“That’s the conundrum in the African-American community. They don’t want to talk about it, but they know you’re there.” —Human Rights Campaign’s associate director of diversity Donna Payne, who is black and gay and has worked with the National Black Justice Coalition, on the race issue in D.C.’s push to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriage [AP]
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‘That’s the conundrum in the African-American community’
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jason
The black community needs to realize that, as a community, it needs to support gay rights. Gays marched alongside blacks for much of the 1960’s. There are also many gay and bisexual blacks who are ostracized by their own people of color, an embarrassing state of affairs if ever there was one.
If black can’t recognize that prejudice in all its forms is wrong, then perhaps they need to have a good look in the mirror.
Oaklander
I agree Jason, on top of that AA families have gay kids of their own– and the suicide rate and seroconversion rate is very high for that demographic. It’s time for them to defend their children from their own ignorance.
Chitown Kev
These comments should be interesting.
strumpetwindsock
@Chitown Kev:
…and predictable.
Robert
“Them,” “their”? Nice. Black people don’t suffer from groupthink any more than white people. Just because we make up just 13% of the U.S. population doesn’t mean our views aren’t widely varied. Not all black people support gay rights, just as not non-black gay people are bigotry-free. Granted, it’s despicable when any oppressed person seeks to suppress the rights of another, but come on: If white people as a community supported gay rights we’d have them.
martymartymarty
>>>. but come on: If white people as a community supported gay rights we’d have them.<<<
Couldn’t agree more! There are no defaults for who wants rights for who, it’s pretty much a free-for-all and saying any one “community” supports or opposes any one thing or point of view is overreaching at best.
Chitown Kev
@Robert:
Heh-heh.
Chitown Kev
As someone who grew up in both a religious (aunt and uncle) and a secular enviroment (Mom and Stepdad, with one of my parents being pretty anti-religious) a working class and middle class enviroment, and who went to public schools and Catholic schools and a public magnet school (with middle and upper middle class African Americans), I have never been able to wrap my head around this concept of a “black community.” It makes no sense to me.
Queerky
African-American men gay, you say? Impossible! Why just look at who is on TV: Ru Paul, Bebe Bennet and Miss J from America’s Next Top Model. They prove beyond all doubt that all black men are bedroom lions with 12 inch dicks who will ravish your lily-white ass without mercy. Can i get a ‘a-men’ in here?
AlwaysGay
I’m glad people are acknowledging that anti-gay bigotry exists. People need to be reminded constantly anti-gay bigotry/ discrimination exists.
DanM
Wow Chitown Kev, I bet you have a very unique perspective on things such as this. I tend to agree with you about the whole “community” thing. You cannot lump a whole race together and call it a community and then expect no diversity within that community.
Cam
I live in DC, and of course am friends or co-workers with Many Many of the (Sarcasm intended) “AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY”.
What I notice is that, hell yes there is homophobia….however there is also a huge amount of acceptance. For every homophobic baptist preacher out there and his congregants, there is a group of my straigt, black, co-workers sitting around at lunch talking about how they discovered “Ru Puals Drag Race” on TV and they LOVE the show, but hated rebecca etc… For every Little Old Lady passing out literature saying I’m going to hell, there is another like my co-worker who took in a gay kid from her neighborhood after his parents threw him out.
Sure there is homophobia, but thats not all their is. I think if DC votes for Marriage equality it will go along way to healing some of the anger that came out of the CA. vote. Hopefully we can start worrying about our REAL problem… i.e. politicians that tell us what we want to hear to get elected, then ignore us when the votes are counted.
Oaklander
Oh, I apologize. You are right. I must be a crazy racist nut. There must be no difference acknowledged, despite what the statistics tell us. Stupid me. Here I was thinking that AA leaders might want to worry about how much more frequently AA gay youth attempt suicide and seroconvert than white kids. I wont let it happen again. Head in the sand, PC flag raised.
Chitown Kev
@Oaklander:
oaklander, please, you are as ignorant as African Americans who didn’t think that The Cosby Show was realistic because African American families don’t live like that. I know they do because I went to school with them, been in their homes and (when my Mom and Stepdad were together) lived like that myself.
And does Oprah Winfrey count as a black leader?
strumpetwindsock
Can we please start just ONE thread about homphobia in the WHITE community? Really, this is like a broken record.
I know all you snaggletoothed crackers (and latte-sucking zombies) are in denial, but I’m sure there are one or two of us who voted against Prop 8 or supported NOM.
Oaklander
@Chitown Kev:
Your right! I am an idiot. There is no issue here. AA gay kids have it great! I demur.
