Coming Out:
Shaka's Story
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Shaka Hudson attended Catholic middle school where he discovered his passion for artistry one day while drawing the birds he saw outside. Eventually, Shaka left Catholic school after being subjected to racism and instead went to a public school. This was a liberating experience as he was surrounded by more POC, and it was much less regimented than Catholic school. He remained faithful and wanted to join the choir but was denied because of his race, so instead he became an alter boy. While an alter boy, he taught the others Latin, which helped to build his confidence. He also began to fall in love with language after connecting more with his Native American roots in the Cherokee tribe.
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Shaka discusses how he came to understand his sexuality in grade school
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Shaka began to notice his sexuality in grade school when he became infatuated with nuns and the outfits they wore. He dressed as a nun until his grandmother shamed this behavior out of him. After this, he began to feel an attraction to one of the priests at school which led him to question whether this same-sex attraction was normal or not. This attraction led him to develop a crush on another boy in his class and discovery his sexual attraction to men. In high school, Shaka had a girlfriend and they dated as normal, however, when they went to Woodstock both of them began to discuss their sexuality with each other and separated. Shaka used college as a time to experiment with his sexuality. At college, Shaka got involved with dance, something he used to do with his sisters as a child. He decided college was not for him, so he went and auditioned for the Repertory Dance Company and Theatre Company in Washington D.C. that was dedicated to Black artists. Here, Shaka started to solidify his sexuality.
At the dance company, Shaka met a man, and they began a relationship together. This moment in 1972 is when Shaka says that he came out. They moved to New York together and Shaka told his family the situation. He told his sisters that he was gay, and they were supportive, but felt like they already knew. His parents figured that he would, “do what he wanted to do” so they were not surprised and wished him well. His brothers also accepted him, though they did not talk much about it.
At the dance company, Shaka met a man, and they began a relationship together. This moment in 1972 is when Shaka says that he came out. They moved to New York together and Shaka told his family the situation. He told his sisters that he was gay, and they were supportive, but felt like they already knew. His parents figured that he would, “do what he wanted to do” so they were not surprised and wished him well. His brothers also accepted him, though they did not talk much about it.
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Shaka discusses how AIDS has impacted, but not defined, his life
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A few years after settling together, Shaka left his lover as he wanted to see what life was like with woman again to be sure that he was doing the right thing. He began to model for an art school as a way to both make money and improve his own artistic skills. There he met a woman, and it was love at first sight. He made it clear that he was gay, but they both thought these feelings would go away, like it was a phase. They were together for almost ten years and had a child, however, Shaka still loved men and he didn’t think this was fair to his wife, so they parted amicably. |
Shaka then moved to Virginia and found another partner who he was with for two years. Tragically, his partner died of AIDS and passed it along to Shaka, but this gave him a new perspective on life. A lot of his friends have died from AIDS, yet Shaka is optimistic about the rest of his life. Today, Shaka is still working on his art, even looking to enroll in math classes in order to better his mathematics knowledge as well as his art. He still dances everyday because of how fundamental it is to him. He hopes to see larger pride events in Harrisburg and more inclusion of POC voices in these events.
