Out, no doubt: today's black gay and lesbian poets proudly proclaim their identities and show their varying talents to an increasingly receptive public

Black Issues Book Review, July-August, 2004 by Reginald Harris

The boom in self-publishing, as well as using electronic advances and the Internet to spread the word are just the latest examples of the African American tradition of "do for self." Self-publishing by black gay and lesbian poets has a long history. "Self-publishing is what poets generally do all poets," says Lisa C. Moore, editor of Lambda Book Report and founder of RedBone Press. Most poetry, in general, is published by small presses. Cheryl Clarke's path breaking early poems were published by small, women-centered presses: Narratives: Poems in the Tradition of Black Women by Kitchen Table/Women of Color Press, in 1982; Humid Pitch (December 1989) and Living As a Lesbian (December 1986) by the feminist Firebrand Books. Lisa Moore will reissue Marvin White's first volume, Last Rights, and will publish his new manuscript, too, because White's original publisher, Alyson Books, has decided to move away from poetry. The wide range of the work of African American gay and lesbian poets may be the most exciting thing most readers can look forward to as the 21st century continues. Says Reginald Shepherd, "There's a greater diversity of voices, styles, approaches and topics than there has ever been, and this can only be for the good."

Reginald Harris is the author of 10 Tongues (Three Conditions Press, 2002), which was a finalist for the 2003 Lambda Literary Award (Gay Men's Poetry category).