DaveO
While it would certainly be nice to gain broader acceptance in the AA community, the best strategy is to identify segments of the population that are partially on board but not entirely. Loudly denouncing generally pro-gay individuals who happen to differ on the issue of marriage is damaging to gay rights, as it is these individual who are the ones most likely to come around.
Chitown Kev
@Oaklander:
And here I was thinking that white non-gay leaders (like Kay Hagan) would condemn the despicable comments by Virgina Foxx during the hate crimes debate. Or how about white non-gay leaders speaking out about the problem of gay youth that commit suicide. Is that not a problem as well?
Now what IS racist is that you feel the need to apply a different standard to black communities when, in actuality, there is as much variation as there is in “white communities.”
Chitown Kev
@Oaklander:
do white gay kids have it great?
Chitown Kev
@strumpetwindsock:
but see, I don’t know what that is either.
TANK
That’s entertainment! Do you really think a serious conversation about homophobia in the AA community is going to occur here? Really? Nah. Between denying that it’s any more of a problem than in any other racial demographic in the u.s., and treating black people like a single individual…never gonna happen on a blog.
Chitown Kev
Sorry for 4 posts in a row but none of you even bothered to read the link.
Despite Barry and Jackson’s claims, there’s evidence the city isn’t as split on gay marriage as some suggest. Of the 12 council members who voted in favor of the gay-marriage bill, six are black.
“A group of Democrats in the primarily black ward that Barry represents voted 21 to 11 to support same-sex marriage legislation over the weekend. And Washington has a history of supporting gay rights; the city passed a law in 1992 recognizing domestic partnerships.
Local gay advocates have accused critics of framing the debate as one led by rich, white gay men forcing the issue on working class black residents.
“They’re trying to whip up hysteria and use race and class issues to divide the city,” said Michael Crawford, who is black and chairs the advocacy group D.C. for Marriage.”
TANK
@strumpetwindsock:
hey, strumpet…we get it, you’re white!
Chitown Kev
@TANK:
S’up Tank?
TANK
@Chitown Kev:
Meh, working. But we can watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7flZEDMT6I&feature=player_embedded
one of the people I hang out said watching this must be like looking into the future…what an total asshole…I don’t look anything like larry david, and I’m younger and gay, too.
strumpetwindsock
@Chitown Kev:
I know. My point exactly (and yours too, I expect).
TO put it another way… maybe we should start a thread about white people denying their own homophobia and bigotry by finding a scapegoat to project it onto.
@TANK:
Yup.
And you’re still a bonehead.
Chitown Kev
@TANK:
working and my computer is video challenged. I’ll have to see it when I get home.
schlukitz
Another race-baiting blog? *sigh*
blake
Oh goody, another example of “same sh@t different day” where we can all talk about homophobia in the “African-American/black community”!
Gee, when do we get to talk about homophobia in the “white American community”?
Oh, that’s right. We don’t. It wouldn’t give people the chance to condescend and generalize.
—–
blake
@Chitown Kev:
Shame on you for holding the “white community” to the same standards as the “black community”! That’s just not right.
🙁
Don’t you just want to puke some time when you read the same stupid comments over and over? These folks who are so quick condemn the “African/black-American” community about homophobia are blind to their bigotry. Their use of sweeping generalizations is astoundingly bad.
Dabq
@Chitown Kev: You really need to quit it with all the truth you are posting! You are well aware that even the best, most fair minded poster here who tries to relate to poc issues still has to overcome the stereotypes learned as kids, and, that’s the hardest thing of all, white gays have theirs and blacks have theirs about gays, is there such a thing as common ground? Maybe in the real world, online? Nope.
And, why is it that the other blacks on the council seem to be ignored for a former, loud, uncouth crack head?
Chitown Kev
@blake:
Yeah, I’d dare two guys of any race to walk holding hands in Bridgeport or even some of the Eastern European sections in Northwest Chicago. We won’t hear about these sweeping generalizations ever again.
Chitown Kev
@Dabq:
Former crackhead?
I don’t know about that…acts like a practicing crackhead to me with all that crackhead drama.
asa1973
Funny how when Rush Limbaugh, Mike Savage, Rick Warren, Rick Santorum, Bill O’Reilly, Pat Buchanan or the scores and scores of other white homophobes say something homophobic, no one ever talks about the rampant homophobia that exists in the “white community.”
We cannot deny that homophobia exists in some african american communities – especially where traditional and organized religion are involved. But rampant homophobia also exists in other ethnic communities – especially where traditional and organized religion are involved. Why does no one ever make this connection? Look at the number of gay kids who commit suicide and I would almost certainly bet (though I haven’t checked) that, regardless of race and ethnicity, these kids were raised in strict religious settings.
