An "Open" Letter to an African American Congresswoman, now dead, whom some thought was Lesbian

Dear ____________________,

 
You mesmerized the nation with your distinguished and significant service as a member of Congress. The precision of your articulation, the courage you exhibited to "swim against the stream" and your many accomplishments, caused friend and foe to give tribute to you. One of the newspapers that carried your obituary spoke of your 30 year relationship with your female partner/companion. Yet, one of your biographers has suggested that there is no conclusive evidence that you were same gender loving.
 
Sunday, October 11 in Washington, DC, "National Coming Out Day" will be celebrated by many LGBT persons, same gender couples and their allies. I have wondered if you were still alive, and in Washington as a Congressperson, whether you would join the celebration?
 
I marvel at so many of my many friends in church and society who for many reasons have chosen to "pass" as heterosexual. The outer and inner pressures upon them, I know, are more enormous than I could imagine. I use the term "pass", because you Congresswoman _______as an African American know that this is the common term used to describe black persons who because of their physical characteristics are able to blend in with the white population. There are persons in my famiy who have done this and I must admit their doing this caused some stress and strain in our relationships. While I, during the Civil Rights Movement was a "foot soldier" involved in protests, marches and getting arrested in the cause of racial justice, they had some reservations about identifying with me because of their fear of being "outed", racially. My physical appearance and my activism, made them uncomfortable whenever I was with them. Their fear was that one of their white friends would look at me with them, and then add 2 and 2 to make 4.
 
Congresswoman ______________, I wish that you had been able to "come out" openly when you were alive. The City Council in Washington is on the verge of enacting legislation that makes possible same sex marriage, yet, there is opposition from some African American clergy and others. You during your life, transcended all of the negative stereotypes that many persons in society as well as the church use to demean LGBT persons and same gender couples. If you had been able to be open about your sexual identity, some of the fear tactics that are being used today that are unworthy of those who claim Christ as Lord, Liberator and Savior, would be revealed as what they are; "full of sound and fury signifiying nothing".
 
My prayer is that the National Coming Out Day event, will find a way to acknowledge persons now dead, who during their lifetimes could not express openly, the totality of who they were. Those who gather in Washington, will for many of us be giving a posthumous tribute to you Congresswoman __________. You were a source of profound inspiration to me and so many.
 
Gil Caldwell