Is Gay History Anti-Black?

user
October 17 2006, 5:29PM

why is that everytime some type of public event, that the black need their own. this is one reason why the gay community will never be accept. too much inter fighting..

Yes i'm a gay male out over 17 years

AJ
October 17 2006, 5:42PM

Welcome to America 2006

manchild1
October 17 2006, 5:45PM

I do not agree...there seems to be a resurgence of
hate directed at gay people that I really do not
understand...young people singling out suspected gays to
bash,ministers calling gay folk "the cause of the down
fall" in the black community....my own neighbor who rolls
her eyes at me like she knows me..yet is too friendly with the block lesbian who has children...I just wish that black folks got that my gayness is not their badge of shame...like their adultery,children out of wedlock,
unruly children...etc are not mine.I am not surprised by
the story,only saddened and say it again...us folks need
to be mindfull of where we go and how we present ourselfs
in public since it could cost us our lifes. No ,it is
not punking out or being ashamed of ourselves,it is
survival

Riddler
October 17 2006, 7:22PM

It is clear that this Gray person is not cut out to be the leader of any organization that would be named "The African-American Freedom and Reconstruction League." Perhaps he is better suited for "The Hold Back in Retribution Alliance" because he does not understand that with freedom comes acceptance. It has always fascinated me when people shake their heads in righteous indignation at gays while holding on to some lofty misinterpretation of the bible as justification for their own atrocities. It has been proven time and again that those who protest too loudly are harboring some pretty dirty things of their own. Alcoholism, drug addiction, child abuse, and sometimes a man on the side, are only the tip of the iceberg for many protestors of my right to see who I want to see. Look into their lives and you will find hidden families, bastard children, porn collections, spousal abuse, murderers and rapists. Why can't we protest what really damages us? Illiteracy and crime.

Devin Davenport
October 17 2006, 7:30PM

Beyond mere homophobia, this incident reaks of heathenry. Homophobia in the black community is a class issue; one of education and civility. The problem of homophobia in black communities is not unconnected to the problem of disproportionality of incarceration, mysogny or improper use of english. I refuse to defend the unfortunate members of my community who live and think like animals.

Jkid
October 17 2006, 8:58PM

I perfectly agree with you, black homophoba must be fought and be sent back to the dark ages, just like Jim Crow (which refuses to die in America)

Cocoa Rican
October 17 2006, 9:08PM

Well, well, well...
It's amazing that less than forty years ago white America treated blacks in this very way - whether it was attending schools, dining at public eateries or even using the same restrooms. Today, the oppressed choose to oppress. It’s sad and disturbing. You would think that after so much hate and disparate treatment the black community would be horrified with any form of hate. It’s about that time. It is INSANE that the gay community is forced to choose between what we’re more proud of - being black or being gay. I think I’ll just be proudest of having sense. Sense enough to realize that any kind of bigotry and hate is ignorant.

Steve
October 17 2006, 9:11PM

Oh, Manchild, I understand it very well. Gay people are the one group left that it is safe to hate. When even other minorities who have suffered discrimination begin to discriminate against you, you are the next holocaust victims, mark my words.

cmoney
October 17 2006, 9:23PM

If these buffons are representative of the adults who show up at Philadelphia Public School events for kids, is it any wonder why their schools are failing? These morons probably have no kids who have even completed school and yet they feel it is their duty to oppress kids who are trying to make something of their lives and get home from school each day in one piece. Have they forgotten that the schools are for children-ALL children? They should have been escorted out of that event and arrested the first time they made a threat against any student or other participant in that forum. They only thing they were right about is the fact that the schools should be segregated--from ignorant, hateful, bullying adults.

L Farmer
October 17 2006, 9:26PM

Reading this makes my blood boil on so many lavels. First and most importantly the need for VISIBLE gay and lesbian people of African descent is so needed!! I was raised in a Baptist homophobic home, even though I had a gay aunt who wore three piece suits!! It was until years later when I came out that she told me her story as well as the fact my mother kept me from her because she thought my aunt would make me gay HA! At any rate, homophobia is a major issue in the Black community, whether we speak English, creole, spanish, french, or ebonics!!! Except for Noahs Arc, there have been no major gay theme shows which protrayed gay Black men and women in SAME RACE relationships. Hate to admit it, but the media has played a major part in the sterotype that gays are well off White men and if there is a brotha or sistah he/she has to have somebody white on their arms or in a dysfunctional relationship.

