Strange Behavior: These Are the Same People that Want Blacks to Support Gay Marriage
The photo above is just another perfect example of how white gays usurped the Black Civil Rights Movement language for their gay marriage movement all the while never putting into practice any of its core principles or understanding the people and history behind it.
Nooses represent one of the worst periods in American history for Blacks. Yet, gays want Blacks to support their movement for gay marriage and vote no on a proposition that would exclude them from it. But what does it really say about the white gay community when for fun—a noose is used as part of a political Halloween display? I mean really, is that best they could come up with? More importantly, why was the use of a noose even in their psyche to begin with?
I’m no fan of Sarah Palin, but if I was going to put up a display, it wouldn’t include the use of a noose—I know better.
Now I guarantee you had someone put a noose around the necks of—or created a fire underneath—two male mannequins wearing rainbow shirts, holding hands, and hung it outside their house as a Halloween display—all of West Hollywood would be screaming bloody murder.
This is just another reason why as a Black lesbian, I am not actively working on the Proposition 8 campaign. It’s being pushed by people like the men who used a noose to make a political statement on the eve of one of the most important elections where a Black man could quite possible become the next president of the United States of America. And even though I believe that as a Black lesbian I should have the exact same rights as everyone else in this country, including the right to get married should I choose to, at some point you have to take a stand for what you believe in and know to be true. Racism continues to permeate consciously and subconsciously in white gay America. This is just the latest example, and these are the same people who want Blacks to vote No on Proposition 8—and support as they say “equality for all.” Yeah I’m sure Sarah Palin hanging from a house with a noose around her neck will go a long ways in delivering that message.
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This is just the latest example, and these are the same people who want Blacks to vote No on Proposition 8—and support as they say “equality for all.” Yeah I’m sure Sarah Palin hanging from a house with a noose around her neck will go a long ways in delivering that message.
Nicely put. I noted something similar regarding lynching imagery today.
Ask most white gays what they know about the ACTUAL Civil Rights movement and you get the same old yaddayadda about tired feet and “content of character” that you get from anyone else.
And the stereotype that Black homophobes are any worse than white ones.
Screw ‘em.
Jasmyne, I think you can actively work on defeating Proposition 8 without being associated with these people. But I do understand why you wouldnt want to work with these people. GLAAD, HRC and other organizations like this are not really for persons of color who are gay.
But I agree with you about the noose incident. Trust me, I dont like the Rasclaut Sarah Palin. But at the same time, I would not want a noose hung around her neck.
Yeah, that was some seriously effed up stuff but I think you are setting up a black/white (no pun intended) dichotomy in looking at this. White gay people are no less racist than their white hetero counterparts and hell, they do this kind of stuff all over the country. Plus, the history of lynching women in this country is a horrible thing to advocate or even symbolize in an effigy.
I don’t know, I don’t think its easy to work with white gay people on issues because they never want to analyze how they help to oppress other people, but as a black gay person I too would have a stake in Prop 8 as well, so their racism aside, you still have to fight against this bill. It’s like, it’s not *just* about white gay people, and focusing on their stupidity and ignorance doesn’t deter the fact that gay POC will be affected by this as well.
But yeah, these two need to be taken outside and slapped the eff around, no doubt about that.
Jasmyne,
I am a white lesbian and in no way does this couple represent me. I was appalled when I saw this image on the news. Not only does this image reveal the couple’s racism, but also their sexism. I have always felt that there is a wide divide between gay men and lesbians, with not much in common between the 2 groups; however, as history has shown, we must work together for common good when possible. This couple certainly does not represent the majority of white people and/or the gay community. You will always have some ignorant people in any group who need to be educated. I would support legislation outlawing nooses as a display in any setting, being labeled as a “hate crime”. My parents and sister are Fundamentalist Christians who will be voting yes on 8- this breaks my heart, however, my values are more than likely much more similar to theirs than to the couple above. Let’s work on seeing our commonalities, educating the ignorant (if possible), and working together. Can’t wait until the 4th……….go Obama.
I am so sick and tired of white gay men and others insisting that being gay or lesbian is a civil right…… IT IS NOT!!!!!!! It is a human right and the sooner they understand that it will be all right. As for the noose, stop playing because they are still dragging black folks under cars in Perris, Texas. STOP IT!!!!!!
Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run.. Obama is running so that our children can FLY. All Power To The People.
I don’t think any one needed an ass kicking. they got what they deserved.
We’re using nooses in this theatre piece I’m working on. It free and part of USC’s visions and voices series. Come witness.
http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/866388
I’m posting these definitions for Jan. Let’s not get it twisted ya’ll. Ultimately…one struggle, one fight, one victory.
Civil rights are a class of rights ensuring things such as the protection of peoples’ physical integrity; procedural fairness in law; protection from discrimination based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, race, etc; individual freedom of belief, speech, association, and the press; and political participation.
Human rights refers to the “basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled.”[1] Examples of rights and freedoms which are often thought of as human rights include civil and political rights, such as the right to life and liberty, freedom of expression, and equality before the law; and social, cultural and economic rights, including the right to participate in culture, the right to food, the right to work, and the right to education.
Ray,
Read the 13th and 14th amendment.
Jan
I looked and looked at this picture and didn’t realize it was supposed to be Sarah Palin until you wrote it…I guess my mind just isn’t that sick? She is an appropriate scary halloween decoration, just not hanging from a noose! And the guy on the left should be doubly embarassed ’cause he doesn’t even look caucasian himself! When will this kind of madness stop? Oh yah, they are so associated with civil rights that they use nooses to display a point, isn’t that called oxymoronic? These two are obviously clueless!
Wait you justifying Blacks not voting against the bigotry of another minority because someone hung an “dummy” of a White VP candidate who herself was coddling bigot individuals against Barack on HALLOWEEN. And you justify the Yes on Prop 8 because of this?
Granted, there are racist gays as there are homophobic Blacks, but this Halloween depiction had NOTHING to do with race but EVERYTHING to do with politics.
This rambling is ridiculous and you’re once again using the race card. I am Black and I am gay and I don’t get what you’re trying to say hon. Sure, the noose has significance, in racist context, in reference to lynchings. But, this was not racism, and we as Blacks have not copyrighted the noose as a universal symbol of racism, sorry.