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.

• Vickie M. Mays, PhD; Susan D. Cochran, PhD; Sylvia Rhue, PhD (1993). "The Impact of Perceived Discriminitation on the Intimate Relationships of Black Lesbians". Journal of Homosexuality. 25 (4): 1–14. doi:10.1300/J082v25n04_01. PMC 6225772. PMID 8106735.
• James Thomas Sears; Walter L. Williams (1997). Overcoming Heterosexism and Homophobia: Strategies that Work. Columbia University Press. pp. 117–130. ISBN 9780231104227. Retrieved July 29, 2016. Chapter: Reducing Homophobia in African American Communities
• Wendy Reed; Jennifer Home (2006). All Out of Faith: Southern Women on Spirituality. The University of Alabama Press. ISBN 9780817315344. Retrieved July 29, 2016.