Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder
Black LGBTs ‘think it doesn’t feel like a real church, job, organization unless we are persecuted’
SOUNDBITES — “DADT sounds like something I’ve heard before. They tell [LGBTs], ‘Stay in the music department, don’t disclose who you are, don’t be seen with the same person too many times. Just shut up and show up.’ That’s why we stay in churches that beat our behind every weekend. We think it doesn’t feel like a real church, job, organization unless we are persecuted.” —Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, the lesbian presiding bishop of Refuge Ministries/The Fellowship, addressing Saturday’s State of Black Gay America Summit as the keynote speaker [SOVO]
I was at the Summit and this was not the most powerful thing she said. When I started seeing this quote lifted as the “highlight” I worried that a fuller picture of the day’s activities would get lost in the “church issue.”
In fact, there were several people who were annoyed with the assumption that most black LGBTs, especially ones who would go to a State of Black Gay America Summit, would attend homophobic churches. She would probably make more of an impact giving that part of the speech in the club parking lot on Saturday night while the church queens are going home.
@Anthony in Nashville:
Anthony, I wasn’t touching this quote for sheeeit!
But what was the powerful thing that she did say?
@Chitown Kev:
I can’t give direct quotes, but I found her statements on the importance of black LGBTs having a greater sense of self-respect and self worth, instead of silently accepting being viewed as second class citizens, as powerful. Obama was listed as an example of someone who didn’t internalize the general message that many black people are given as far as their limitations. [You know I'm not the strongest Obama defender, but he was a good illustration for this instance.]
She also spoke on how critics talk about how “it’s not time” to agitate for equality. She said something to the effect that time is neutral, but the right wing seems to be better at making it work for them.
There were also two panels after her speech that were pretty interesting as well.
That is so true in a lot of ways…The truth continues to hurt.
anthony, sounds like a facinating panal!
She should have said “grow up” and “be honest.” Maybe that could have been helpful.
Religion supported slavery and racism. It continues to define LGBT people as wrong, sinful and deviant. Religion is the problem.
Right, it’s all religion’s fault. Gays are blameless bunnies who totally got an unfair reputation.