Rachel Dolezal, The Woman Who Pretended To Be Black, Comes Out As Bisexual

If someone publicly comes out as a member of the queer community, it isn't up to us to decide whether they "qualify" or not based on past behavior.

When the subject of LGBTQ+ acceptance is already on most of society's mind, it is easier to join the conversation with a personal perspective than it would be during the rest of the year.

This surge of coming out stories often includes figures in the public eye—but it isn't always the ones we adore. Sometimes it comes from someone people would rather not be associated with.

Dolezal was the president of the NAACP’s office in Spokane, Washington when her white parents used old childhood photos and her birth certificate to reveal that she is not of African American descent.

Her parents explained that Dolezal "adopted a lilt in her voice to sound like a Southern African-American woman" and used an undergraduate portfolio of African-American art in order to get a full scholarship to Howard University, a predominantly black school.

Since her true heritage was revealed, Dolezal has written a memoir titled In Full Color: Find My Place In A Black And White World in an attempt to defend her two-decade-long ruse.

She has since garnered a small fan base, though a lot of people remain unimpressed with her lack of remorse. She has 1700 subscribers on YouTube, where she posts recipes, hair tutorials, and other life updates.

"Just wanted to take a moment to recognize Pride Month," she writes, "My first kiss was with a girl when I was 18. I am bisexual. Just because I have been married (briefly) to a man or have had children by male partners does not mean I am not bi."

"Just because I’m bi doesn’t mean I’m confused. Just because I’m bi doesn’t mean I’m 'almost' gay. Just because I’m bi doesn’t mean I’m any less monogamous or into threesomes."

She continued to inform her audience that the 'B' in LGBTQ+ should be completely legitimate all on its own.

"We are here, and no one’s opinion is going to make me gay or straight or not bi."

"Although I’ve been single & celibate for 4 years and don’t plan to change that any time soon," she writes, "this is my lil Pride support post to say 'press on' and 'keep being you' to the bi community."

However, her fans have flooded the post with comments of support and acceptance, welcoming her into the community.

Many more wished her a happy Pride month and shared how they related to her story.

h/t: New York Post