Oh…BTW…I’m black and gay and married to a white guy. We were both raised in very religious communities. We think we need to open the channels of discourse with all religious communities that struggle with homo-acceptance and leave Race out of it…
Dabq
@Chitown Kev: Good one, Barry should perhaps be tested since he looks like he could be under the influence of something, and, its not the love of God!
I think that a couple of issues are in place to keep this divide, one is that many in the glbt community feel as though blacks should feel empathy for our struggle, and, two, many ion the glbt don’t seem to realize the extent of how strong the church and bible are in black folks lives and a literal interpreting of it. And, after hearing nonsense from preachers, many of whom make their livelihood off of gay bashing, its going to take education and the same tolerance that we want, and, the many black gays who are in the church need to come on up out of the pews and call out the homophobes or leave the choirs and other organizations. Change in the black community like in any other one has to come from within, the demands that the white gay establishment is not going to do anything, other than entrench the homophobia since I assume that the average straight black person can’t relate to the average gay white person as a the average black gay can.
And gay blogs are just what the homophobic, hateful preachers need to keep the divide going with some of the nonsense posted.
Lex
@Dabq: If you think this is bad you should look at “Bossip”…which of course is run by the same moron who even posts ignorant garbage about black people on a supposed ‘black’ blog. The comments there are full of racism against blacks too.
Chitown Kev
@Dabq:
“the many black gays who are in the church need to come on up out of the pews and call out the homophobes or leave the choirs and other organizations.”
tell the truth, here, as bad as that may look. These church queens get on my nerves.
“many ion the glbt don’t seem to realize the extent of how strong the church and bible are in black folks lives and a literal interpreting of it.”
Uh, depends on the church, once again. There are a variety of churches in black communities.
Chitown Kev
Let’s see what a lil ‘ol ride on the purple line does tto this conversation. Sadly, I think many people are so entrenched in their stereotypes about what they know about “the black community” that this will go nowhere.
strumpetwindsock
@Chitown Kev:
purple line?
You’re a lot more patient about this than I would be, Kev. I just think it’s ignorant that you are constantly being put on the defensive by a racist campaign.
Do these fuckers think things are any better in any white fundamentalist church? I’m sure the Mormons bankrolling Prop 8 wasn’t part of the black conspiracy.
Let them deal with their own fucking community before they go pointing fingers. As far as I am concerned this is just an excuse for them to feel superior and do nothing at all.
Dale
you know Queerty, you are starting to piss me off. I finally get the other people’s point, these posts are racist, plus your obsession with that annoying Davey douche Wavey and your constant complaining.
Dabq
@strumpetwindsock: I have to say you have a point, the “black church” which I think is being paid off by the evangelicals, is but a pawn, and, has no real power to change anything with the fight or equality other than standing in front of a camera sweating.
All the hoopla over a broke down, ex-con, crack head, Marion Barry and his one lone vote was silly as one of the voices that matters in this I don’t recall being posted here, his name is Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republican, who said this “I’m in favor of recognizing marriage as a union between a man and a woman. I’m not in favor of trying to redefine it, or disguise it under another name.” This was stated when he said he was going to fight the councils decision, and, he has way more power than any o the money grubbing preachers and attention deficit disorder Barry, but, his words didn’t get anti-gay posted. And Chafetz has way more power than Barry when it comes to anything with the district and gay rights.
Chitown Kev
@strumpetwindsock:
the train line I take home.
Chitown Kev
@strumpetwindsock:
but their community is the “white gay community,” not the “white community,” that’s the funny thing. Like most (if not all) minority communities, there’s a xenophobic mindset in gay communities that, in part, serves as a protection against the bigotry of mass society. I understand it because I also see it, in many ways, in black communities.
Dabq
@Chitown Kev: Good points, but I have to admit, I have yet to figure out why gays do the same thing as the mainstream they claim to abhor, discriminate.
Chitown Kev
@Dabq:
And why did Irish Americans discriminate against African Americans when they desegrated the schools in Boston?
Why do middle and upper middle class African Americans discriminate against lower class and “ghetto” African Americans (full disclosure, I do this at times)?
In the South, the discrimination against poor whites by middle and upper middle class whites was so horrible that MLK linked poor whites to the black civil rights movement.
People that have little or no power seek to exercise power wherever the find it. There’s very little or nothing that the racial discrimination in the gay community can actually DO to me in terms of power because there’s very little or no power (in societal or political terms) actually there.
That’s why I can be patient and laugh.
mick
I really would not have a problem with discussing issues like this on a gay blog if there was a balance in courage on the black people doing positive things for the gay population.
Also I do not understand why this blog has to be so negative it seems like the only positive posts are the daily photos of the half naked men.