Absolutelee
October 17 2006, 10:08PM

Keith thanks for writing about this story. The Black Gay Men's Leadership Council here in Philly are part of several LGBT organizations working to address this issue in Philly. We wrote a letter of support to the School District which can be found on my Blog.

There is actually another School Board meeting coming up tomorrow, on the same issue. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. Several LGBT organizations here in Philly will be getting together to strategize around how to best address these issues.

Cadence
October 17 2006, 10:18PM

I don't know why Mr. Hinson felt that it was an eye opener. The cry that homosexuality is a a White or European thing has been around forever (as have Black homosexuals). It makes me sick that our community is so intolerant, especially in light of all of the abuse that we have been subject to in this country and in others. It doesn't make sense that more Black people can't see that hatred, intolerance, and oppression is wrong regardless of who the target is. Why can't people just live by the motto of treat others like you would like to be treated.

Mel Smith
October 17 2006, 10:49PM

See, these people are attacking children. Oh, I WISH I was there at that meeting. I KNOW that Coretta Scott King, Bayard Rustin and others don't appreciate how those first class fools are behaving in 2006. Today we have to support our organizations. We can't just let people attack us in the most evil way.

Michael Hinson
October 17 2006, 11:41PM

The "Eye Opener" for me is related to my work in government including the addition of Gender Identity protections(3years ago)in our Fair Practices Ordinance, that offers protection against discrimination to a number of classes including sexual orientation and gender identity,it was overwhelmingly passed by our City Council and signed into Law by the Mayor. It wasn't met with any public hostility, nor was the opening of our LGBT youth housing project or the passing of the School District's own Policy 102 which deals with race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity in curriculum, professional development, safety and administrative policy.

I am in no way, a new-comer to these issues, I ceratinly know that folks have all kinds of opinions about LGBT issues and as I have said publicly, I have no problems with folks expressinng their views. This discussion is an important one for our community and long overdue.

My involvement is focused on insuring that no student is veiwed as second class.

JC
October 18 2006, 12:12AM

While I disagree w/ the way the protesters handeled themselves @ the event, I do have to agree w/ why they are upset.

If u look at the gay-rights movement, they don't really care about black gays. The whole thing was about white gays/lesbians fighting for their civil rights, which never included "Raekwon", the 20 yr. old gay kid from around the way. Just like The Bill of Rights, blacks were not considered w/ that either, so what makes us think that this 30yr. old move by predominantly white males is inclusive for all races.

Remember, whites have always had a sense of perceived "superiority" to the other races, and overall, that has not changed.

To end, if u are unclockable as a gay man, hangin' w/ your boys, walkin' down the street, and walking towards you are two white women. More times than not, they will 1. clutch their purse, 2. go into a passing store front, 3. or cross the street. In other words, she sees your blackness b4 your gayness. And that frightens most of them. BLACKNESS.

Mel Smith
October 18 2006, 12:23AM

Michael Hinson, thank you for everything that you do. We were attacked by police dogs and fire hoses less than 40 years ago. In 2006, we are attacking other people in our communities because of their sexual orientation?? The KKK and everyone else had their interpretation of the Bible too. This news has really made me upset. I know God cannot be happy with people using the Bible to justify treating people like crap. Some of us visit these churches,become brainwash by their minister interpretation of scripture, and then start making threats against people who challenge their beliefs. It is time for us to start defending ourselves and I'm not talking about ignorance. We have to look people in their eyes and let them know that they can't disrespect us. You got blood family members hating one another over who we are and it seems like too few of us give a damn about fighting our social oppression. Gay prejudice is the only prejudice in which blood family members will hate each other.

Cadence
October 18 2006, 1:50AM

JC you missed the point. As the report said, some of the kids at the meeting were Black, many of the organizers are Black, and many gay people are Black. The people who are upset are the same people who say that Black people aren't gay and that it is a White thing. These are the same people who will bash us because they don't think that we are Black enough, or they say that we are brainwashed. This has nothing to do with what national gay organizations are doing, and everything to do with showing people that they need to be tolerant and respect others.

