I REMAIN VERY UNSETTLED BY THE FACT THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE SO HOMOPHOBIC I AM AN AFIKAN-AMEIRCAN 28 YR OLD LESBIAN I HAVE BEEN OUT SINCE 16 STILL HAD /HAVE A CHILD AND PLAN TO HAVE MORE , BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT JUST ME. LESBIANISM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AGES CHECK OUT RUTH ELLIS THE 100 YR OLD SOUTHERN LESBIAN AND THATS NOT EVEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBURGE WE ARE BEING BURRIED BY OUR OWN PEOLPLE THAT IS WHY AFRIKAN-AMERICAN LESBIAN WILL REMAIN IN THE CLOSET OR ONLY OUT TO A SELECT FEW FOR FEAR OF RIDICULE AND REJECTION. I AS WELL AS OTHER AFRIKAN AMERICAN LESBIANS WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS. I AM EQUALLY PROUD BEAING AFRIKAN-AMERICAN AS WELL AS LESBIAN WHY SHOULDNT I BE WE ARE A LARGE UNSEEN MOST TIMES UNHEARD PEOPLE WHY IS THIS?WE ARE HUMAN WE HAVE LOVE WE LIVE WE BREATHE WE EXIST EVEN THOUGH IT IS ASHAME THAT SOME OF US FEEL THAT WE CANNOT CO-EXIST WITH HETEROSEXUAL BEINGS. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT I/WE ARE LEADING TO THE EXTINTION OF THE AFRIKAN AMERICAN RACE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS .STILL I WARE MY PRIDE COLORS AS WELL AS THE AFRIKAN AND COLORS MY HAIR REMAINS LOCKED MY "BLAKCNESS" WILL NEVER FADE IN THE WAY I DRESS SPEAK WALK AND LIVE NIETHER WILL THE FACT THAT I AM A LESBIAN.LESBIANISM IS NOT A DISEASE AND IN MY OPINION IS JUST AS NORMAL AS A HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP. I DO BELIEVE THAT HOMOSEXUALITY WILL EFFECT THE WORLD BUT NOT WITH EXTINCTION OF THE HUMAN RACE.(PLEASE!)I AM AMAZED HOW PEOLPLE CAN BE SO CLOSED MINDED TO FREEDOM AND THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL PREFFRENCE AND CHIOCE BUT SO QUICK TO JUDGE WHEN THE ONLY TRUE JUDGE IS THE CREATOR.I PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND UNDERSTANDING AND I PRAY THAT YOU ALL ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS IN LIFE. ASHE