Black Brits Fighting Anti-Gay Churches
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Thursday, July 27 2006, 12:01AM
Leaders of Britain's black churches have begun lobbying the British Parliament against new "equality regulations," which would make it illegal to refuse a person goods or services based on their sexual orientation. The church leaders claim that the regulations, set to be approved by Parliament in October, amount to "reverse discrimination against Christians." Gay rights leaders denied the accusations. "All gay people are asking and expecting from government is the same protections in law that black people have taken for granted for years," said one gay leader.
I asked Topher Campbell and Ajamu, two of the leading artist/activists in London, to tell me what they thought of the church action. They sent me a quick reply. With all that's going on with black people in Britain, they asked, why are these church leaders lobbying Parliament to discriminate against gays? Their full response is posted below.
Rukus! Speaks Out On Anti-Gay Churches
"Recent figures for 2006 show that in the UK black people are 3 times more likely to be stopped and searched by police than white people. Also black people, particularly black African-Caribbean young men, make up 12% of the UK prison population but black people are only 2% of the UK population. Meanwhile, Black people also make up a higher than average proportion of those suffering mental health and are more likely to go to prison than University. Also we continue to face discrimination in jobs, promotion, housing and representation in the media.
So what do Black Church leaders decide to take a stand on? None of the above. Instead they chose to Protest against the right of Gay and Lesbian businesses to be treated fairly in the market place. The churches believe they are taking a moral stand for the benefit of their representatives but they do not know their history. Coretta Scott King, wife of the great civil rights leader who was also, of course, a deeply religious woman, spoke out against homophobia. This is because she understood that oppression is reprehensible because all those affected by it are affected in the same way. The Black Churches need to understand that their moral stand is oppressive toward gay men and women and demeans them as an oppressed group also.
There is a lack of Black political Leadership in the UK, and this misguided, damaging protest reflects this. All Black gays and lesbians and their allies should speak out against their protest now. Just contact www.number10.gov.uk."
Comments conceal
Mel Smith
July 27 2006, 12:08AM
The oppressed become the oppressors!
Bernie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
July 27 2006, 7:20AM
Is it just me, or does it seem as though the same ignorant, misguided, devisive policies practiced by the Far Right in America are being exported around the world? It's as if people in Great Britain (and other parts of the world) have been reading from the same idiotic conservative playbook.
When you are too lazy or inept at addressing the REAL social problems facing your country, attack gay people.
g
July 27 2006, 9:31AM
I wasn't aware that churches over there are government regulated. From this piece it seems to be the case. That would never fly here in the states because it grossly crosses over separation of church and state. Churches are privately entity which protects our religious freedom. I'm gay, but I wouldn't be for this type of "big brother" legislation from the government. Some things have to be protected.
Gary
July 27 2006, 4:09PM
It's not 'big brother' legislation. It is about equality for everybody and banning discrimination in every walk of life. Whether it is based on race, sex, or sexual orientation. No one should be exempt.
Britain is different to the States. Here freedom of speech does not protect people who try to be divisive. They get prosecuted for hate crimes.
Britain is a much less religious country. I don't have figures but you can be sure that church-goers are a smaller percentage of the population than gay men and women are. Church-goers are a real minority.
Life is difficult enough for black and (south) asian gay men and women, without hate coming from the church, which tends to have more influence in those communities.
warren
July 28 2006, 5:43AM
To digest religion from a UK prospective, you must first dig deep into its history and follow its evolution back to present day. Most, if not all of black church congregations are made up of first, second and third generation families from the Caribbean and Africa. Homophobia amongst blacks from both these regions is deeply rooted, deeply serious and deeply disturbing.
In my travels, I have endured the voices of black churches around the world singing the hymns of oppression, disapproval and damnation loud enough and often enough, for more years than I care to remember.
Black churches suffer from the same afflictions as their counterparts. The difference is that we know too well the disparity of prejudice oppression. Why so many black churches and black people choose to suffocate in channeled hypocrisy is beyond Oprah’s interventions and my comprehension.
Keep your eyes on the larger prize - the Church of England. Black UK churches do not weld enough political muscle to sway the government.
AJ
August 2 2006, 11:49AM
Unfortunately the U.S. has a great influence on the world.Over here the American media portreys black people as deamons and like suckers,we believe it.Some black people in the UK adopt the dress sense and many other characteristics as the 'african american media model'.The UK media does'nt help this by greatly underrepresenting black people.The most black people we see on television are Dr Dre,'gangsters' from the American ghettos,'pimps','brothas' etc.This does'nt help the image of any community being demoted like this.
The majority of the police in the UK are white,and being human believe what is being driven into their heads by the U.S. media, that black people are bad.You keep telling the white population that black people are bad and are going to hurt you,white people will eventually believe it!Likewise,tell black people that all white people are rich,comfortable,racist and out to get you,black people will believe it.Remember Hitler's indoctrination of the German people?
Jamaican youth
August 4 2006, 7:03PM
gay ppl always see things one way when one of you die its our entertainers fault they "killed" them as you put it the church is followingthe same set of rules and guidelines that it has for years no centuries b4 gays got popular why are they there?? to help show you the path to god a killer cant keep killing and hope to go to heaven same as a gay man cant continue on the same path expet to make it either it is in the bible if a man lieth with another man he will burn in the fires of hell or does your bible say different?? are you saying god is wrong? if the church refuses to house or feed sinners who make no effort to to stop i say power to them. homosexuality is a sin which means that it is WRONG and also disgusting take that into consideration during one of your rallies or w/e it is you ppl do.
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