Time to Overcome Black Homophobia

Whilst marking their ballot boxes in favour of Barack Obama last Tuesday, 70% of African American voters in California -- just one of the states that have passed Proposition 8 -- also marked their ballot boxes against gay marriage.

With African-Americans turning out in record numbers last week to vote for Barack Obama -- California saw an increase of some 500,000 black voters -- many gay rights supporters are now angry at what they see as an apparent hypocrisy amongst African American voters, who they perceive as having used their numbers to help elect America's first black president whilst simultaneously voting to deny freedoms to another minority. (It's interesting to note Barack Obama's position on the matter -- he is against gay marriage, but supports civil unions and doesn't believe there should be a ban on same-sex marriage, a slightly contradictory position.)

Gay rights supporters are surprised that African Americans could have voted against gay marriage believing that they, more than anyone, should understand discrimination having suffered from it for so long. However, not only are African Americans traditionally conservative when it comes to homosexuality -- carrying strong, often negative and deeply religious feelings about the issue -- some are not convinced that that gay rights are, as many activists believe, on a par with the civil rights issues that black people have faced.

Naturally, many African Americans are pretty irritated at the blame that is being heaped at their doorstep. After all, they were not only ones to vote for a ban on gay marriage. As Raymond Leon Roker points out 49% of Asian Americans, 53% of Hispanics and nearly 50% of white voters -- who make up 63% of the voting population in California voted in favour of the proposition. Furthermore, in California, black voters make up a small proportion of the population and therefore could not have statistically have made the major difference.

Regardless of who is to blame, the African-American community (and black communities around the world) does have an issue -- a deep rooted and as yet very much unresolved one - with homosexuality that needs to be addressed.

Discussions about homosexuality within the black community still often revolve around homophobic attitudes, often couched in and absolved by references to religion and the Bible. We often hear, from young and old, about sin and Sodom and Gomorrah in conversations about homosexuality. Using religion is a good way for people uncomfortable with homosexuality to shut down discussion: after all, how do you argue with the Bible? Preaching the Bible is fine, but it does nothing to address the very pressing issues that our black lesbian and gay community members face.

Our issue with homosexuality is also partly about our own struggles and conflicts over black masculinity and femininity. Whilst black people often complain about the images of black men and women that have been forced upon us and perpetuated through the media, we also struggle with our own ideas about what it means to be a black man or woman. Unfortunately, there is little room for homosexuality within any such discussions.

"No homo," a phrase popularized by rappers is one example of the issues surrounding black masculinity. Expressions of emotion or intimacy (particularly between two men), according to the "no homo" rule, is gay and therefore bad and it should be made known that said expression carries no homosexual connotations, hence the use of the phrase "no homo."

When intimacy and expression are equated in black popular culture, with being gay which is openly and unequivocally equated with being bad, what message does that send not only to gay black men and women about how they are viewed but to heterosexual men and women about how they express themselves?

It's also about our unwillingness to adequately address sexual health issues within our community, with diseases like HIV and AIDS still remaining taboo subjects despite the fact that they disproportionately affect us. Recent research from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention shows that "there were more new HIV infections in young black [gay and bisexual] men aged 13-29 than any other age or racial group".

It's also about the role of the black church, its ability to influence and what it does with that influence.The church has historically blazed a positive trail on civil rights issues affecting the black community, yet on homosexuality they remain either silent of vehemently against it.

Similarly, it's about the black community's willingness - at times - to engage in a head-in-the-sand attitude about certain issues that we feel uncomfortable about. There are a multitude of rumours about black actors, musicians and entertainers who are gay, but there are very few -- if any -- openly gay high profile black people. Those people are not out because homosexuality is still not socially acceptable within the black community, but we all know they are there. With homosexuality, as with some other matters, many of us in the black community seem to operate a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Regardless of whether or not we agree with it -- I personally do not care who people sleep with or who they marry so long as they are consenting adults -- the fact is that we have brothers and sisters who are gay who require support: emotional, mental and sexual. And supporting them, by constructively engaging with and deconstructing our own prejudices and dealing with some of our own internal conflicts about the issues I've raised above helps the entire black community, in a myriad of ways.

