Sylvia Rhue (born 1947) is an African-American writer, filmmaker, producer, and LGBT activist.[1]
Sylvia Rhue | |
|---|---|
 Rhue at San Francisco Pride in 2011 | |
| Born | 1947 (age 76–77) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Oakwood College UCLA (MSW, 1971) Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (PhD, 1986) |
| Occupation |
|
| Notable work | All God's Children |
Early life and education
editRhue was born in Pasadena, California in 1947. Her parents, a railroad worker and a secretary, were Canadian immigrants.[2] Rhue's maternal great-great-grandmother, a slave, was born in Blair House, the President's Guest House.[3] Rhue grew up attending a traditional black church.[4]
Rhue came out as a lesbian in the early 1970s. She had little support at that time, other than one book, Lesbian/Woman.[5]
Rhue earned a degree in Psychology/Sociology from Oakwood College (now University), and a Master of Social Work from UCLA.[2] In 1986, Rhue graduated from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, becoming the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality.[1][2]
Career
editRhue found employment as a psychiatric social worker and as a sex therapist, working specifically with the African American community.[1] In 1988, Rhue helped found the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum.[6]
In 1996, Rhue co-produced and co-directed (with Oscar-nominated directors Frances Reid and Dee Mosbacher) the documentary All God's Children, which dealt with African American family and religious values, civil rights, and homophobia.[2] The film won several awards, including Best Documentary at the National Black Arts Film Festival, and a Lambda Liberty Award from the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.[7][8] Other films produced by Rhue include Women in Love, "We Have a Legacy, and Women and Children: AIDS and HIV.[4]
Rhue served with the National Black Justice Coalition from its founding in 2003, as a board member and a director.[1][2][6] She spoke out against condemnation of the LGBT community by the religious right, once stating, "Love is the engine of the universe and cannot be boiled down to tab A goes into Slot B."[9] In 2006, she helped organize the Black Church Summit in Atlanta, to promote acceptance of gays and lesbians in black churches.[10]
Rhue has also worked for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights and as Director of Equal Partners in Faith.[1][11] She has contributed articles to The Huffington Post[2][12] and other publications.
Publications
edit- Vickie M. Mays, PhD; Susan D. Cochran, PhD; Sylvia Rhue, PhD (1993). "The Impact of Perceived Discriminitation on the Intimate Relationships of Black Lesbians". Journal of Homosexuality. 25 (4): 1–14. doi:10.1300/J082v25n04_01. PMC 6225772. PMID 8106735.
- James Thomas Sears; Walter L. Williams (1997). Overcoming Heterosexism and Homophobia: Strategies that Work. Columbia University Press. pp. 117–130. ISBN 9780231104227. Retrieved July 29, 2016. Chapter: Reducing Homophobia in African American Communities
- Wendy Reed; Jennifer Home (2006). All Out of Faith: Southern Women on Spirituality. The University of Alabama Press. ISBN 9780817315344. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Coming Out Under Fire | Archival film source | Documentary |
| 1996 | All God's Children | Director | Documentary |
| 2002 | Family Fundamentals | Consultant | Documentary |
| 2005 | The L Word | Actress | TV series |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Sylvia Rhue". The LGBT Religious Archives Network. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Rhue, Sylvia (1947- )". BlackPast.org. September 26, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ Monroe, Irene (January 6, 2010). "Black Gays Invited to White House". UK Progressive. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ a b George, Lynell (April 15, 1996). "Breaking the Barriers That Keep Them From Church". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ "Dr. Sylvia Rhue - It Gets Better". YouTube. October 12, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ a b "Dr. Sylvia Rhue". Western States Center. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ "All God's Children". WomanVision. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ "Mayor Riordan To Help Honor Esteemed Federal Judge With Lambda Liberty Award". Lambda Legal. October 15, 1997. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ Seligson, Hannah (August 4–10, 2005). "A Harlem Gathering to Fight Homophobia". Gay City News. Vol. 75, no. 31. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ Fulbright, Leslie (January 19, 2006). "Meeting of minds in Atlanta / Gay, lesbian leaders say it's past time for black churches to accept homosexuals into religious community". SFGate. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ Sylvia Rhue, Ph.D. (Fall 2002). "Guest Commentary" (PDF). The Public Eye. 16 (3): 2. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ "Sylvia Rhue, Ph.D." The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
External links
edit- Sylvia Rhue at IMDb