Spouses of Color

Her name is Sharon and as a result of her marriage to a "Down Low" brother, she has spent the last two years speaking to men and women about AIDS Awareness and the stigma of homosexuality in the black community.

Her journey is one of courage, strength, hope, and love. During her quest to better understand the "Down Low" syndrome. She has met countless women who were wives of the "Down Low" brother. These down low men are sons, nephews, uncles, brothers, and fathers in the African American community. Therefore, the African American community must embrace and love them, not judge and alienate them. It is this fear that drives them to live a life expected of them and not one desired by them. It is this fear that sends them down the aisle with women who have no idea of their inner struggles of sexual orientation. With the emergence of HIV/AIDS this hidden lifestyle is affecting black women at alarming numbers. Men choosing to live life on the "DL" are putting their women in serious danger. It is no longer about saving face, but saving lives.

If you have an experience or would like to get more information send her an email: svglivesnotface@aol.com

What's Best for Your Kids?

Easing your children through separation or divorce from an LGBT spouse.

This brochure written by Lambda Legal (in partnership with the Straight Spouse Network) is directed towards the straight spouse who is seperating or divorcing and has children. Not all couples in mixed orientation marriages seperate or divorce. There are couples who stay married after disclosure by one of the spouses, an estimated sixth of all such marriages and a half of those couples who commit themselves to making their marriages last after disclosure.

View/print the PDF file of this publication.