That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. There's no psychological reason, he's just an arrogant homophobic asshole. He should be fired, then he'll have plenty of time to think about why he would say such nasty things. What a dick.

He's checked into rehab cuz he called someone a fag!? That's a little overboard and it doesn't do anything towards correcting the error he made. Washington was simply acting on a lifetime of conditioning by the straight world that teaches us gay is bad. Just a few years ago this would not have been a story. You can't expect stupid straight people to stop their bad habits just because it's no longer politically correct. Fuck rehab. He needs to give TR Knight a ~sincere~ apology and really learn something from his mistake. Otherwise fire his ass and move on. (He's my least favorite character on the show anyway.)

This is just an attempt on his and his PR people's part to make Mr. Washington out to be the victim in this. Watch as more anti-gay assholes come out to defend him, like that douchebag Glen Beck.

Let me remind everyone of the petition to get this creep fired. I didn't sign it before, but I have now:

http://www.petitiononline.com/at343sh7/petition.html

I would think that blacks, in general, should have the utmost compassion for the plight of gays and lesbians in society today, as they have experienced the identical problems with civil rights. Everyone--EVERYONE on the planet deserves to be treated exactly the same, with the same rights, privileges, and securities that are available to its citizens. Isn't that the premise that most Democracies are based on?

Joanne,
I see the point that you are trying to make but the way that you’ve phrased it gives me pause.

1. I would like to point out that your use of “blacks” offends me. I cannot put my fingers on why, exactly. But it sounds like an assault while at the same time it sounds incredibly dismissive. If you’re going to lump us all into a category, it would be nice if you would at least recognize us as people.
2. Mr. Washington is not (nor am I) the spokesperson for the entire race. It is irresponsible for you to present him as such.
3. As a lesbian I can safely say that the problems of the queer community are not identical to the problems of the African American community and Civil Rights. This is true on a variety of levels. One of them being that when most gay people walk down the street they are not seen as gay first. When Mr. Washington walks down the street (when I walk down the street) he is seen first as black. And with that assignation he is married with a host of expectations based solely upon the colour of his skin.
a. I would also like to counter the argument that if the roles had been reversed, and Mr. Washington had been called a N… then the public would be more enraged. This is not true. The public would know that they ought to be more ashamed. So they would act accordingly. Secondly, the word N… has a far more painful history in America than the word Fa… To equate the two words, indeed, to equate the two struggles ignores the scars of slavery, Jim Crow laws and systematic disenfranchisement and demeans the African American community and experience.

Mr. Washington’s actions are … terribly disappointing. I do not mean to belittle the outrage and that his words have inspired. Hell, I think that the whole rehab thing is ridiculous as well.

I will say this- at least he didn't just blame it on booze. *cough* Mel Gibson *cough*

Ok.. this is just stupid as fuck... the guy calls a guy a fag.. granted, it's not cool.. but phullezzz.. REHAB!!! Fucking sakes... this is so stupid... what's even worse is on the last few shows, they have been working very close together.. so either 1 or both are damn good actors... to be that close to one another.. the media has taken this WAY out of control.. if a dude doesn't like a dude.. and he calls him a fag.. he calls him a fag.. was it in poor taste? YES but does he have to seek rehab.. hell NO

Good. Then they should fire his ass when he gets out!

I agree with A. Dionne. I have yet to hear homophobia and racism conflated by a queer person of color, but I hear them compared frequently by white queer people as a way of legitimizing their struggle. I'm a white queer person myself, I've experienced homophobia, and I do *not* think that homophobia and racism are "identical" struggles.

A. Dionne outlined why far more eloquently than I could.

Okay, so racism and homophobia are not IDENTICAL, but they certainly spring from a very SIMILAR source: Fear and hatred of the "other."

And for far too many of our fellow humans, anything other than what they see in the mirror is "other."

