Morehouse College is considered a beacon of pride in the African-American community, a distinguished institution of higher education with a long history of Black male success and achievement. The school has not, however, been viewed as the most progressive or forward-thinking in terms of embracing the LGBT community. Recently, Morehouse made the news for a controversial ban on cross-dressing, which some felt unfairly targeted and isolated its LGBT students.
Six months later, the tide seems to be turning. Loop 21 reports Morehouse announced plans to offer its first course on LGBT history:
Beginning in the Spring 2013 semester, Morehouse College will offer a course focusing on the intersection of blackness and being LGBT, according to the school’s paper The Maroon Tiger:
The course is expected to outline various key concepts in Black feminism and critical cultural theory and methodology. Described as “an interdisciplinary survey of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) culture and politics” in the course’s syllabus, the class will serve as an in-depth look into critical, social and cultural theory that will vastly benefit the Morehouse community.
The course could help encourage an attitude of acceptance among Morehouse students, which will likely trickle down to other HBCUs and colleges in general.
