"Being a Closeted Homosexual versus Passing for White."

[mark414]

In honor of my 1oooth post I would like to pose this question to DU:

Is there any fundamental difference between being a closeted homosexual versus passing for white?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2390336

huh?

[bliss_eternal]

1. Interesting question...

I was just thinking about "passing" when AMC aired Imitation of Life--the one with Lana Turner (there are two versions).

Within days I wondered about it again, because I read of a book about a woman that was born out of wedlock to a white mother and black father, I believe during segregation. The mother was pursuing an acting career so she shipped her child off to live with a black couple the girl grew up knowing as her aunt and uncle. The mother occasionally dropped in to take the child for weekends or vacations, but insisted she not call her "mom" in front of others--but aunt, or something else. Sometimes, her daughter "passed" as white, being biracial and allowing her to go places and do things with her daughter she wouldn't have if the girl was believed to be black.

I have to look up the book title, I read about it in a magazine and don't have it handy right at the moment--but will post the author and title later. I was really struck by this story and it reminded me a bit of Imitation of Life.

[Brewman_Jax]

2. I saw that thread

it mercifully dropped straight to the bottom.