It's not all bad though, apparently. A study by Gregory B Lewis of Georgia State University found that "despite their greater disapproval of homosexuality, blacks' opinions on sodomy laws, gay civil liberties, and employment discrimination are quite similar to whites' opinions, and African Americans are more likely to support laws prohibiting antigay discrimination. Once religious and educational differences are controlled, blacks remain more disapproving of homosexuality but are moderately more supportive of gay civil liberties and markedly more opposed to anti-gay employment discrimination than are whites."

That's all good to some extent. However, there's still plenty of work to be done surrounding the attitudes towards homosexuality within the black community.

It's hard enough being black without the added stress and turmoil that I can imagine comes from being gay within the black community. It's time for us to face up to our issues.

Comments

[BunnieB]

Living in the Black Gay Mecca of Atlanta, I'd have to say it's pretty hard for the black community ignore black gays, especially when most of the city has now been claimed as gay territory.

My question: what kind of support exactly do gays want? Most of us were raised by folks who were less than sympathetic to pleas for emotional support; what do you expect now? If the black community can't even own up to mental illness, why does anyone think homosexuality will be openly embraced?

People are grown and make choices with their lives everyday. You know when you step out as a gay person you are going to encounter some challenges and yes, homophobia. So what's the problem? Why does everyone else have to change their beliefs to accommodate you and your beliefs? I don't see a lot of folks standing up to support Christians and their beliefs.

[GrainOSand]

I am from Chicago and I have a few words to say to debunk this nonsense about brown people being homophobic:

Warehouse
Power Plant (1015)
Musicbox
Jamie Principle
Frankie Knuckles
Ron Hardy
Belmont Harbor
...and for my New York people, Larry Levine and the Paradise Garage.

We "served it up" in the eighties and all were welcome (mostly) and all partied and loved as one; there was no bigotry. As a hetero male I have not seen such an environment of unbridled love and passion since. The people pushing the homophobe meme are either bigots themselves or they have taken a small sampling and want that to represent the whole -- which is bigotry.

[antaeus]

Then place your blame on media organizations who are presenting the data. Californians are only reacting now with the same wonder they did in 1994, when a majority of African Americans supported Prop. 187, which was seen by Latinos as so mean spirited that it effectively made California a permanent blues state. Of course whites voted for it as well, and nobody "blamed" blacks for 187. The issue was surprise that one minority would seem to reject supporting another.

[GrainOSand]

Enlightenment is gender and race agnostic. People who allow the media to shape their opinion run the risk of being duped. Some in the media have a vested interest in playing this story up. Their layer of hell will be extremely hot -- trust me on this.

This issue is like all other issues of humanity that feeble people attempt to legislate. Personally, I like the girls and find no attraction to males other than as brothers. However, what another does in the privacy of their home as consenting adults, or what they do out in public, as consenting adults, is none of my business. Civil rights are how governments hijack humanity by denying people their natural human right to be. I understand the outrage but those who attempt to polarize and demonize based on race only reveal that they were racist to begin with. My reaction to "white racism" has never been to group all people having light brown skin as a monolith. Judge individually is the directive for loving and caring people. Lazy folks love to attach their fears and their anger at the group level, because having to think individually is just too hard.

It is going to be what it is going to be and I am sitting here watching as it all lines up to get very ugly or very destructively creative towards a better world.

[treynana]

I want to know when and at what point Black people worked against the civil rights of gay people? Do not slander my people with wild talk - back it with facts. How are we homophobic? Everywhere in the Black community gay people are prominent - including our churches - and no one bothers them or disrespects them. What Black people are, rather than homophobic, is Christian and beleive what the Bible says about marriage. No one would have civil rights except for our fight and no one, white females, asians, hispanics, gays - has ever said THANK YOU. We did the work and we never protested that everyone else benefitted. How dare you call us names? We don't owe you that - we paid for everyone's debt in society and you don't have the right to call us names and disrespect us while benefitting from our sacrifice and fight.

