Contextualizing the Concept of Intersectionality: Layered Identities of African American Women and Gay Men in the Black Church

The multicultural concept of intersectionality is applied to understanding the challenges that are often faced by African American women and gay men in the traditional Black church. This article highlights the complexities of addressing the counseling needs of individuals with layered identities, particularly sexual orientation, gender, and religious ideology. Implications for multicultural pedagogy and assisting African American clients with intersecting identity issues are discussed. El concepto multicultural de interseccionalidad se aplica a la comprension de los problemas afrontados con frecuencia por mujeres afroamericanas y hombres gays afroamericanos en la iglesia negra tradicional. Este articulo destaca las complejidades de abordar las necesidades en consejeria de individuos con identidades estratificadas, especialmente respecto a orientacion sexual, sexo e ideologia religiosa. Se discuten las implicaciones para la pedagogia multicultural y para la asistencia a clientes afroamericanos con problemas de identidades interseccionales.