Chitown Kev
@Chitown Kev:
forgive the mispellings. I thnk y’all know what I’m saying in post #45.
Chitown Kev
@mick:
oh, there’s other gay blogs out there where I can get my share of good and fantastic news from, believe me.
atdleft
@Cam: Amen! I’ve been trying to tell this to people for quite some time. Beyond the exit poll numbers (which btw, show that AA & Latino support for H8 in CA was close to white support), there are real stories. There are stories like the one of my neighbor down the street, an 87 year-old Latina abuela, who took my hand and thanked me for asking our neighbors to vote no on H8. There are stories like the one of my LA friend’s BFF, an African-American woman who hangs with “her gays” all the time and was just as saddened as they were when H8 passed.
I’m so sick and tired of these “race wars”! Stop trying to point fingers and start doing more outreach to other minority communities! I hope HRC has a real plan to do minority outreach… They need to put up or shut up.
Chitown Kev
and let’s face it, Marion the crack ho did his part in race baiting the situation in DC too. He could have simply voted no without saying “The black community won’t stand for this.”
Chitown Kev
@atdleft:
do a story on some of the network of African American church ladies in Oakland used their networking in the church communities. Prop 8 was defeated in Alameda County by 25 percentage points.
atdleft
@strumpetwindsock: Or better yet, fundie evangelical churches like Calvary Chapel, Mariners Church, and the Southern Baptists (aka Rick Warren’s denomination)? Why do some in our community always want to throw all the blame on black people & Mormon people?
Chitown Kev
@atdleft:
The Mormons are another story though, they have a history of bankrolling efforts going back to the 90’s. And let;’s not forget that the Mormon church also bankrolled quite a bit of the opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. And they are a racist church.
Racism, sexism, homophobia…all a part of the same story and the same discrimination, really.
jjm16
@Oaklander:
poor, poor, poor altruistic oaklander. let’s start a march for your plight, since every contrary comment in every blog post is directed toward… you? i’ll get the people, you get the place and the signs. yay!
jjm16
wtf is everyone so sensitive about race here? i haven’t witness such pent up frustrations since these two gay priests starting subtly hitting on me in a chelsea bar!
on the other hand, why are so many posters provokingly and oddly mentioning the fact that black people can be gay-as if this is debatable-to incite some thrilling blogger race war?
the only way black homophobia can be addressed is by somehow acknowledging the legacy of blacks’ late assimilation into american society as a whole. black masculinity is so much bigger than hip hop or the black protestant church, but these groupings are important and should definitely be explored. no need to be PC. blacks in general are near the top of the hate totem pole, and many more black people are lower/middle class americans than other large dem. groups here.
i applaud queerty for addressing the issue of homophobic group identities, though queerty oddly ignores the homophobia among latinos/hispanics catholics who can easily be courted for backwards political legislation in texas, ny, fla… but be careful-people here will react like antagonistic kids at a trashy junior high.
Lex
@jjm16: You’re an idiot.
getreal
I think a problem that needs to be addressed in our community besides the homophobia is the sometimes articulated some times intimated idea that gay blacks should keep their romantic lies private or covered. There is a “we know you are doing it but keep to yourself” kind of homophobia that promotes are perpetuates the down low phenomenon. There is pressure in our community for closeted black men to “keep up appearances” and date women even when people know they are gay. Unfortunately a lot of black men feel pressure to identify as bisexual (although they rarely tell this too their female partners) and have risky sex. I have been taken to task for bringing up the down low culture that effects our community by that old racist Bill Perdue but it is a legitimate problem that causes a host of problems in the black community. There was a lively debate on Mediatakeoutcom yesterday about this issue and it became a debate about gay marriage. There was a large percentage of idiots who felt gay people should be ashamed, be quiet, and not ask for legitimacy. This has to be addressed in our community. I make a point of bringing up the gay marriage equality issue everywhere I brought up gay marriage and discussed mostly by myself in a beauty shop while 6 women sat in stunned silence. I think in the black community we have to start having these uncomfortable discussions with people who do expect lgbt people to live life in the shadows.
If you want to get mad as hell but read the other perspective (stupid and homophobic) although there are right minded people too click the link.
http://www.mediatakeout.com/2009/32831-black_clergy_the_gay_marriage_issue_is_not_like_the_civil_rights_movement__and_we_resent_the_comparison.html
Lex
@getreal: Being in the closet isn’t exclusive to blacks. None of these issues anyone ever brings up are exclusive to blacks yet gay blogs only focus on blacks. Easier to point fingers and play up stereotypes when the people who are the focus aren’t white.
Lets see some white homophobia threads.
