding community in DC in the 90's, creating joy-filled spaces for Black queer and trans folk, and his sobriety.
This is Lee's coming out story as a “trans man of lesbian experience”.
28 Jun 2023
Episode 5: Amber's Story
In Fall 2020, I interviewed Amber Couch (she/her), a mental health therapist and doctoral student based in the DMV area. Amber discusses coming out while still married to her high school sweetheart, a man; living and dating as a lesbian in the military under DADT; and discusses her very modern blended family.
This is Amber's coming out story.
22 Jun 2023
Episode 4: Aysha's Story
Aysha Boston (she/her), was an urban planner and graduate student at the time of this conversation, recorded in the fall of 2020. Aysha discusses basketball as a safe space in high school, controversy around being voted "Class Couple" with her high school girlfriend, and her continued exploration of gender and sexuality as it pertains to her identity.
This is Aysha's coming out story.
12 Jun 2023
Episode 3: Ramluv's Story
Ramluv Fofana (she/her) grew up in Sierra Leone where it was normal for young girls in her generation to date other girls, but this was not understood as “lesbian” or “queer” as those words were not available. Ramluv discusses navigating the journey to understanding her sexuality across cultural lines.
Ramluv is an entrepreneur and fashion designer based in the DC Metropolitan Area, and this is her coming out story.
5 Jun 2023
Episode 2: Iesha's Story
This interview is with Iesha Shaw, pronouns she/her. Iesha was a long-distance truck driver living in Atlanta at the time of our conversation which was recorded in Fall 2020. Iesha discusses coming out to her mother at work, her first time hitting on a woman, and reconciling her sexuality with her Christianity.
This is her coming out story.
1 Jun 2023
Episode 1: Jai's Story
For our very first interview we sat down with Jai Stevenson (they/them), a Carribbean American writer and filmmaker who was based in Atlanta at the time of our interview. At the time of this recording, Jai went by "Janay" and used she/her pronouns, so you will hear this throughout the interview. Jai's coming out was complicated by the influence of their church and its members, and they discuss the process of enduring and healing from the experience.
This is their coming out story.
Trigger warnings: Brief mention suicide.
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