"It's not where you're from, it's where you're at" - Part II

NOTE: The views expressed in this series of blogposts are solely mine and mine only. I do not speak for my church, all African-American people, Racial/Ethnics or the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination. This is not a "disclaimer" but I wanted to express my views and experiences -both past and present - as an African-American PCUSA pastor and Child of God. If you would like to read Part I of this series, please click here.

The first time I saw a gay couple was when I was traveling to the very first Youth Triennium and our delegation had a stopover in Chicago's Grand Central Train Station. I saw two men (not a part of our delegation) embrace and kiss each other on the lips. The first thing I thought was "EWWWWWW!! How could anyone do that!" After a brief commotion in our group, things settled down but that image always stayed in my mind. Throughout college or the working world I never knew anyone who was lesbian or gay, although there were the usual rumors. It was only when I began seminary when I started coming face to face with issues related to the LGBT community either through classroom or side discussions and with the denomination's presence stance and struggles with the issue of sexuality.

From my experience the issue of homosexuality and the African-American community can be viewed in a few ways. First of all if I had to make a generalization, whenever African-Americans talk about homosexuality it is always invariably linked with HIV/AIDS. Many people are aware that HIV/AIDS is one of the top diseases that is devastating our community in all age groups so when homosexuality is discussed the concentration is on prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. At the same time there have been recent developments that have questioned long-held beliefs that homosexuality is not issue in our community. In 2004, the book "On the Down Low: A Journey of the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men who Sleep With Other Men" by J.L King was a blockbuster and best seller which exposed the sexual tendencies of married Black men who were gay/bisexual. Also in recent years famous African-Americans such as comedienne and actress Wanda Sykes and former WNBA basketball player Sheryl Swoopes have come out and revealed that they are lesbian. While in some ways thought patterns and beliefs are changing, African-Americans are still socially conservative as a whole and there is a debate whether homosexuality is a civil rights issue. Recent articles such as AP national writer Jessie Washington's "Is gay the new black?" and this one from the Stanford University Daily reveals the tensions over homosexuality in the Black community. Many of my minister friends of other denominatons/faith communities see homosexuality as against God's will and an affront to the institution of marriage. It is often said that "being black is not a choice. Homosexuality is" and other comments of the like. Others are very angry that gay rights are being equated to the African-American struggle for civil rights and feel that these are definitely two separate issues. There are others who do believe that homosexuality is a civil rights issue but tend to keep silent because of the possible fallout (see article here). By and large one tends to find that the Black Gay and Lesbian community and their supporters are a silent group. And our major Black organizations have not taken a definite position either way.

To complicate issues even more there is an added factor of racism and discrimination. All throughout the history of African-Americans in this country, racism has been and still is prevalent in society. There are many people who do believe that because of our experiences of racism that we should not discriminate against anyone for we should have learned from what we went through. There are other who have a more fundamental view of the Scriptures and follow the biblical texts to the letter in regards to homosexuality.  I have been a part of discussions about homosexuality that have been pretty heated and when the statement has been said "We have been discriminated against so why should we do the same?" the discussion either 1) shuts down and causes one to reflect or 2) people begin to use the Bible and debates begin. It gets to be pretty interesting.

Well, that's it for now.  The next post in this series will talk about sexuality in the Black Church and my view of what is happening among African-American Presbyterians so stay tuned! And if you have any comments or questions you can send me a message via responding by blog, facebook, or email at daviestreetpc@nc.rr.com.

 

Comments

[Margaret Aymer Oget]

Byron, as you move through this topic, I'd love to see you include--perhaps problematize--issues specific to African American GLBT Christians, such as the feeling of exclusion both from racism and from homophobia.

Thanks for an honest post

[Byron Wade]

Margaret - I plan to cover that topic in my next post. Thanks for the response!

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[sex stereotypes]

Great article you nail the topic quite well. Hope for more publications from you.