Saro Harvey Leads Panel on Black Families and Gay Children

Photos by Bill DelGrosso

Ironically, on the same evening that CNN broadcasts its much-heralded Black in America series that totally ignores black gays and lesbians and "the black family", there was an excellent discussion on& ; the subject at the campus of the University of Washington DC.& ; On Thursday evening, Saro Harvey, the openly gay, 15-year-old black teen recently profiled by the Washington Post, and mother Emily Zientara-Harvey spoke at a panel discussion on LGBT issues in the black community. The panel was presented by the Metro DC PFLAG and UDC's LGBT Student Union.

Bill DelGrosso, a Washington-area Rod 2.0 reader who is active in PFLAG DC, captured these images and took some notes. "The discussion ranged in topics from GLBT housing, the disconnect between GLBT people of color and their church, black prides being more about the party and less family oriented, to HIV/AIDS awareness and parents' relationships with their gay black children," Bill tells Rod 2.0. "Saro said, 'I'm just very lucky to have my family love me.' Saro's mother, Emily Zientara-Harvey, was also very emphatic about how glad she was that her son came out. 'I always knew or suspected to the point where I wanted so badly to ask. I just was so relieved when he finally told me. I did a little dance after that.' "

Another panelist, Jacqueline Davison, seen above sitting next to Mrs, Harvey, puts the Harveys relationship in context. Bill Delgrosso tells Rod 2.0 Mrs. Davison has three children, two of which came out to her in the 1970s "When you couldn't even use the word lesbian.," she says. "It was a different time, but I was so glad they did it. I love all my children, my straight daughter feels like the odd one out... I see her marriage and that of my lesbian daughter as the same."

As you can see from the pictures, the event was well-attended, mixed in age and race, and, according to our reporter, "included one woman in her mid forties that said she has never been a able to talk to any of her family about her sexuality or her personal life. Ever."& ; Hopefully that will change at some point and she will be able to have an honest conversation with her family.

Thanks BILL

Some Background ...
WaPo Profiles 15-Year-Old Openly Gay Teen [R20]
& ;Mixed Messages [Advocate.com]
Newsweek's Disturbing Feature on Lawrence King [R20]

Comments

[Brandon]

I love the Saro Harvey store. He is truly inspirational. And kudos to your roving reporter who was able to take the pictures and notes. Thanks Bill and Rod.

[JT]

I agree. Saro's story is inspirational. I wish all gay people had his courage, including me.

Thanks Bill and Rod!

[Christopher O]

This is wonderful news! Saro Harvey's story is truly inspirational. At this time when images of black gay men are few and far between, the Washington Post chose to do some decent reporting and discovered a jewel. I wish I could have attended.

[A, Ronald]

JT, you're not the only one who wishes they had this type of courage. I didn't come out until my 30s. I wish I had been out of the closet earlier and enjoyed my life to its fullest. Good luck to him and his family and bless his mother for being so understanding.

[Ling]

What a gorgeous young man. And he appears very poised too. Major props to him.

[ATL KID]

I also noticed Saro's composure. He is a natural. This must have been an excellent evening. So much more informative than the CNN special.

[Bill W]

I'm a big supporter of PFLAG here in Chicago, having grown up in the 80s with PFLAG in the Bay Area. This panel discussion sounds absolutely spot-on and exactly the type of conversation we need to engage across the country. True, black families may be slower to accept same sex marriages and join the general gay rights movement, But we're all about family and black families have always been extended families. Excellent framing of the issue. It's about family.