Until being "other" is not an issue--and may we all live long enough to see that great, golden day--we're all going to have to endure struggles in our lives, whether they spring from our ethnicity or our sexuality. Or, goddess help us, both.

Let's not tussle amongst ourselves over who among us has it harder. It's draining and diverting us from our primary purpose: Equality as human beings.

A. Dionne and Jo, using tired old arguments against comparing racism to anti-GLBT prejudice is patently absurd. The fact of the matter is, there is just as much--if not more--anti-gay bigotry, than there is racism.

Most racists are closeted and only speak in like minded company. Yet, anti-gay bigots are free to spout their tripe anywhere they might. As Truman Capote said, "A faggot is a homosexual gentleman who has just left the room."

I have never heard the word nigger used in my entire life, outside of rap music and Blackploitation films anyway. Yet even today, I'm bombarded daily with the various anti-gay slurs we've all come to loathe.

When was the last time you read, or heard about a hate crime against a person of colour? Compare that to the last time you read about, or heard about a hate crime agaisnt a GLBT person.

People of colour have suffered a lot, but so have GLBT's. And not just recently, either. We've suffered through the centuries, just as have visible minorities. Gay people might not be identified while walking down the streets, but when we are visible, we are treated just as badly and held to the same ridiculously high standards as any visible minority has been.

In California, illegal immigrants are being granted educations and health insurance, while law abiding, tax paying citizens are denied the right to marry. The people whose rights were taken away by illegal voters, now have to watch their tax dollars support those same illegal voters.

To claim, as A. Dionne does, that nigger is more painful to hear than faggot, is absurd considering how often one word is used compared to the other. Hateful words scar and none are more--or less--painful to hear than any other.

And laslty, last time I checked, it's legal for minorities to have mixed-marriages. GLBT's can't even get those "civil unions" Hillary Clinton is always bragging about in most states. There are many more protections for visible minorities than there are for GLBT's.

GLBT's make up about 5% of the population and visible minorities make up about 31% of the population. Yet we're suppose to believe that they are still the REAL minority in America.

The fact of the matter is, many GLBT's of all races worked tirelessly--behind the scenes--to move the CR movement forward, only to be forgotten, have their efforts trivalised, or dismissed outright. Somewhere along the line, someone decided to make one group more downtrodden than the other. It hasn't worked out very well

as a gay person of color, I have been called chink or a gook and even the N-word (and I'm not even black), more times than I have ever been called a fag or a queer. In fact, growing up in a working class lumber town, I have never been harassed based on my sexuality, just on my race (more times than I can count). Hate crimes based on race are in the newspapers ALL the time, especially vandalism; if you don't know that, you are not paying attention, or you are gay, white and clueless (just read Towelroad reader comments for your daily dose of gay white male racism and bile; the N-word makes an appearance there on a daily basis). When you compare oppression experienced by GLBTs versus racism, you are speaking exclusively of homophobia against white middle class GLBTs. You forget that GLBTs of color experience both racism AND homophobia, and for me, it is not something I pick and choose, or something i can parse out which is worse. Stop throwing gay and lesbians of color under the bus just so you can have your fucked up wedding cake and eat it too. The GLBT community will never reach anywhere near equality (like the white feminists in the 70's who worked in vain to establaish in ERA) until you learn that it is just not about white feminism or liberation for white GLBTs. And your comments about immigrants and how whites are "no longer the majority make" you come off as complete a Log Cabin asshole, asshole.

>I have never been harassed based on my sexuality, just on my race

And how often were you supported because of your sexuality, compared to your race? Were you--or are you--out as gay? (Since you're posting under an alias, I'll presume you're not.) Perhaps that's why you were never harrassed based on your sexuality. Now, how often have heard anti-gay slurs, whether or not they were directed at you? I find it hard to believe you have never encountered anti-gay language.

>Hate crimes based on race are in the newspapers ALL the time, especially vandalism

Sorry sunshine, but I haven't read, or heard about a race-based hate crime in over ten years.