Lex
Oh and I forgot to add blacks don’t have camps to turn gay people straight either and that is exclusive to whites. Lets harp on that.
getreal
@Lex: I’m not talking about the white community I’m talking about my community. I grew up in a very mixed community with a minority black population, an active PFLAG/GSA group and openly gay students. When i went away to a black college I was struck not just by homophobia but by a clear culture of down low. Every community has closeted people but the black community has a very definite culture of pressuring some of our gay brothers and sisters to live shadowy lives. There have been countless books, documentaries, and men who have lived the down low life attesting to it I’m not making this up. The black community is going to have to have these uncomfortable discussion because the status quo is not going to cut it. Pretending our community has no problems with homophobia or that the down low culture does not exist is your prerogative but it is not reality. I notice that when people bring it up you jump on them with the same flimsy arguments. Just because you choose to live your life as a down low loser who is too cowardly to be who you are and work for equality does not mean other people should. I don’t respect you and It is counterproductive that even gay people in the community are try to stop the black community from confronting the problems in our community because they can’t deal with their own issues with self loathing and down low. Harvey Milk said visibility is important and i agree that is why I always identify as a gay rights activist in any group of people but especially the black community. I will be ignoring your posts I’m not going to debate the existence of a well documented problem in our community because you are too scared to come out. This is a broader issue with serious implications for our community and the equality movement as a whole leave your emotional baggage out of it.
Lex
@getreal: Oh wow.
You sound a lot more emotional than me.
You do realize a smaller population’s problems stand out much larger than a majorities right?
It’s much easier to pretend only black people do these things when you ignore how tiny the population is by comparison.
There’s no increased homophobia in the ‘black community’, it’s that many black people live together in small areas such as cities where it’s highly visible.
Let me know when you stop turning to the media for your information because clearly you’re only going off their sensationalism and not real life experience.
Homophobia is rampant worldwide, wake up, Boo.
Chitown Kev
@Lex:
Come on Lex, read a Anderson Cooper thread on here lately? The film Outrage is abot white people in positions of power. Please, don’t even try to go all Stokley C. on me, please.
Chitown Kev
@Lex:
I disagree with the fact that there’s NO increased homophobia in black communities, with all due respect. It’s not terribly much more, but heightened enough that I notice a difference.
And in large part, yes, it’s due to many African American churches which has been, at times, the sole source and place of dignity for African Americans in society.
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
With all due respect, though getreal, I don’t think that a “down low” loser would be posting on a gay blog. I understand why Lex is taking a somewhat defensive posture (I feel a degree of protectiveness too) but there was no need to get personal.
Chitown Kev
OK, time to get off this thread.
atdleft
@Chitown Kev: Hold on. Now yes, the LDS Church leadership has been HORRIBLE in funding H8 campaigns. However, this doesn;t mean that all Mormon people are homophobic bigots. Believe it or not, there were a number of “few good Mormons” who challenged church leadership on their anti-LGBT agenda. It may take a while for Moroni to magically “give the elders an epiphany” in the same way an epiphany was conveniently “given” to church elders when they were facing heat over preventing racial minorities from reaching leadership positions, but we can do more to reach out to progressive Mormons now.
getreal
I think I hear a bug buzzing around. Oh it’s gone.
The interesting thing about this issue for the equality movement is we have opposition on both sides one from the obvious homophobes who won’t address these issues because of their bigotry. What makes our conundrum more complex than other communities is that we also have people in the gay community who want to perpetuate the second class citizenship of gay people in our community because they are in this down low lifestyle because they have wives and girlfriends or calling a spade a spade they are afraid to tell their momma. They don’t want full equality for black gay people and will try to shut down any discussion of the problems facing our community because in their own disturbed way they want these problems to continue. When people try to discuss and or try to solve these issues they try to disrupt by blaming the white man or pretending down low does not exist even as they live in the throes of it. I have had this discussion with people on both sides of the equality issue. Homophobes and down low men want to pretend every community has the same problem (to some extent but none so pervasively or as cataclymically damaging to the community) as ours. We have to tackle the specific problems that face our community and simply ignore the people to afraid to help who inadvertently help the homophobes. As a black person I am also sick of some black people who blame the white man for EVERYTHING instead of taking personal responsibility. It is racism plain and simple.
getreal
I did not post that N*gger I’m black myself that is lex or Bill Perdue
TANK
I see I was right. It’s good to be the king.
getreal
@Chitown Kev: Of all the threads we have shared have I ever used any kind of racial slur? Gimme a break that was clearly a poster who does not want the down low subject discussed because they are ashamed and self-loathing.
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
I know getreal, but still…guess this will go up to 250 posts now and ALL the white gays are racist…sheeesh.@TANK:
I knew you were right. Everyone about a debate like this is so polarized…
The Lesbian Mafia
@Queerky: are you talking dirty to me?
