Sylvia Rhue

Sylvia Rhue (born 1947) is an African-American writer, filmmaker, producer, and LGBT activist.[1]

Sylvia Rhue
Rhue at San Francisco Pride in 2011
Born1947 (age 73–74)
Pasadena, California
NationalityAmerican
Alma materOakwood College
UCLA (MSW, 1971)
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (PhD, 1986)
Occupation
  • Writer
    Filmmaker
    Producer
Notable work
All God's Children

Early life and education

Rhue 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

Rhue 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
  • 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
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
  1. "Sylvia Rhue". The LGBT Religious Archives Network. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  2. "Rhue, Sylvia (1947- )". BlackPast.org. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  3. Monroe, Irene (January 6, 2010). "Black Gays Invited to White House". UK Progressive. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  4. George, Lynell (April 15, 1996). "Breaking the Barriers That Keep Them From Church". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  5. "Dr. Sylvia Rhue - It Gets Better". YouTube. October 12, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  6. "Dr. Sylvia Rhue". Western States Center. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  7. "All God's Children". WomanVision. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  8. "Mayor Riordan To Help Honor Esteemed Federal Judge With Lambda Liberty Award". Lambda Legal. October 15, 1997. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  9. Seligson, Hannah (August 4–10, 2005). "A Harlem Gathering to Fight Homophobia". Gay City News (Volume 75, Number 31). Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  10. 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.
  11. Sylvia Rhue, Ph.D. (Fall 2002). "Guest Commentary" (PDF). The Public Eye. 16 (3): 2. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  12. "Sylvia Rhue, Ph.D." The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
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