[antaeus]

Do Christians believe in not bearing false witness? This from Tanyars5: " . . . white gay people write in blogs that black people are dumb, we should be lynched . . . " Elsewhere she calls gays "fools," which Christ called a grave sin. Funny, He never mention gays.

[treynyc]

What do you mean no one has ever said "thank you"? We learn about the Civil Rights Movement in our schools, we celebrate the birth of the man who championed freedom for all people in this nation; how can you say no one has ever said "thank you"? Everyone who is part of a minority (and plenty in the majority) is truly grateful for the battle African Americans took up in the 60's. Being half black myself, I find it almost offending that you would imply that some people of other minority groups are ungrateful for the rights we enjoy today. Just because there isn't a formal, collective "Thank You" letter written to those involved in the Civil Rights Movement doesn't mean we aren't thankful for their contributions to this society.

I understand your frustration in the finger-pointing that has been taking place in the aftermath of the passing of Prop 8, but you're generalizing the entire gay rights movement. Sure, some people have gotten a little out of hand--I know that for a fact, as we all do--but they don't speak for the entire population, and I'm hoping you understand that as well. Wouldn't it make you mad that because a few black people voted for Prop 8 the entire black community was blamed for it's passing which obviously isn't true seeing as 30% did vote AGAINST the measure -- oh wait, judging by the content of your comment, it does.

[Eric8869]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Finally someone acknowledges the homophobia in the black community instead of just being offended they are called on it.

It's time the black community OWNED that they are homophobic and working against the civil rights of gay people.

[McBushMcSame]

Still waiting for the article where the gay community owns it's White priviledge and racism... but I won't hold my breath. I'll also wait for a breakdown of polling on prop 187 and prop 209.

[antaeus]

As the governor of New York, an African American, said today--Nov. 14--anyone who tries to claim that this country hasn't made monumental strides towards racial equity is a "charlatan." As for the need for the "white gay community" to own its racism, my mind is open to that exploration.

[cincity]

Stop with the blame and lets work together to teach all who are ignorant. Don't single out one race as if they are the only problem.

[pons1595]

The LDS church contributed a significant amount of money and effort to endorse PROP 8 in California via its network of church, media, and community outlets enshrining discrimination under the law for thousands of Californians and their families.

"In general, no organization, including a church, may qualify for IRC section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying)."

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/review-the-501c3-status-of-the-church-of-latter-day-saints-the-mormons

[Deparis]

This homosexuality thing is just like religion or God in general, some believe in it, others don't. Trying to equate Blacks' emancipation to gay right or emancipation is utterly ridiculous. Nobody is lynching, torching or hanging gays the way Blacks were. I personally don't give a sh*t about how people live their sexuality. And many people, even anti-gay marriage proponents don't either, but they reason that because they don't care does not mean they would support that lifestyle. Instead of demonizing them, we should try to convince them that it is okay to be gay and normal.

[KSD123]

LGBT folks are assaulted, battered, and murdered with alarming frequency because of their sexuality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_LGBT_people

[arvay]

I don't see any advantage to focusing on one part of the population -- i.e. black people -- and citing them for some extra measure of censure because they may not support gay marriage. This only helps bigots and the religious right.

Our society has many areas where we still need to live up to our ideals, and this is one of them. Obviously, many Americans still don't understand the concept that gay people and gay marriage don't threaten their way of life. If anything, these fears are more deep-seated that the racial fears we seem to be overcoming.

Frankly, I wish religion could be eliminated, but that's not going to happen in my lifetime. The Judeo-Christian "heritage" is the source of this prejudice, and it's going to be a long slog fighting this part of our society.

