British-based gay rights activist Peter Tatchell claimed that Whitney Houston attended an AIDS event in London, in 1991, with her gay partner Robyn Crawford.
Though he initially declined to identify her, the organizer – respected gay rights and equality consultant Vernal Scott – said that Peter Tatchell was referring to Robyn Crawford.
Peter Tatchell even said Whitney Houston’s marriage to Bobby Brown was a smokescreen.
Now, Peter Tatchell tells the story of how he met the two lovers, Whitney Houston and Robyn Crawford.
“I met Whitney and her female partner at the Reach Out & Touch HIV vigil in London in 1991.
Whitney spoke movingly in support of people with HIV, at a time when many other stars kept their distance. Her support was much valued.
She advocated the welfare and human rights of people with HIV. It was a commendable stand.
I have, in the past, declined to name Whitney’s female partner. But most of the media have since named her as Robyn Crawford.
When I met them, it was obvious they were madly in love. Their intimacy and affection was so sweet and romantic.
They held hands in the back of the car like teenage sweethearts. Clearly more than just friends, they were a gorgeous couple and so happy together. To see their love was infectious and uplifting.
Whitney was happiest and at the peak of her career when she was with Robyn. Sadly, she suffered family and church pressure to end her greatest love of all.
She was fearful of the effects that lesbian rumors might have on her family, reputation and career. Eventually she succumbed. The result? A surprise marriage to Bobby Brown.
The marriage was a disaster. Bad boy Bobby was never her true soul mate. Giving up Robyn – they’d been inseparable for years – must have been emotionally traumatic.
Whitney’s life started going downhill soon afterwards. Previously wholesome and clean-living, she went on drink-and-drug binges – evidence of a troubled personal life and much unhappiness.
It seems likely that the split with Robyn contributed to her substance abuse and decline.
There is a known correlation between denial of one’s sexuality and a propensity to self-destructive behavior. Homophobia undoubtedly added to the pressures on Whitney and hastened her demise.
Soon after her very sad death, I was quoted as saying that Whitney was happiest when she loved a woman. Some fans accused me of <<insulting>> and <<smearing>> her.
But there is nothing shameful about a woman loving a woman. It’s not dirty or sordid and shouldn’t be kept hidden.
I did not out her as lesbian/ bisexual. She semi-outed herself by dedicating her albums to Robyn.”
Years ago, Whitney Houston was outed by Bobby Brown’s sister, Tina, and by her former bodyguard, Kevin Ammons.
Bobby Brown hinted in his autobiography that Whitney Houston married him to dispel lesbian rumors: “I believe her agenda was to clean up her image . . . The media was accusing her of having a bisexual relationship with her assistant, Robin Crawford . . . that didn’t go too well with her image. In Whitney’s situation, the only solution was to get married . . . [to] kill all speculation.”
Peter Tatchell continued: “Telling the truth does not besmirch Whitney’s memory. It honors the most important relationship she ever had.
What’s wrong is ignoring or denying the one love that made her truly happy.
Homophobia contributed to Whitney’s fall.
I want to see a more tolerant society where people don’t feel the need to marry to deflect rumors of homosexuality, and where they are not driven to self-destruction because of their inability to accept and express their love for a person of the same sex.
Achieving this goal would be a fitting tribute to Whitney Houston.”
It’s so sad to realize and believe that anyone would deny or condemn another person for loving someone. It’s clear from the time line of Whitney’s relationship with Bobby Brown that changes in her life were occurring . It’s true that her happiness did involve a beloved friend and it’s true that loving someone and not being able to be with them due to pressures of parents, society, and the ill-conceived belief that loving is wrong.
We all know how difficult it must have been for her to know what and who she wanted but not being able to enjoy that love because she was more concerned of how she would be received by those who supposedly love her. And we all know, those same people would never admit causing her any harm. Those same people would say they raised her the “right” way and that what she wanted, what was best for her, she didn’t know. She NEEDED and wanted someone else to guide her.
I love fruit but I hate bananas but it doesn’t mean I’m wrong or that something is wrong with me for not liking them. Same for the simplicity of loving. We all love and we all know what we want and if it’s not for you that’s all it is. Just not for you.
Robyn understood Whitney. Whitney understood love so much better than those around her. Her parents, her husband, her fans. Her gift was her voice which she shared with the world. But isn’t it a shame she wasn’t able to share all of her? That baptist upbringing about loving the lord she personified it. Can not really say that for the REST of those surrounding her. Other’s did not put her best interest first. They were selfish and only wanted her to be what they needed her to be. Their idea of her was more important than her self worth. How sad to be loved the world over unconditionally but not by those closest to her.
It’s not wrong to love someone. It’s wrong to not be ABLE to love someone. Whitney is a lesson to us all. Live your life. Be about the business of pleasing self first. You have but one life to life and sadly her ‘s was ended to soon. Isn’t it ironic that the one friend that she loved wasn’t at the funeral of her greatest love? What’s so christian about that?
And to her daughter. You knew more than you ever thought you needed to know about your mother. She was wonderful and you were a gift to her. She didn’t make the same mistake. She didn’t make you feel like there was something wrong with the person you are. She loved you for you. It was obvious in her eyes when she looked at you. She loved you. She just wasn’t free to love herself more.
Whitney you were loved. You knew love and you knew how it made you feel. In your darkest hour you knew what was missing from your heart and in your happiest you new your greatest joy.
Sunrise to Sunset
You were the greatest love of all.
Jacqueline Franklin
It’s so sad to realize and believe that anyone would deny or condemn another person for loving someone. It’s clear from the time line of Whitney’s relationship with Bobby Brown that changes in her life were occurring . It’s true that her happiness did involve a beloved friend and it’s true that loving someone and not being able to be with them due to pressures of parents, society, and the ill-conceived belief that loving is wrong.
We all know how difficult it must have been for her to know what and who she wanted but not being able to enjoy that love because she was more concerned of how she would be received by those who supposedly love her. And we all know, those same people would never admit causing her any harm. Those same people would say they raised her the “right” way and that what she wanted, what was best for her, she didn’t know. She NEEDED and wanted someone else to guide her.
I love fruit but I hate bananas but it doesn’t mean I’m wrong or that something is wrong with me for not liking them. Same for the simplicity of loving. We all love and we all know what we want and if it’s not for you that’s all it is. Just not for you.
Robyn understood Whitney. Whitney understood love so much better than those around her. Her parents, her husband, her fans. Her gift was her voice which she shared with the world. But isn’t it a shame she wasn’t able to share all of her? That baptist upbringing about loving the lord she personified it. Can not really say that for the REST of those surrounding her. Other’s did not put her best interest first. They were selfish and only wanted her to be what they needed her to be. Their idea of her was more important than her self worth. How sad to be loved the world over unconditionally but not by those closest to her.
It’s not wrong to love someone. It’s wrong to not be ABLE to love someone. Whitney is a lesson to us all. Live your life. Be about the business of pleasing self first. You have but one life to life and sadly her ‘s was ended to soon. Isn’t it ironic that the one friend that she loved wasn’t at the funeral of her greatest love? What’s so christian about that?
And to her daughter. You knew more than you ever thought you needed to know about your mother. She was wonderful and you were a gift to her. She didn’t make the same mistake. She didn’t make you feel like there was something wrong with the person you are. She loved you for you. It was obvious in her eyes when she looked at you. She loved you. She just wasn’t free to love herself more.
Whitney you were loved. You knew love and you knew how it made you feel. In your darkest hour you knew what was missing from your heart and in your happiest you new your greatest joy.
Sunrise to Sunset
You were the greatest love of all.
Jacqueline Franklin