Loi Wade
October 18 2006, 4:52AM

This is a classic case of victim mentality. Blacks have been the victims of discrimination on so many fronts for so long,they need a way to lash out. I went on a radio show in chico, ca. years ago with a friend of mine to discuss the existence of black lesbians. It was , what I thought to be, a fun and lighthearted way to educate the public. In this very 'white' very narrow minded city, who do you think the backlash came from? BLACK FOLKS and ONLY black folks. One comment that stuck out the most in my mind came from a sistah who said "why don't they shut up?! no one wants to hear it. We have it hard enough. Now the brothers are really going to hate us!" Could it be that african americans beilieve in their long suffering minds that rights for us would somehow take away theirs? Or do they believe that if people spend time fighting for our rights, they wont have as much time feeling sorry for the descendants of slaves?

Simon G
October 18 2006, 6:05AM

im really quite disgusted. right now there are so many ashamed and oppressed black people who cannot accept their own sexuality - and this is one of the reasons why.

the longer people refuse to live in the real world and accept that gay people exist in every community, or every colour - then we're going to have problems.

its quite a shame because the only people these objectors are harming are their own flesh and blood.

slugger103
October 18 2006, 7:16AM

In order to stop the black homophobia today, we need to stop the hatred coming from closeted black gay ministries. We continue to protect these liars who are selfish and self promoting. We see them online, in chatrooms. in the clubs and we continue to say nothing. Just in the Baltimore, a radio listener doubted her support for a recently outted black minister who has been known as a leader in the anti-gay movement in baltimore. There are many black gay supporters who continue to protect these liars and crooks in the black ministies. If they want to focus on an indiviual's sex life then let explore their own sex lives. Also the black community must be forced to accept the reality that there are gays among us (ex - politician, rap stars, professional athletes, actors, singers, performers, etc.) I challenge all black media in all forms to stop protecting these hypocrites. I am a true believe in privacy but if you use speech to promote a gay violence agrenda then you don't deserve protection of privacy.

J. Mathis
October 18 2006, 8:55AM

I agree with Devin Davenport.....it's a class issue. The less educated and the lower classes (not all) but most of the time are sometimes the most mis-informed about human sexuality and therefore have less tolerance of other people's differences. I've always know this. That's why as a SGL Black male I continued my education past high school and undergraduate school to be in more open circles.....open thinkers. Now, this is not always the case but you have more open-minded people in better educated circles. The Black church is the casue of alot of the hate in our community. It's so mis-informed for the most part. There are some open United Churches of Christ and a few others, but for the most part, they are saying the same thing....SGL people are some how wrong and need to be either healed, delivered or put out of the church totally. SICK...SICK...SICK. Especially when the church and Gospel Music World is full of mostly SBL people. We lie to yourselves.

The Captain
October 18 2006, 9:38AM

I agree we should practice diversity and tolerance, yet again I can only come out with one thought over this issue. It seems that this initiative is taking away power from parents and investing that power with the school board and children to govern themselves, which is not the best solution.

Parents and Guardians should be the leading responsible party to govern and monitor the educational structure for their children within their school districts; and these parents and guardians are paying their tax dollars to fund these districts. Therefore, it would be in the school districts’ interest to adhere to the voice of the surrounding community and teach according to the morals, ethics and values the families practice at home.

In my humble opinion, it seems the school district is acting far beyond their designated authority and touching issues they are not prepared to handle.

Derrick from Philly
October 18 2006, 10:21AM

I believe property taxes are used to pay for the expenses of the school districts here in Pennsylvania. Many gay/Lesbian/sgl/transgendered people own property and pay taxes to support public education. Ignorant bigots aren't going to dictate who's to be left out of the districts calendar of events. If these bigots can have Gay&Lesbian History Month removed then white racists throughout this country have a right to try and remove Black History Month from the calendars of whatever school districts observe it. I don't know if I can get to the school board building today at noon(I'm not even sure where it is anymore), but I'm going to contact some gay co-workers who may be going.

Last night, PBS showed the last episode of Eyes On The Prize. If these Philadelphia geechas don't look like a black version of Bull Connor and all those KKK Mississippi crackas in 1964.

Dyson
October 18 2006, 11:04AM

Ufortunately, this backlash that we are witnessing is a direct result of the whole debate on gay marraige. People feel that their "religion" is under attack. Now anything that is distinctly gay will fall under attack from all directions. We all know that "religion" is something that is sacrosanct in the African-American communities. If we could turn back the hands of time, we would push for "civil unions" as opposed to "marraige." But, at this point..it's too late and justified "activism" seems to have gone too far. Religion = holy grail "marraige" = religion Gay = against gods law. Too much, too soon.

