Reverend Irene Monroe, who will not blindly support Barack Obama, definitely has something to say about tonight’s HRC/Logo “gay debates”. Like what? Like “Will it revolve solely around cracker ass faggots.” The good reverend and some of her black peers, however, remain a little more nuanced – but just as cynical.
Monroe maintains that HRC, Logo and gay press consistently ignore black issues, which makes her wonder whether tonight’s forum won’t do the same.
…Much of the overwhelming disinterest in LGBTQ communities of African descent about this upcoming historic debate is the belief that issues pertinent to them will once again be left out of not only the public discourse but also left out of the overall interest of politicians wooing this community as an important and vital voter bloc to have. The queer community is a decisive electoral force that politicians have learned over the years, for their own campaign survival, that they must at least wink at.
Two issues Monroe would like the Democrats to discuss: homeless black gay youth and AIDS in black communities. Will Monroe get her wish? Only time – and the presidential candidates – will tell…
(Note: It seems some of you are confused as to whether or not Monroe uses the phrase “crack ass faggots”. We think our next sentence makes clear she did not use such a phrase. It would, however, be funny if she had.)
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stevo
Her points are well taken, but to use a racist and homophobic comment like “cracker white faggots” is not helping anyone’s cause.
Only a minority of black americans support gay rights anyway, presumably due to hatred of “cracker white faggots”…
With friends like these….
Qjersey
“belief that issues pertinent to them [black gays] will once again be left out of not only the public discourse but also left out of the overall interest of politicians”
what issues could politicians address that are distinct and unique and not part of the overall social justice issues (discrimination, lack of opportunity) that effect ALL persons of color?
racism in the larger gay community?
homophobia in the black community (which includes not dealing with AIDS and throwing out their gay kids)?
Addressing these issues could alienate the larger gay community and black community, something any politician who wants to get elected realistically wants to avoid
high rates of HIV infection among black gay men and MSM?
Yeah right, that will happen, politicians haven’t talked AT ALL about AIDS when dealing with gay voters.
If she really did use the phrase “cracker ass faggots” she is an asshole and WORSE than Al Sharpton, for not only being racist but homophobic. I guess black gays aren’t faggots. More of this “gay is a white thing” bullshit and that black gays that socialize with whites are somehow less than black or race traitors.
Seems just like more race baiting with the sole purpose of a getting attention and trying to be a power broker.
And she’s a reverend? Yeah some Christ like behavior there.
BillieXX
Stevo,
She didn’t use the phrase “cracker white faggots.” That was used by the folk at Queerty. Hopefully your ire for them will be raised but somehow I doubt it.
As for your opinion about black folk and gay rights, it’s a bit more complicated than that. You are right. The majority of black folk, like their white peers, are against same sex marriage. However, a majority of blacks support hate crime legislation that includes sexual orientation (higher than whites by the way).
chiliu78
Here’s another article about tonight’s event. Includes a link if you want to watch it on your computer.
http://phlamer.blogspot.com/2007/08/all-ready-for-first-presidential-lgbt.html
ghostarmagh
Wait a minute! I followed the links and I never saw a quote containing “cracker ass faggots” from Munroe.
QUEERTY — produce your sources post haste or print a retraction. Irene Munroe is one of the brightest and the best voices in LGBT religious & political voices today.
forbesfart
The most honorable Rev/ Dr.Irene Monroe would never use such language, IDIOTS AT QUEERTY owe her an apology or she should sue….
jbpp
Homeless gay youth are homeless whether they are black, white, Asian, or any other. I hope the issue is addressed, but I don’t see a racial issue there. As far as AIDS in the black community, one main issue is the reluctance of the straight black community, especially religious leaders to address it head-on. The discomfort about AIDS as a “gay” disease, shown even in Barack Obama’s little gay panic attack about saying he was tested with his wife and not another man, a Senator no less, shows there is a lot of internal work to do in the black community. I’d never dispute there is racism among white gays, as there is racism in every group throughout our society, but I didn’t see the issue of the black community and homophobia brought up in the previous debate and no one complained.
afrolito
I love how a couple people here jumped all over “cracker ass faggots”, when SHE SAID NO SUCH THING.
As far as what she actually said, it was spot on.
BillieXX
jbpp,
“…but I didn’t see the issue of the black community and homophobia brought up in the previous debate and no one complained.”
Not true. It was brought up by Obama.
http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/2007/07/02/is_barack_homoph
nycstudman
well, at least you didn’t go to The Usual Suspect (i.e., Jasmyne Cannick) for once.
stevo
Sorry folks! I assumed that Queerty was actually quoting the Rev.
Now I see they were not, and I jumped to conclusions without checking the original source.
My sincere aplogies to Irene Monroe!!
(Queerty – what gives? I think you should be more careful about your journalism)
Alex Blaze
Thanks for the update, Queerty.
Jack Jett
Some of the biggest walls we come up against here in Dallas is the black evangelical movement who did everything in their power to make certain a gay man did not get elected mayor.
I don’t get it.
Perhaps this preacher should take her message to Rev Al Sharpton, J.C. Watts, T.D. Jakes, Sherman Allen, or Harold Ford.
I say if your own church is dirty honey, you better clean it up fast before you start trashing others.
jack jett
cleaning churches since 1974
Timothy
Rev. Monroe makes a good point. While the Logo debate should not be the “gay black debate”, it should include issues that are important to all of the various segments of the gay community. I hope the questions she raised are asked – and I hope that other subsets of the community are contacted for items of specific interest.
In fact, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have some faces of color included in the questioning process (I don’t know how it’s set up but there must be some way to include non-whites).
That having been said, I truly wish that the voices I heard coming from black gays and lesbians were a bit more supportive of the WHOLE gay community and not just complaining that something isn’t black enough or black specific. Yes, I get it, you want to be (and should be) included and your specific concerns addressed. And I support that. But maybe, sometimes, once in a while, you could be supportive of us white gays as well.
I’m just saying.
nycstudman
jpbb is right. Asian & Pacific Islanders have specific issues. Gay Mormons have specific issues. Gay Hispanics have PLENTY of specific issues. The candidates should address GAY issues not “gay people of color,” etc. issues.