Chitown Kev
@atdleft:
My post wasn’t meant to be an indictment of all Mormons, I specified the church, though i suppose that I need to specify the elders.
Chitown Kev
@TANK:
Oh, Tank please!
TANK
@Chitown Kev:
That wasn’t me. That’s lex.
getreal
@Chitown Kev: I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing to have these long threads yes the racists (black or white) have their say but so do people who move the dialogue forward. There is obviously someone on here posting under people’s names which is fine clearly this conversation struck a nerve.
getreal
Who knew a down low guy furiously typing from his bedroom closet while his wife sleeps could be so troublesome lol.
TANK
@getreal:
LOL! Paging donnie mcclurkin
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
Was that thread in that link for real?
@TANK:
Whatever, I can’t tell nowadays anyway. What do you have to contribute between the poles of this discussion (now that it seems that we have 3 adults).
Chitown Kev
@TANK:
speaking of queens…
Chitown Kev
@Chitown Kev:
donnie mcclurkin, I mean.
getreal
Oh cute he is back. His posts are so clearly different than mine. Imagine if he expended this much energy in his own home and community working on equality instead of living an in fear down low life. He can post as much inane drivel as he wants he is still a scared closet case who is hurting his community both gay and black with his cowardice. Like most down low black men I would bet everyone in his life deep down knows anyway. Go to any black church there are always down low losers obviously gay with their deluded wife most of us are just embarrassed for them. They sadly think they are fooling people but they never are.
Alec
All we’re missing in this thread is some pondering on false consciousness by our resident Marxist. And some Obama bashing. Then it would be complete.
getreal
@Chitown Kev: Sadly yes. If you can stand it there is a revolt though were a few straight posters start attacking the homophobes they are actually the only ones on the thread who sound educated.Mediatakeout does some fun celebrity gossip but the homophobia is rampant I go on there and post equality if you are straight and you post supporting gay rights you get attacked but people do I always do every time we have a dialogue people can learn and sometimes move down the continuum of acceptance. It was interesting how many homophobic posters did support my hypothesis.
getreal
@Alec: Don’t call him maybe someone finally put a stake through his heart and he has turned to dust.
TANK
@Chitown Kev:
LOL! Either way…It’s not like I’d be offended by the truth.
TANK
@TANK:
Not me.
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
yeah, I’m a sometimes poster on a couple of progressive sites where there are unashamed black homophobes. I honestly (and I don’t know why this is, well, I do…) get even more bothered with them than I do the racism here.
TANK
@Chitown Kev:
I would only contribute numbers…opinions polls, etc. A homophobic breakdown by race. That being said, hiv/aids is a really big problem in the AA community (comparatively), and lot of those seroconversions are the direct result of unsafe male same sex sex. Now, I’m not saying that it’s not a problem for the gay community in general, which of course it is. I do know that it’s been established that men who are closeted engage in riskier sexual behavior (are more likely than not to abstain from safe sex when they hook up) than out gay men…on average (always exceptions). This indicates something significant.
getreal
Has anyone noticed as soon as he started posting in other people’s names he stopped posting in his own. What a moron.
Chitown Kev
@TANK:
OK, Tank, we have no beef with each other, we ain’t gonna start one here…
Alec
@TANK: The rates are higher for Hispanics, too. But for some reason the “homophobic” label has never attached to them, despite their cultural conservatism.
And if you want to see a REAL down low phenomenon, visit Dearborn, Michigan.
To me this all points to religion.
TANK
@Alec:
I disagree. I think the cultural homophobia label has been attached to them, and in some cases for good reason…machismo self identity is pretty homophobic, and not too many dispute that except homophobes. Now is it a epidemic like it is amongst african americans in certain regions of the country?
getreal
@MyLips: I don’t have to try besides being well educated I’m naturally intelligent.
TANK
@Alec:
I think it’s more sexism (which religion upholds and vindicates with its every line and verse–the gender binary) and how that plays out differently in different cultures.
getreal
I can’t believe i agree with tank again lol. I think the homophobia in the black community and the culture of down low has everything to do with sexism. But people feel very uncomfortable discussing it.
Lex
@getreal: Can’t understand your monkey grunts, nigger.
getreal
This is almost interesting as an exercise. Can you imagine how impotent and disenfranchised someone would have to be to post things like that. Pity 🙂
getreal
It’s funny the person is obviously not intelligent enough to even come up with anything really controversial just childish taunts. Sad for them 🙂
Chitown Kev
@Alec:
Yeah, I know about Dearborn and the Muslim population, Alec. My first “boyfriend’ (as opposed to fuck buddy) was from Egypt (though we…I don’t think we ever dated, actually) but we were in Florida.
getreal
Back to the subject at hand although some of the race baiting articles on Queerty can get tiresome I do think these threads are important. The people who are living these self-loathing down low lives should not dictate how important problems in the black community are addressed. We are going to have to confront the hypocrisy in the so called black church structure.
