The answer is white slavemasters forcing their backward religious views on blacks for centuries.

It’s clear though that none of these supposedly “intelligent” men recognize the herculean efforts and passion of Bayard Rustin, who just so happened to be gay, and was one of Dr. king’s most trusted advisers.

I agree that a closet by another name is still a closet, but “down low” is not a racist term used by white LGBT’s to disparage African American closeted gays, as you appear to suggest.

It was invented by African Americans themselves to describe African Americans in opposite-sex relationships who have sex with men (usually) on the side, but who nevertheless consider that they are not gay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down-low_(sexual_slang)

I don’t see anything wrong with white LGBT’s using the same term that African-Americans use to describe themselves.

Thanks for the correction. Good point.

WMDKitty,

The black community is not “for the most part” homophobic. It is, numerically, less supportive than other races.

But numbers dont tell the whole story. And in this instance we are talking about two black communities -one very religious and a bit segregated, and one that is more assimilated and secular.

Just as the white San Francisco cellist and the white Iowa corn farmer are not defined by their race on the issue of homosexuality, so too are the black dance instructor and the black COGIC pastor not defined by their race.

And I am not convinced that african Americans are in the same place they were three years ago. I’ve seen significant change.

It may still be true that taking black people as one demographic and making comparison solely on race, that you might still find less support. But let’s look from this perspective: attitudes in the black community today are no worse than attitudes of Whites ten years ago. And I don’t recall anyone saying “why are white people so homophobic?” at that time.

You raise good questions. But unfortunately there may not be good answers.

I hope that at BTB that we don’t give the impression that black bigots and white bigots are somehow different. And we try not to buy in too heavily to the DL theme. But we are white guys and I’m sure that impacts the way we write. As much as I may become infuriated by the casual racism that i see, I’ve never lived it.

But in this particular commentary, race is relevant. In fact race was the whole point of the protest. Those COGIC ministers would not have been invited if they had skin with different levels of melanin.

I agree. Actually, I think you’re up to the job, which is akin to eating a whale: one bite at a time (i.e., a series).