Not too long ago Don Lemon tweeted that he was gay. I applaud his strength and courage for doing so. Paula D. Reed, a writer for The Daily Voice voiced her opinions on what Lemon said his fears about backlash from the Black Community, specifically from Black Women. Reed's reaction to Lemon's coming out was a bit, well odd. She spoke about how not all Black women were angry or bitter towards Gay Black Men. GLBT people have a problem with the Black Community who is volatile and angry toward their GLBT brothers and sisters. I tried to post a rebuttal, but for some reason it never showed. So I decided to post it here.
I first and forest would like to commend Mr. Don Lemon on coming out. As a gay Black male, I have to say that from my experinces the Black American Community that we are a very homophobic subculture. While we are not as volatile as West Indian or African countries, that does not mean that we are much better at acceptance and respect of GLTBQ individuals. Reed mentions Langston Hughes in her article; which is interesting since Hughes was a brilliant closeted gay man. He never had the courage to come out for fear of being made a pariah from Black churches and organizations of the time.
The reason why most GLBTQ Black public figures stay in the closet is because they fear becoming outcasts. If not, why are they no major Black polticians who are Gay and Lesbian? And athletes are not spared from this stigma either. When John Amaechi came out in 2007 there was a large number of Black basketball players who gave openly homophobic reactions to Amaechi. These "men" are then supposed to be then lauded and praised as heroes to young Black children and to emulate them, even their narrow mindedness.
With Jonathan Capehart, his being an openly gay man and it effecting his marketability. Capehart seems to be the exception to the rule, specifically since he for the most part does not markets himself prodominently to a Black audience. But Lemon was more worried about about how he would come across now that he was out.
As for Black straight women, and even Black straight men who are angry about Black GLTB people. Unfortunately in the Black community, our sociology has been indoctrinated with religion, most predominantly from Christianity and Islam. Both of who's dogmas call for the execution of our GLBTQ brothers and sisters. Yet, no one ever seems to remember what Jesus says in the New Testament, "But many that are first shall be last; and the last first." (Mark 10:31) or “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1)
Yet when Queer Black Indivudals turn the other cheek, many are quick to strike it. If we are able to move away from this negative theological thinking it would be an improvement as moving forward as a people. I've never been a woman, so I can not say why necessarily why Black women are so angry at Black men, or even Gay Black men. But I must say that Black women are the most subjagated women in the United States hands down next to Native American women.
And as Ms. Reed, yes Black women are not the enemy of Black Gay men. But most importantly, Black Gay Individuals are not the enemy of Black Society.
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