Sylvia Rhue | |
---|---|
Born | 1947 (age 76–77) |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Oakwood College UCLA (MSW, 1971) Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (PhD, 1986) |
Occupation |
|
Notable work | All God's Children |
Sylvia Rhue (born 1947) is an African-American writer, filmmaker, producer, and LGBT activist.[1]
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]
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.
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 |