Here is a link:

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2005/victims.htm

You'll notice that crimes can be commited against, "...individual, a business, an institution, or society as a whole."

A cemetry getting vandalized is a lot different that a drag queen getting beaten up by four men in New York.

Now, although race based hate crimes outnumber sexuality based hate crimes, you have to take into account that visible minorities make up 31% of the US population, while GLBT's make up about 5% of the population.

And lastly, since many law enforecement people consider race-on-race violence a hate crime, anytime a crip kills a blood, that is considered a hate crime.

>or you are gay, white and clueless

I guess bigotry cuts both ways. Aren't you gay, or is that just bullshit to back up your stale arguments? Or do you just have issues with caucasion homosexuals?

>(just read Towelroad reader comments for your daily dose of gay white male racism and bile; the N-word makes an appearance there on a daily basis)

And just listen to any rap music to get a daily dose of straight black male anti-gay bigotry.

>When you compare oppression experienced by GLBTs versus racism, you are speaking exclusively of homophobia against white middle class GLBTs.

And that's not a bad thing? Yours is an absurd argument. If that's the place you want to go sunshine, let's face the fact that a great deal of that homophobia comes from minorities and is not only directed at white gays.

>You forget that GLBTs of color experience both racism AND homophobia, and for me, it is not something I pick and choose, or something i can parse out which is worse.

Yes, and lesbians experience homophobia and misogyny. And the hearing impared experience homphobia and anti-disability prejudice. And overweight people experience homophobia and fatphobia.

>Stop throwing gay and lesbians of color under the bus just so you can have your fucked up wedding cake and eat it too.

Where did I do that in my commnets, moron? And stop acting like your visible minority pain is more intense than your sexual minority pain. Let's face it, minorities are the blockade against same-sex marriage. Essentially what you're saying is, minorities got their's, so fuck everybody else. Stop using the race card to guilt white liberals into accepting your race's anti-gay bigotry. You haven't had to sit at the back of the bus, pay a head tax, or Anglosize your last name in decades.

>The GLBT community will never reach anywhere near equality (like the white feminists in the 70's who worked in vain to establaish in ERA) until you learn that it is just not about white feminism or liberation for white GLBTs.

First off, misogyny is an ugly thing. Secondly, visible minorities need to stop acting like every white person has to bow and scrape before them because of past crimes against your various races. GLBT's had nothing to do with the crap your people put up with, so stop telling us that unless we, as one poster on another Washington post remarked, kiss your minority asses.

>And your comments about immigrants and how whites are "no longer the majority make" you come off as complete a Log Cabin asshole, asshole.

Where did I write that, asshole? My comment was that visible minorities make up a massive number of the US population, while GLBT's make up a much smaller number; yet visible minorities insist they are the REAL minority. They are not; we are--that is you and I, cupcake. Unless you're lying about being gay.

And since I'm a Canadian and a dreaded white liberal, I couldn't possibly be a LCR.

Strange that when queers gather to discuss and debate, too many have a tendancy to fall back into their majority group status and defend that group, while decrying the other group they are also a part of. If GLBT's can't debate these subjects like adults, then there is no hope for politcal discourse and the advancment of equal rights in the US.

I don't hate you, GGB. Infact, I support you especially because you identify as gay. But don't expect me to bite my tongue when it comes to this subject. Too many people have been given a pass on their hate by using their race/religion/upbringing as an excuse. It must stop

Paul,
I'm sorry that you feel that you were asked to bite your tongue.

What you were really asked to do was think outside of your tiny little box.

It is a pity that the "support" you claim to give to GGB comes with such conditions and such myopia.

I’m sorry that you so completely misunderstood the point that was trying to be made and I’m sorry that you’ve had to reply with such vitriol. I’m sorry that you had to lower yourself to such base standards.

Good luck. God Bless. And keep your support far from me.

