Maya Angelou is a celebrated American poet, novelist and actress, so it is not surprising that many people have asked the question: Is Maya Angelou a lesbian? There is not enough concrete evidence to say yes or no to this question and doing so would be very speculative. However, by analyzing her works and her life, there are signs that may point to her being a lesbian.
In her books, Angelou speaks extensively about her love for women, often expressing admiration and intimacy in her diverse works. In her most famous work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou speaks of a deep and lasting love for another woman, making it one of the first works of modern literature to explore the joys and complexities of same-sex relationships. Angelou also alludes to her own struggles with her sexuality in her collection of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Die.
Throughout her life, Angelou was very open and vocal about her support of LGBTQ rights and was particularly outspoken against the homophobia she witnessed in her community. This advocacy extended to her friendship with the late writer James Baldwin, with whom Angelou developed a strong bond throughout their many conversations about gender and sexuality. Additionally, she often collaborated with other prominent women in the arts, such as the novelist Toni Morrison, with whom she shared a close relationship.
It is very difficult to pinpoint one’s sexuality without any definitive proof, and thus it is impossible to say for sure that Maya Angelou was a lesbian. However, her writing and her relationships with other members of her LGBTQ community provide some interesting insight into her private life. When looking at the evidence, it is possible to make arguments for both sides of the argument.
Life Experience
In spite of the absence of any definite answer to ‘is Maya Angelou a lesbian?’, the poet’s own experiences contribute to the overall impression of a pro-LGBTQ woman. Angelou was born in the 1920s when anti-LGBT sentiments and widespread biases expressed by society ran very high in the US. In spite of this, Angelou expressed her fondness for female companions and strongly voiced support for gay and transgender rights.
At the same time, Angelou had numerous relationships with both men and women throughout her life. She was married and had a son, she wrote that she had various ‘close and relaxed’ relationships with women and it is evident in some of her works such as Caged Bird.
It is often claimed that Angelou was in love with her childhood friend, and that she had strong, passionate relationships with many women over the years. Her daughter and close friends often discuss how passionate Angelou was about the ‘sisterhood’ she shared with her friends, and some believe that Angelou was trying to live out her suppressed sexual identity. Therefore, it can be concluded that Angelou’s life experiences certainly paint the picture of an open-minded woman who accepted the LGBTQ community, who was more than likely bisexual herself.
Her Writings
Angelou was a highly talented writer, and it is clear to see in many of her works that she had a deep appreciation for both men and women. Angelou’s words and her writings reflect her open-mindedness and her lack of anti-gay prejudice, something uncommon at the time. For example, in one of her poems, Love Liberates, Angelou wrote “Love is a growing or full constant, regardless/ Fullness to be shared, each but/ By each to each.
The poem talks about the power of love and how it transcends boundaries, physical or otherwise. Angelou also wrote several poems alluding to relationships with women, such as ‘Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Die’. In this poem, Angelou speaks of her unrequited love for a woman who she can never be with, and the inability to express her feelings. This poem gives an insight into Angelou’s feelings and her struggles as a woman who may have felt restricted by society’s norms and expectations.
Another work, ‘Phenomenal Woman’, which is often cited as one of Angelou’s most remarkable works, also speaks of her appreciation for women and her admiration for their strength and beauty. To summarise, Angelou’s writings provide undeniable evidence of her open-mindedness and her strong feminist beliefs, which point to her being a lesbian or bisexual.
Conclusion
All in all, it is near impossible to prove definitively whether or not Maya Angelou was a lesbian. Even researching her life and her works does not provide a definite answer. However, the evidence does suggest that she may have been either bisexual or a lesbian, from her passionate works which spoke of friendship, love and relationships between women, and her advocacy for LGBTQ rights. She was a real pioneer in her time and she helped pave the way for the acceptance of LGBTQ people in literature, art, and society.
