ESSENCE’s June issue features an exclusive interview with Chirlane McCray, wife of New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio . In the piece, “The Politician’s Wife ,” the woman who could be the first lady of New York City talks about outing herself in ESSENCE in the 1970’s — and how she ended up falling in love with a man.
In the ESSENCE article, writer Linda Villarosa recounts how McCray wrote a groundbreaking essay in a 1979 issue of ESSENCE entitled, “I Am a Lesbian” — in what was perhaps the first time a Black gay woman spoke openly about her sexuality in a Black magazine. Now, 34 years later and happily immersed in a “traditional marriage,” McCray returns to the pages of ESSENCE to talk about life’s unexpected twists and turns, the fluidity of love, dirty politics and her 180-degree turn.
“I am more than just a label…labels put people in boxes, and those boxes are shaped like coffins,” said McCray. “Finding the right person can be so hard that often, when a person finally finds someone she or he is comfortable with, she or he just makes it work. As my friend Vanessa says, ‘It’s not whom you love; it’s that you love…'”
The June issue of ESSENCE hit newsstands on May 10. For more on the article, see the ESSENCE.com link below: http://www.essence.com/2013/05/09/politicians-wife-chirlane-mccray.
Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media company dedicated to African-American women, with a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online.
(Photo credit : Gina Levay)