Sincerely,
A. Dionne

Ahem. This is rather revealing, Paul Raboso:
>If that's the place you want to go sunshine, let's face the fact that a great deal of that homophobia comes from minorities and is not only directed at white gays.>

What I'm getting from you is that you're pissed off at people of color because you perceive them to be more homophobic than white people.

Well. That certainly hasn't been my experience. It's a misconception that I've heard before, but I've never seen any evidence for it.

go get bent is right, you're creating a false distinction between GLBTs and "minorities," as you call them, as though they are two totally different groups, which comPLETELY discounts the existence of GLBT people of color.

In fact, as I read through your response again, all I see is anger at people of color, specifically at black people. This statement here? >Let's face it, minorities are the blockade against same-sex marriage.>

I don't see how that can possibly be true, given the number of people of color in federal government and the number of white folks. White folks are the MAJORITY in the Senate, and most likely a majority in the House. So how is it "minorities" who are holding back gay marriage?

But you know, I don't think it matters what the facts are. I think what matters to you is finding a target for your bile and hatred. Like many white people, you've decided to let it land on people of color.

Ann Podolske, I don't think this is about "tussl[ing] amongst ourselves over who among us has it harder." Neither A. Dionne nor go get bent nor I suggested that any one form of discrimination should be given preference over another. We merely disagreed with Joanne Robrahn's assertion that racism and homophobia were identical and suggested that conflating the two was counterproductive.

While, yes, those two forms of discrimination may spring from fear of the other, they function very differently. A. Dionne mentioned one way in which that difference functions: when she walks down the street, the first thing people see about her is her color. She doesn't have the choice to come out about her ethnic identity, but she does have a choice to come out about her sexual identity. She can't pass as a white woman but she can pass as straight.

That's certainly not true for all GLB people, and it's often not true for T people.

But what bothers me the most is this of us/them phenomenon that occurs when white GLBT people conflate their struggles with the struggles of people of color, because, as I've stated, it's a false paradigm that renders GLBT people of color invisible. And I find that disturbing.

>What you were really asked to do was think outside of your tiny little box.

Nope. What I'm being asked to do is think like and agree with those who dislike my opinions.

>It is a pity that the "support" you claim to give to GGB comes with such conditions and such myopia.

Groupthink doesn't help anyone, or advcane any of our goals.

>I'm sorry that you so completely misunderstood the point that was trying to be made

I'm sorry, but I didn't see any point except the vainglorious belief that one minority is somehow superior to another and therefore deserving of having their pain put on a pedestal and having that pain NEVER compared to that of another suffering minority. Was there a specific point to be missed in the first place?

>and I'm sorry that you've had to reply with such vitriol.

How so? I understand some are too use to being mollycoddled and become defensive--or offensive--at the slightest whiff of dissent from their worldview. But we all need to be a bit more thickskinned, especially when discussing anti-gay hate, especially if we're all apparently GLBT's.

>I'm sorry that you had to lower yourself to such base standards.

I'm sorry you have such a problem with differing views. Who do you support in this entire debacle; TR Knight, or Mr. Washington?

>And keep your support far from me.

Easy to do, since you haven't yet won it.

Paul, there’s no point for me to write a lengthy response, because it appears you are convinced that people of color (and undocumented immigrants!) have all the power/resources/privilege in the U.S., and are oppressing gay men, and that homophobia comes mostly from communities of color (we are so powerful, that we get white senators, judges, legislators, and government officials to do our bidding and pass all the anti-gay legislation and court decisions). I am so sorry that we are wrecking and crashing your precious wedding day; Instead of a lengthy response, I would rather spend my time reading about the viewpoints and perspectives of other GLBTs of color on Keith Boykin’s website (of course, we don’t always agree, but at least I’m not wasting my time trying to justify my existence to gay middle class white males who are only fixated on addressing white middle class homophobia). If you think I am falling back on my “visible majority” and that I am turning my back on the GLBT community and jumping off the gay cruise ship, and that I am less “authentic” for it (what you call the “real” minority) , then you just don’t get how the intersections and systems of oppression work. And if you don’t understand that, I don’t know how you expect to secure equal rights for anyone, let alone GLBTs. You’re toxic dude, get your head checked.

