--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The assumption that being gay or black…" description: "\"“The assumption that being gay or black necessarily harms the self-worth of all who fit this category has a patronizing dimension, because it neglects ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/michael-kenny-72987_identity_the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-n_1854861.jpg" --- # The assumption that being gay or black necessarily harms… ![“The assumption that being gay or black necessarily harms the self-worth of all who fit this category has a patronizing dimension, because it neglects consideration of the agency that persons exercise in respect of imposed identity.” quote by Michael Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/michael-kenny-72987_identity_the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-n_1854861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/michael-kenny-72987_identity_the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-n_1854861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/michael-kenny-72987_identity_the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-n_1854861.jpg) > ““The assumption that being gay or black necessarily harms the self-worth of all who fit this category has a patronizing dimension, because it neglects consideration of the agency that persons exercise in respect of imposed identity.”” [Michael Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kenny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote challenges the view that marginalized identities inherently damage self‑esteem, emphasizing personal agency over imposed labels. **In simple terms:** Identity doesn't automatically lower self‑worth; people can shape their own identities. Key Takeaway Recognize agency in identity formation. Themes identity self‑esteem agency social perception Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - education - activism - policy making Key Concepts intersectionality psychology empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How does personal agency interact with societal bias? - What role should institutions play in supporting marginalized groups? A Different Perspective Overlooks systemic oppression that can limit agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption-gay-2459105/) [Gay Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-black-566519/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-politics/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Neglects Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglects-consideration-2459106/) [Patronizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patronizing/) [Patronizing Dimension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patronizing-dimension-2459104/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Sexual-identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-identity/) ## Related quotes > [When I was a kid, and I was odd, the default assumption was that I was odd, not that I was gay. 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What makes us civilized is our act of liberated kindness with other people beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/discriminations-are-never-a-sign-of-a-civilized-society-what-makes-us/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Homosexuals are not made, they are born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/homosexuals-are-not-made-they-are-born/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Being homosexual is no more abnormal than being lefthanded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/being-homosexual-is-no-more-abnormal-than-being-lefthanded/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“In the unification of two minds, orientation of sexuality is irrelevant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-the-unification-of-two-minds-orientation-of-sexuality-is-irrelevant/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Love has no gender - compassion has no religion - character has no race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/love-has-no-gender-compassion-has-no-religion-character-has-no-race/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“And yet another part of me knew that if he showed up tonight and I disliked the start of whatever was in store for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/and-yet-another-part-of-me-knew-that-if-he-showed-up-tonight-and-i/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“Can you imagine, somebody telling you, your love for your dearly beloved is a sin! Can you imagine, somebody telling you, women are inferior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/can-you-imagine-somebody-telling-you-your-love-for-your-dearly/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Either you are homophobic or you are a human - you cannot be both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/either-you-are-homophobic-or-you-are-a-human-you-cannot-be-both/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Discriminations suit animals, not humans. And yet, the unfortunate reality is, it is the humans that discriminate each other on the grounds of imaginary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/discriminations-suit-animals-not-humans-and-yet-the-unfortunate/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Homosexuality is immutable, irreversible and nonpathological.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/homosexuality-is-immutable-irreversible-and-nonpathological/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I'm a walking contradiction on so many levels. I'm gay, black, and a Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-m-a-walking-contradiction-on-so-many-levels-i-m-gay-black-and-a/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [Self-doubt is a constant companion for a chubby, gay, black boy born in the South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/self-doubt-is-a-constant-companion-for-a-chubby-gay-black-boy-born-in/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I'm a gay black guy. If I can't ask questions without caring what people think of me, who can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-m-a-gay-black-guy-if-i-can-t-ask-questions-without-caring-what/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) ## More by Michael Kenny > [In modern societies, some members of ethnic minority groups do not want to feel compelled to heed the voices of their communities when participating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenny/in-modern-societies-some-members-of-ethnic-minority-groups-do-not/) [Michael Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kenny/) > [“An important ethical function of identity politics, in this context, is to highlight that obstacles to the self-development of individuals, and to the formation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenny/an-important-ethical-function-of-identity-politics-in-this-context-is/) [Michael Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kenny/) > [“The self is constituted within a variety of arenas and in relation to multiple traditions. 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I am gay, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/i-didn-t-want-to-be-gay-i-wanted-to-be-i-wanted-an-easy-life-and-you/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) [Browse all 3,495 Homosexuality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The assumption that being gay or black necessarily harms the self-worth of all who fit this category has a patronizing dimension, because it neglects consideration of the agency that persons exercise in respect of imposed identity.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Kenny" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenny/the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-necessarily-harms-the-self/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Homosexuality" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenny/the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-necessarily-harms-the-self/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/michael-kenny-72987_identity_the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-n_1854861.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/michael-kenny-72987_identity_the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-n_1854861.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/michael-kenny-72987_identity_the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-n_1854861.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The assumption that being gay or black necessarily harms the self-worth of all who fit this category has a…” — Michael Kenny", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Kenny", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kenny/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The assumption that being gay or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenny/the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-necessarily-harms-the-self/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenny/the-assumption-that-being-gay-or-black-necessarily-harms-the-self/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```