Well, progressive forces won the contraception battle, women's suffrage and Rove vs. Wade. None of those fights was easy, and the Bible-thumpers resisted mightily. But we have every reason to be optimistic in the long run.

[Eric8869]

It needs to be pointed out because the black community and the gay community need to come together to fight oppression of their communities.

This is an opportunity to build a bridge.

[Elon James White - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for pointing out the fact that the black vote was not the deciding factor in the Prop 8 disaster.

I am not "FOR" gay marriage. I am, also, not "AGAINST" gay marriage. You can be both. My personal opinion is that I don't care what homosexuals do, hence, I wouldn't vote to take away rights. The lives of homosexuals don't effect me in any shape, form or fashion so I believe that it's silly for me to try to affect theirs.

You want to get married? Go ahead. Be merry.

But I do stop and tilt my head when the homosexual struggle is compared to the black struggle. It is an inherently flawed argument simply do to one fact. A homosexual can go any where they like and not automatically be called out as being gay. I, as a black man, do not have his opportunity. I'm black no matter what. It's not about whether or not I "black it up", I'm just black.

Should they be allowed to marry? If they want it, why not? Doesn't hurt me and it seems to be important to them. Go for it. Should it be considered comparable to the black plight. No. Sorry. Did black people ruin everything for gay people? No. A lot of ethnicities played a role in that one. Should anyone straight had anything to say about it? Absolutely not. We lose nothing.

[arvay]

I think we're making a mistake trying to compare one struggle with another. It's a discussion that leads nowhere, and It just plays into the hands of people who are friends of neither the minority or gay communities.

[Eric8869]

Not all gay people can hide that they are gay.

Gay people are beaten to death in the streets and hung from fences for being gay.

Sorry if you don't like the parallel but hate is hate....period.

When you say you are against gay marriage - do you really mean you think a gay person should die alone in the hospital without their partner being allowed to see them.

Wether you like it or not - your comments are homophobic. You need to learn and listen to gay experiences. I have done it for the black experience and continue to do so.

[Elon James White - Huffpost Blogger]

Eric, sir...

I specifically said "I'm not AGAINST gay maraige. I feel as if you skimmed my post and immediately got on your soapbox to tell me what a homohobe I am.

Just because I'm not championing for gay maraige doesn't mean I'm a homophobe. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Gay maraige has nothing to do with me, hence, I would never take a role in stopping it. I might not have a picket sign in front of Mormon churches, but if asked, I would definitely tell them(the Mormons) to mind their business.

By the way, this is part of the problem.

When people who make statements about the subject and are called homophobes because of it, it makes them angry and they turn and attack. I am not doing so simply because I'm assuming you just didn't understand my point, and if you did, then perhaps you're hyper sensitive about the subject. I can understand that. But please, in the future, be careful with that. You could be insulting people who are NOT against you.

[timewaster2dcore]

Can anyone tell me where the logic is for comparing "gay marriage" to " interracial marriage"?? What is the world turning into, people??

[Eric8869]

Because the bible and societal "norms" were used to justify the bigortry in both cases. Sorry if u can't see it.

[newpotusplease]

you fail to discuss the incarceration of Black males and thus what might also be happening to them in prison

you also fail to discuss straight black folk all across the world who refuse to take aids tests and use preventative measures and the reasons for that

or are you saying that the bible is to blame for all of it?

[Osmona]

Hey buzziea you get a clue. Just because Obama is the President-Elect, does not mean discrimination has all of a sudden vanished. Blacks are still fighting for their rights for freedom from discrimination in this country. Continuing to fight for equality of pay, promotions, etc. Just because we are "allowed" to walk on the same sidewalk as a white person (years ago we could not) does not mean that we will get the same treatment as that white person. I don't cry about that, I just get up everyday and do my best. I imagine we will be fighting for a long time to come. Blacks marched, had sit ins, boycotted, etc. That's the way it is in America. You've got to fight for your rights. That's how the "Founding Fathers" designed this country. And thats what Gays are going to have to do, Fight for their rights. Whether they like it or not, NO ONE is going to hand it to them.