>Ahem. This is rather revealing, Paul Raboso

And purposely mispelling my name is quite revealing of the level of juvenility that springs forth from some posters.

>What I'm getting from you is that you're pissed off at people of color because you perceive them to be more homophobic than white people.

Nope, sunshine. Anti-gay people of colour, (ALL people of colour--I understand what you're trying to infer here and I won't bite), can be more homophobic than the rest of the population. Should I post the stats showing this?

As far as being pissed off at anyone, I'm pissed of at all homophobes, no matter race, religion, or creed.

>Well. That certainly hasn't been my experience. It's a misconception that I've heard before, but I've never seen any evidence for it.

And your experience, or background is? Just search through Queerty and you'll notice a recurring theme in many of the cases of GLBT-bashings.

>you're creating a false distinction between GLBTs and "minorities,"

Visible minorities, as opposed to invisible minorities, cupcake. There are sexual minorities and racial, religious and class minorities.

>as you call them,

As many call themselves.

>as though they are two totally different groups, which comPLETELY discounts the existence of GLBT people of color.

When did I refute the existance of GLBT's of colour? This all started because yourself and A. Dionne were pissed at Joanne Robrahn for DARING to compare the CR movement to the struggle for GLBT equal rights. YOU and she--Ahem--segregated those two groups. You and she decided along with GGB, that there are "middle class" white gays, POC gays and then all the other visible minorities. I'm simply following your argument and debating it.

We are discussing anti-GLBT minorities. It was GGB, who separated the two groups into white gays and--apparently judging from his writings, the better--minority gays.

>In fact, as I read through your response again, all I see is anger at people of color, specifically at black people.

That's all you want to see, sunshine. This post on Queerty was about Mr. Washington, an African American, calling TR Knight, a homosexual, an anti-gay slur. Since when did it become illegal to mention a person's race?

That said, what I'm seeing is a lot of anger at whites, especially white GLBT's, because apparently we do not pay visible minorities the tribute they want.

So I'll ask you as well, whom do you support in all this; Mr. Washington, or TR Knight?

>I don't see how that can possibly be true, given the number of people of color in federal government and the number of white folks.

Minority voters, sweetheart. I think you understood that and are just playing dumb, to add another rung to your argument, even a tenuous one at best.

>So how is it "minorities" who are holding back gay marriage?

Again, by voting against it, preaching against it, rapping against it and threatening to topple various governemnt officials who might support it. Do a google search on Je$$e Jackson and compare his beliefs about ssm to that of Al Sharpton's. The difference in opinion and enlightenment is staggering.

>I don't think it matters what the facts are.

To you, perhaps.

>I think what matters to you is finding a target for your bile and hatred.

As you've found one for yours, in the form of me.

>Like many white people, you've decided to let it land on people of color.

And yet, you accuse me of bigotry and racism. Clearly you have issues with white people, yet you expect a pass on your bigotry. Why

>We merely disagreed with Joanne Robrahn's assertion that racism and homophobia were identical and suggested that conflating the two
was counterproductive.

And went on to insist that everyone who disagrees with you, or holds the belief that the CR movement and equal rights for GLBT's are the same must be racists.

>they function very differently.

Hardly. It's all based on removing, limiting and outlawing rights for a certain, particular group, who share a common trait. For AA's, it was skin colour and for GLBT's, it's sexuality.

>She can't pass as a white woman but she can pass as straight.

And why should she have to? Don't you see the falacy in your own argument? She must hide her sexuality, yet her race is evident, causing her to experience bigotry, but also causing those who oppose bigotry to fight for her equal rights.

The fact of the matter is, racial bigots are closeted and anti-GLBT people are open and proud. I've haven't seen any televangelists calling the jailing of minorities, but I've seen many asking for that punishment for GLBT's.