Chitown Kev
This looks like a wingnutter attack.
getreal
@Chitown Kev: The muslim population may be the only population that has the black community beat in this kind of behavior.
getreal
@Chitown Kev: What is a wingnut attack?
getreal
Oops I mean wingnutter attack. What is it?
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
That’s why I don’t mind the threads personally.
What I don’t like is when some white gay people come here with all of this uncontestable truth about the black community. I feel the same way about black homophobes who know so much about being gay but when I acknowledge them and request that they acknowledge me, not a word gets said or they think I’m with the “white gays” or try to confront me with making some sort of choice. It’s sad.
Inevitably what happens with both both some racist white gays and some black homobigots is that they run and scamper like roaches (yes it’s the real me writing this!) when you shine a light on them rather than sticking around and having a discussion and asking questions and sharing viewpoints.
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
Rightwingers who are trying to exploit the divisions between black and gay communities.
We really need to be better securing our blogs, although with Queerty nowadays…
strumpetwindsock
@Chitown Kev:
@getreal:
I had this happen to me a few weeks back. The first time I am quite sure was TANK (because it wasn’t exactly the same as my handle), but shortly thereafter it started happening to a bunch of other people.
I was really pissed off about it, not only because it was a violation, but because I wrote admin specifically about it, and got no reply whatdoever.
Whatever bullshit is going on, they can see it and deal with it if they want to through looking at IP addresses
getreal
@Chitown Kev: I could not agree more. Well put.The roach analogy is most apt as these people are motivated by fear.It is sometimes funny to see how crazy some people on this site can act though lol.
getreal
@strumpetwindsock: I’m sorry it bugs you I have to confess I find it funny even when it is happening to me it is so childish you have to laugh. That being said we all have our own distinct voices and the boobs that impersonate people never even try to sound like the people they impersonate.
strumpetwindsock
It’s really fucked up, especially given some of the debate in here. I have had to on a couple of occasions had to challenge people on things they accused me of saying which I did not.
How can we defend ourselves on that with any security if somebody (and I have even heard the suggestion that it IS admin) is impersonating us?
Chitown Kev
@strumpetwindsock:
all the handles are the same so…
strumpetwindsock
@getreal:
I’m not losing sleep over it.
(believe it or not I actually do have a life) but there is a certain comfort in being able to challenge someone when they make an insane accusation. That kind of goes out the window if someone is using your name.
Basically it’s irresponsible, and it’s no way to run a ship, IMO – just like letting the attacks and the racist epithets and all that bullshit go by.
I first saw it that day when Bill and Charles were making terrible personal attacks against you.
Maybe I’m a bit sheltered, but any other site I have visited that kind of shit would get you a warning, then banned (as would having duplicate handles).
the real getreal
@strumpetwindsock: Well in my experience the people who are accusing people of saying outrageous things are the people impersonating them. I’m sure the only person who will try to throw these posts in my face is bill perdue because he impersonates people he can’t best intellectually. Your posts are objective and measured and intelligent no one sounds just like you on here but you. So no one is fooled by these silly posts they don’t have the brains to sound like you.
getreal
“Trying to talk” Someone didn’t go to college. I think it meant trying to speak. LOL 🙂
getreal
@Chitown Kev: Did you leave the thread I know you leave when the dumb people show up.
TANK
That’s right, they can look up the IP addresses if they want…which they don’t. It wasn’t me before or now who’s doing this. I have never impersonated anyone else on this site. No need…not that there’d ever be a need for that. I can deal with people using the name I’ve chosen. And I’m not going to defend myself against this anymore. Anyone who thinks I’d write racial slurs and epithets at a sixth grade level isn’t someone I’d bother going out of my way to disabuse of that notion anyway, i.e., not someone worth trying to convince otherwise.
TANK
@TANK:
rather, I’ve never impersonated anyone on this site.
strumpetwindsock
@the real getreal:
Geez, whoever is doing it is working overtime tonight.
I know. But really there’s no reason why it should even be allowed to happen. I got out of high school 30 years ago, and have no desire to deal with that kind of behaviour again.
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
For a moment.
I am at home now, so I am not concerned.
strumpetwindsock
@TANK:
I may actually owe you an apology.
I’m no longer 100 percent convinced that first time was you.
After I saw whoever it was posting exact handles I figured something else was up.
getreal
@strumpetwindsock: Well we could ignore it and leave the thread this guy is just looking for attention why not shut off his supply. Nite Nite.
