Morehouse College Unveils Portrait Of HBCU’s First Openly Gay Bishop

Morehouse College unveiled a portrait of Bishop O.C. Allen, its first openly gay bishop honored in this way, placing it among historic figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Abraham Lincoln. The painting, revealed during the Bayard Rustin Crown Forum, recognizes Allen’s leadership in faith, advocacy, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Allen, a Morehouse alumnus, helped create safe spaces for Black gay students and went on to found Vision Cathedral of Atlanta and lead a national Pentecostal fellowship. He has also advanced HIV awareness and served on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

The tribute is both symbolic and historic, affirming the presence, leadership, and legacy of Black queer clergy within institutions that have shaped Black history and liberation.