So stop crying and stand up for your rights. Alot of people died for Gays to have the same Civil Rights as everyone else. Martin Luther King was one of those persons.

[antaeus]

Nobody is asking for a gift.

But don't come in after we've gained rights and enjoyed them for months and just snatch them away.

[Osmona]

You are absolutely right!!! But people should not blame Blacks. Blame the government. I'm Black (not gay) and I am for equal rights. NOW GET OUT THERE AND FIGHT!!!

[nornny]

I'm a married, white, suburbanite woman and my husband and I both agree that banning gay marriage is plainly open discrimination that would be unacceptable to apply to persons of ethnicity.

Seeing so many AA's after the election becoming so emotional over electing another AA to the presidency had a deep impact on how I regard anyone being oppressed.

It's wrong. No matter what.

(A lot of churches used to preach against blacks too.)

I don't understand why this is acceptable.

[buzziea]

Hey Bob8788 - Gay oppression does equal black oppression, if not more so. Blacks eventually gained some of their basic human rights. Gays are still routinely being verbally beat up by black and white churches, literally beat up and killed by actual hate crimes, and denied basic human rights and protection from hate crimes by the government to whom they pay taxes just like others who pay the same taxes but DO have their rights. You say WTF, I say get a clue.

[cincity]

Please tell me when gay people were considered 3/4s of a person, shackled, beaten, tortured, sold. Now there are some similarities in our struggles but it is asinine for you to say they are equal. It will not help your causes to come at AAs this way.

[DenverJim]

I would say that gay people are considered 3/4s of a person right now. As I see it, gays are the only group left that is explicitly LOSING rights. It's not only in the past, it's right now. I don't understand why the AA community always has a "don't go there" attitude about who's had it worse. They are just different realities. What group is more stigmatized? That should answer who currently is facing a bigger battle. In a country with a black president (Thank God), Oprah, Michael Jordan, etc., being some of our most beloved celebrites and politicians, and in a country that in no way in hell would elect a gay person to the Presidency, I think it's safe to say how is currently facing more intense discrimination. You want to know when gays were shackled, beaten, tortured, etc.? All through history. The Holocaust. It's only been in the last couple of decades that gay people could even live open lives. Does church welcome us? Do our families? Does society in general? I think that answer's your comment.

[KSD123]

Let the competition begin. I thought Civil Rights were good for everyone.

[cincity]

If you approach the AA community this way it will not help your cause. There are similarities but to say they are equal would only anger people.

[Eric8869]

Well figting for civil rights angered some white people.

You want me to sit in the back of the bus?

[Social Construct]

We seem to be stuck in some kind of Twilight Zone circle of fear. It's like we, as a people, cannot live without constructing barriers even as we tear down others. Black homophobia? Really? Sociological reasoning aside for the moment, IT'S HOMOPHOBIA, PERIOD! Skin color, heritage or any other divisive description of a fellow human being should be the last reasoning factor for pointing out discrimination based on sexuality. We, as Americans all, need to concentrate on why, after so many years of excluding one group or another from the full enjoyment of Constitutional protections only to eventually see the errors of our ways, we still come up with new descriptions to divide our collective selves.

[smugglerdurant]

Wow. I'm a European-American (nee White), gay and support equal rights. I don't understand Obama's position. By that, I mean, I've never heard him talk about it in a way that makes sense to me - although I think I get where he might be coming from: The word (indeed the institution of) 'marriage' carries a religious history. It's also the same language that's used for tax purposes and everything 'state' related - It is the civil union that everyone gets to participate in - except if you're gay! I object to marriage itself on legal grounds - since it's an inherent conflict between church and state! This is where I think Obama might be with this (he is a lawyer).

However, if everyone is getting married in the eyes of the state, then gays should be able to, as well. The issue seems to be whether gays have the right to participate in the same flawed system as EVERYONE ELSE does. And we do.