Stuffed Animal
October 18 2006, 12:46PM

It all goes back to the church, to the perversion of Jesus Christ's message of love, to the acceptance of heterosexual supremacy as a religious tenet and to the practice of worshipping Bible scripture instead of God. There is going to be an inevitable confrontation between Gay people of all colors and the Christian church. I can see it coming, and it's not going to be pretty. However, the sooner it comes, the better. A disease will only spread if it's not treated, and heterosexism is a disease if ever there was one.

Michael Hinson
October 18 2006, 6:33PM

We all need to "Call the Question" on some of those LGBT groups that decided they would not, could not or simply don't see this as their issue. Much of what said about the racism and classicism in the overall LGBT community while misguided in its use during these meetings, does deserve some attention from us as a community. When I reflect on who has been there over the past month with us, it hasn't been the groups who have held out the gay marriage issue or the powerful gay voting bloc,that in some ways propelled some of these hate and bigotry filled comments.

Some folks may disagree, but when folks come to us three or four times a week asking for dollars to support this candidate or to stand behind a particular issue and those very same folks have not spoken one complete sentence on this issue that affects mostly African American LGBT students, we have to question their priorities.

We must raise these questions while addressing the black communities homophobia. They go together.

Mel Smith
October 18 2006, 10:51PM

Michael, I agree with you. That is why I believe we have to support our own organizations. People respect when we speak but they will respect us more by how large and influential our organizations are. Color prejudice and racism is alive.

Morris Goode
October 19 2006, 4:37PM

For those who believe this is a class issue, I am wondering where in the reports on this incident was the social class of those protesting G&L History month mentioned? Or are people just assuming (problematically so, I'd add) that because these folks acted so ignorantly that they must be poor or working class?

For my part, I think gay intolerance is pretty well distributed across class lines in the black community. In fact, I often suspect upper and middle income black folks to be *more* intolerant, because they are constantly concerned with "positive" black images/representation. This was certainly the case at the HBCU I attended, and, I'd argue, at most HBCUs in general. So this is not just a problem for the under-educated or economically-challenged.

loi wade
October 20 2006, 8:47AM

Morris I sooo agree with you! I was raised by the black bourgeois and I am here to testify! Middle class and wealthy blacks are by far the most intolerant group I have ever encountered. When I came out ,my mothers oldest sister (and self appointed family head mind you) went running to the rest of the family to talk about what a disgrace I was. And when her own daughter came out, she rushed her off to therapy. And then her daughter married one of the nelliest sissies you have EVER seen (lol)! It took me a long time to finally say f--- them , but I still haven't fully recovered from their intolerance , hate and downright bigotry. So whoever thinks this is a lower class issue are sadly misinformed.

Micahel Hinson
October 20 2006, 11:21AM

You guys are absolutely correct. The folks making the most "noise" at the public hearings were well educated folks. A couple PhD's, a Radio Show Host, a couple of authors, some grandparents and one actual parent.

Just goes to show that the education alone won't erase the hate, intolerance and discrimination.

Barton
October 20 2006, 2:38PM

As a Philadelphian, I was very disturbed seeing the protestors on the front page of the Tribune, our Black newspaper. However, there seems to be less attention paid (especially by the better educated & clergy) to the continued violence in the city. Michael, what's the current status of things?

markus kimathi lumumba
October 21 2006, 1:15PM

Too may of our people have argued that homosexuality has no origins in traditional Afrikan society, yet say nothing about white Jesus, which also has no roots in traditional Afrikan society, and which has, more than homosexuality can ever do,caused more insanity (turn the other cheek when faced with the white man, but punch the bejeezus out of another sister/brother)than we realize. Brothers, for example, who shoot at one another, are not reacting from the presence of homosexuality in the hood, but the presence of the white man's god coloring their frame of reference: you can't possibly love the god of your enemy and love yourself (and those who look like you) at the same time. One has to go. And in all cases, it is another brother/sister. Never have i met a CHRISTIANIZED sister/brother who loved themself in CRITICAL TERMS, only superficial terms...

Bobby
October 24 2006, 9:07AM

I have one question: Why is any of this surprising?

Chris Evans
October 26 2006, 1:08AM

I'm really confused...I can see why they would object to the whole "gay agenda" on the normal basis...

But I don't understand how in any way the gay history thing is "anti-black".

I could maybe understand if it was a black GAY group trying to say the gay rights movement tends to leave out the black gay community or something like that..

But in this situation I really don't get what their point is exactly.