DISQUS

AdamBlast · 5 months ago

Those who think being gay is a sin are always slow to stop persecuting us socially and politically. They'll do anything not to de-stigmatize us.

I think it *is* religious bias, among other things, strongly affecting the black community. It's certainly the fig-leaf they trot out often enough, if only because the black community's most narrow sense of propriety comes from the gospel world. That they wield it in the form of a self-serving double standard is repellant, but it doesn't obviate it as a cause, only as a just cause. Nor is it particularly unique. I found the "charismatic christian" movement from the 70's every bit as demeaning and destructive as today's evangelical or gospel communities.

a. mcewen · 5 months ago

I'm going to have to disagree with all of you. By the way, nothing I said is excusing the black community for homophobia.

Religious bigotry can be perceived "a problem" but what's fueling it? there are too many "sins" in the black community that don't get as much attention in the pulpit such as sex before marriage and adultery. There is something fueling this over exuberance to condemn homosexuality while turning a blind eye to other things.

Not trying to dissuade anyone's opinion, but some of you speak about what you see and hear regarding preachers, but I speak about what I have lived in the black community.

Jeffreyxyz · 5 months ago

I think you make a lot of sense. It always bothered me that the large number of blacks who voted 'yes' on Prop 8, were supposed to be forgiven or simply explained because of the heavy influence of the church in the black community. I expected that people who had experienced discrimination themselves, who fought not so long ago to be able to marry the person they loved, and who know what it feels like to be looked down upon, would have empathy for gays and lesbians and would be on our side in our struggle for equal rights. ( I am pretty sure I have a greater empathy for anyone who is treated badly by the majority because of my experiences as a gay man. I would never vote to take rights away from a minority group-- like so many blacks did to me-- because of my own life experiences and understanding of the plight of the downtrodden.) So why is it that the knowledge from "teaching of the churches" trumps the knowledge that every black American has from first hand experience as well as their own history of struggles for civil rights? It is a choice to believe the lies from the pulpit rather than the truth of one's own existence. Why do so many blacks make that choice? Your ideas at least try to get at the answer to that question. Thanks!

boloboffin · 5 months ago

I don't think so. I'd buy the simple "closeted preachers" idea before any threat to gender roles.

Mateo1970 · 5 months ago

This gender role theory doesn't ring true. I'll never forget during Prop 8 when African-Americans preachers were railing against the glbt community and then the Black community voted by a huge majority to discriminate against us. Now the same thing is happening in DC, where African-American church groups are crusading to stop "teh evil gays" and they are shrieking with murderous threats and dehumanizing epithets. There is something deeply wrong going on and we need to stop making excuses for it.

DavidinPS · 5 months ago

Exactly. No more excuses for religion based bigotry. By this guys reasoning, the white anti-gay population is not driven by religion either but rather because we threaten traditional roles. Well, maybe that's in the mix to a small degree, but the major thrust of their thinking is driven by religion. When I see preachers of any color screaming fire and damnation about queers while beating on their bibles, I don't think "Gee, this isn't really about religion, its about gays challenging traditional role models."

ShirleyGoodnessanMercy · 5 months ago

I believe that in America, homophobia has been more prevalent among the very poor. Not always, because God knows there are big exceptions, but generally gays have been able to be "out" in the upper class moreso than in the 'hood. This holds true for black and white communities. And few ministers at churches for the wealthy are spouting anti-gay rhetoric (Benedict XVI excepted); it is usually those sleasy ministers (black and white) who are less educated and who have those giant churches built on promising prosperity to the poor rather than teaching the love that Jesus taught. Of course, the Mormons are making a liar out of me, but generally the wealthy are more genteel about their hate.

offspring · 5 months ago

Also alot of people in the black community if they are honest, will say, that any attention to the victimization of gays takes away attention from the black groups who see and portray themselves as the main victims in the u.s. This allows alot of play in the legal fields and work as to claim racism for anything and everything, and if another group is gaining attention as more oppressed or abused it downplays their position on the totem pole of being about to pull reverse psychology of guilt.

giorgionyc · 5 months ago

Why can't it be both, i.e., both religious and gender ideologies? After all, they're intertwined. Religion isn't only about the relationship between human beings and god (or gods); it's also about how people are supposed to behave in their daily lives. In that regard, religious texts dictate proper roles and role behavior for men and women. Yes, people of all ethnic backgrounds decide which religious precepts to honor and which to ignore. But what influences those choices? The anti-homosexual taboo in Western culture is rooted in religion, especially the Old Testament -- the Christian scriptures have little to say about it. So it puzzles me why anti-gay christian preachers are always ranting about Leviticus. Are they using this text to sanction their existing prejudices?