Monica Roberts
It is very important for the black gay men to “lay low” when they have sexual relations with Whites and Latins.
As a former gay man now on hormones, I can tell you the real priority in our community is NOT equality or gay marriage or don’t axe/tell.
The most important and often overlook aspect is
“HOW DOES A NEGRO TRANNY FIND WELL FITTING PUMPS WITHOUT EMBARRASSING THEYSELF?”
It may seem like “Peggy Hill 101” to the “weho Hotties” but to the rest of us, it is a tragic dilemna. SIGH
Chitown Kev
@strumpetwindsock:
I would figure that someone would care that this is going on but…maybe they don’t especially when some donation issues are taken into account.
getreal
@strumpetwindsock: Well not to cause trouble but if the last time this happened tank was also on the thread doesn’t it make it a little more likely it may be him?
strumpetwindsock
Hmmm..
I just tried to post somehting and got auto-flagged:
At this point I blame admin for not dealing with it. As I said, I wrote them specifically asking for a response because this is really ignorant shit, and I got nothing in reply.
I wrote something a few months ago and did get a response
getreal
@strumpetwindsock: What did you get auto-flagged?
strumpetwindsock
@getreal:
I don’t know.
Like I said, the jury’s out on that first one, but as for the others, that’s a lot of hacking in my mind.
And I just reposted my thing that got auto-flagged, except I left out the name of the former editor.
Chitown Kev
#149 is not me. Something is wrong here.
And it’s on another thread that was directed against Tank, I don’t believe it’s him.
Chitown Kev
@strumpetwindsock:
I got auto-flagged for that on a couple of occasions. It is no secret that since ga.phy left queerty has gone in the sewage system.
getreal
@Chitown Kev: There is a loser impersonating everyone.
strumpetwindsock
@Chitown Kev:
Yeah I know. I agree.
I know administration is a thankless job, but this is actually a serious breach in my mind – something that used the wrong way could actually hurt someone.
There’s a responsibility to deal with it, even if we are a bunch of complainers.
getreal
@Chitown Kev: They won’t let you post his name??????? That is ridiculous.
getreal
@strumpetwindsock: Unfortunately it maybe good for them when people do this because it doubles posting on the thread and then when people see triple digit comments under a story they are more likely to click on it. I think the loser left.
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
they won’t let me post j.ap.hy g.ran.t’s name unless I do some trickeration. That’s happened to me twice.
getreal
I guess they didn’t want people to post that they miss his stories.
Chitown Kev
@getreal:
see post #72.
TANK
@getreal:
What’s the story behind that (his departure)? Bad blood?
Chitown Kev
@strumpetwindsock:
what a bitter queen, whoever is doing this.
strumpetwindsock
@getreal:
Nope. Looks like it’s just happening on other threads.
getreal
@Chitown Kev: Yep
getreal
@strumpetwindsock: No he was doing it to me on another thread but has not done it in 10 minutes he didn’t get the angry reaction he wanted so he moved on.
getreal
@strumpetwindsock: He actually posted on another thread that he has HIV so maybe he got if from a black person that is why he is angry. He is a down low guy who thinks he is straight and sleeps with me his life is a mess no wonder he is so sad.
getreal
I mean sleeps with men lol
Lex
I’m too stupid to come up with my own ideas so I just act like a douchebag under other names.
Andrew
@Robert:
Some very good points, Robert.
getreal
I think a problem that needs to be addressed in our community besides the homophobia is the sometimes articulated some times intimated idea that gay blacks should keep their romantic lies private or covered. There is a “we know you are doing it but keep to yourself” kind of homophobia that promotes are perpetuates the down low phenomenon. There is pressure in our community for closeted black men to “keep up appearances” and date women even when people know they are gay. Unfortunately a lot of black men feel pressure to identify as bisexual (although they rarely tell this too their female partners) and have risky sex. I have been taken to task for bringing up the down low culture that effects our community by that old racist Bill Perdue but it is a legitimate problem that causes a host of problems in the black community. There was a lively debate on Mediatakeoutcom yesterday about this issue and it became a debate about gay marriage. There was a large percentage of idiots who felt gay people should be ashamed, be quiet, and not ask for legitimacy. This has to be addressed in our community. I make a point of bringing up the gay marriage equality issue everywhere I brought up gay marriage and discussed mostly by myself in a beauty shop while 6 women sat in stunned silence. I think in the black community we have to start having these uncomfortable discussions with people who do expect lgbt people to live life in the shadows.
If you want to get mad as hell but read the other perspective (stupid and homophobic) although there are right minded people too click the link.
http://www.mediatakeout.com/20…..rison.html