>That's certainly not true for all GLB people, and it's often not true for T people.

Total crap. You're implying that visible minorites have it harder than GLBT's and unless you can substantiate your arguments, it is nothing but your bigoted opinion.

>But what bothers me the most is this of us/them phenomenon that occurs when white GLBT people

You just made it us vs. them! Again, your bigotry rears it's ugly head.

What makes you believe only white poeple compare GLBT equal rights to the CR movenmet? What makes you beleive that minority GLBT's are worse off than white GLBT's?

>conflate their struggles with the struggles of people of color, because, as I've stated, it's a false paradigm that renders GLBT people of color invisible. And I find that disturbing.

You have chosen to render GLBT POC's invisble in order to substantiate your arguments. This isn't about equal rights for WHITES ONLY. Or are you implying that gay minorites don't want equal rights too

>Paul, there's no point for me to write a lengthy response

But you will, right?

>because it appears you are convinced that people of color (and
undocumented immigrants!) have all the power/resources/privilege in the U.S., and are oppressing gay men

And you appear to beleive that white middle class gays are evil, out to marginalize your special kind of pain. And apparently, if we don't do as you say, you will never grant us the equal rights that will benefit us all, no matter our race.

>homophobia comes mostly from communities of color

Where ever there is a high level of religious belief, you will find a high level of homophobia.

>we are so powerful, that we get white senators, judges, legislators, and government officials to do our bidding and pass all the anti-gay legislation and court decisions

Do you deny that as a block of voters, visible anti-gay minorities have the power to remove GLBT rights? Do you really believe that they cannot shape anti-gay legislation?

>I am so sorry that we are wrecking and crashing your precious wedding day; Instead of a lengthy response

The more you write, the more I doubt your assertion that you're gay. And the fact that you're a fan of Keith Boykin expalins a great deal. I find it sad that you're not intersted in finding a special someone and settling down in marriage. Marriage isn't just a white construct, just as it's not a straight construct.

>but at least I'm not wasting my time trying to justify my existence to gay middle class white males who are only fixated on addressing
white middle class homophobia

So what you're saying is that GLBT's who are minorities do not experience homophobia? So why does the DL phenominon exist? Perhaps you should discuss that with Mr. Boykin. If minorities are so damned accepting of divergent sexualities, why are black men running around having illicit sex while cheating on their women, rather than acknowledging their obvious bisexuality and homosxuality?

>If you think I am falling back on my "visible majority"

Nope. But I think you're trying to imply that race based hate is somehow more terrible than sexuality based hate.

I think it's safe to say that you've known you were a racial minority, a lot longer than you've known you're a sexual minority and you're falling into your comfort zone when discussing intolerance. Without knowing you better I can't discuss your personality, but clearly you have issues with your sexuality, whatever it may be.

>I am turning my back on the GLBT

Nope. But you're segregating the GLBT community into white and black in order to justify your support of anti-gay minorities and cement your anger at white GLBT's.

>and that I am less authentic for it (what you call the real minority)

Again, you're putting words in my mouth. I stated that a large number of the population believes that it is a minority and more so than a real minority of the population, as evidenced by your replies.

>when you just don't get how the intersections and systems of oppression work

What I get is that everybody thinks they are better than the next person and GLBT's are at the bottom of that hierarchy. Sammy Davis once wrote, "I may be black, but atleast I'm not a fag."

> I don;t know how you expect to secure equal rights for anyone, let alone GLBTs.

And I don't know why you expect equal rights to magically appear, if you don't help. Unless you don't want equal rights for GLBT's.

>You're toxic dude, get your head checked.

You're opinion notwithstanding.

I'm out, Paul. You have consistently responded to people who have merely expressed their opinions with nastiness and condescencion. It's not worth my time or my energy to fight with you.

> the word N… has a far more painful history in America than the word Fa…

Tell that to Mathew Sheppard, or rather his mother.