Controversy erupts over outing black activist Malcolm X as bisexual

November 6, 9:58 PMBisexuality ExaminerMike Szymanski

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Malcolm X Courtesy of Wordmag.com and © 2001 ESTATE OF MALCOLM X
Courtesy of Wordmag.com and © 2001 ESTATE OF MALCOLM X

Civil rights leader Malcolm X's bisexual past caused a bit of controversy as Britain celebrated its national black history month in October and reporters outed him as a bi man.

The slain activist's sexuality was already revealed nearly two decades ago already in an acclaimed biography by Bruce Perry: "Malcolm – The Life of a Man Who Changed Black America."

A few black activists were outraged recently by Malcolm X's name appearing on lists of GLBT black leaders. Also, Nation of Islam leaders were upset about the allegations, even though it was clear that his bisexual experiences occurred well before he joined their religion.

The history in Perry's book came from interviews with close boyhood friends.

"A schoolmate, Bob Bebee, recalls the day they stumbled on a local boy jerking off. Malcolm, Bebee recalled, ordered the youth to masturbate him, and subsequently boasted he had given him oral sex. Later, from the age of 20, Malcolm had sex with men for money - as hinted at in Spike Lee's 1992 biopic - and he had at least one sustained sexual liaison with a man. While living in Flint, Michigan, his roommate noticed that instead of sleeping in the room they were sharing, Malcolm sneaked down the hall to spend the night with a gay transvestite named Willie Mae."

Journalist Peter Tatchell, of the UK Guardian said that Malcolm X "engaged in a myriad of gay, sexual relationships and was bisexual." He also wrote that several black activists have tried to cover up the gay history of this leader.

School buddy, Bob Bebee, told biographers about his own liaisons with a young Malcolm, and how he liked oral sex with other men and had a tumultuous relationship with his wife, Betty.

Two other friends of Malcolm's claimed he bragged about "servicing queers" to make a few extra bucks. According to a longtime friend, Malcolm was paid to service a well-known socialite, but not all of his same-sex experiences were motivated by money.

According to Perry: "His male-to-male encounters, which rendered it unnecessary for him to compete for women, afforded him an opportunity for sexual release without the attendant risk of dependence on women."

Malcolm X's famous saying "By any means necessary" may be more real than anyone ever imagined about this charismatic leader.
 

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