A Response to the Article ‘Why Blacks Don’t Like Gays’
Why Blacks Don’t Like Gays
By Dr. Firpo Carr
The reasons why the vast majority of Blacks don’t like gays are not only multifaceted, but transcend contemporary issues and arguments surrounding the recently passed Proposition 8 that bans gay marriage in California. Ancient Africa is home to Prophet Moses, the first architect of the greatest book ever written, the Holy Bible. It’s also the home to enduring scientific discoveries in surgery, medicine, and related disciplines that benefit us all to this very day. African-based aversions to same-sex unions in connection with these genres of science and the Bible have in turn given birth to geo-political and socio-economic implications. In short, comparing the gay White effort of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to the historic African American civil rights struggle is to reduce the precious, enriched Black culture–the Black Movement itself–to a degrading, offensive, act of sexual gratification. Frankly, this author finds the juxtaposition unconscionable.
THE BIBLE AND BUGGERY: “Buggery” is defined as anal intercourse between two males. The God-inspired African Moses condemned “buggers” to death. (Lev. 18:22; 20:13) The inspired apostle Paul, another Man of (Dark) Color (Acts 21:37, 38), also consigned gay men to death if they refused to discontinue their homosexual activities. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) Today, although Blacks seem to gravitate toward the Bible more than any other segment of the human family (see my April 17, 2008, Sentinel article, “The Bible: Blacks’ Best Book?”) England’s Buggery Act of 1533 shows that Europeans had strong feelings against homosexuality as well. This act “was the first civil legislation applicable against sodomy in the country…having previously been dealt with by ecclesiastical courts. The law defined buggery as an unnatural sexual act against the will of God and man.” The civil penalty? Hanging. I strictly condemn violence against those with a different sexual orientation in the strongest terms, and not just because my own daughter (who I have the greatest love for) is a lesbian. Violence is immoral and is simply not an option. Still, I am not one to water down the truth. Buggery, says the Bible, is bad.
SCIENCE AND SISSIES: And then there’s the myth of the “gay gene.” Scientists have yet to find it. The following serious of questions might suggest they never will: Is there a “heterosexual” gene? Are there different facets of the supposed “gay” gene? I mean, is there an “I-prefer-fellatio” type gay gene as opposed to “I-insist-on-sodomy” type gay gene? Or perhaps there’s a “combo” gay gene? And, since we’re talking about same-sex unions, is there a further subcategory of the elusive “gay” gene that could be termed the “pedophile” gene? Or is this “gay” gene imbued with intelligence thus enabling it to be sensitive to the local laws of the land? Is there a “lesbian” gene? What about a “bisexual” gene? Could it be said that a hermaphrodite has the “bisexual” gene? Is there a “transgender” gene?
When I debated a panel of gay and lesbian professionals for three years straight at West Hollywood’s Gay Pride Parade sponsored by what was then 92.3 The Beat’s “Street Science” with Dominique DiPrima, no one was able to answer even one of the above questions. (When Dominique asked one scientist from a prestigious medical institute in San Francisco who she held in the wings by phone if I was correct in stating that scientists have yet to identify a gay gene, he simply answered, “yes.” The massive crowd of gays, lesbians, and others who gathered in front of the WeHo Lounge was crushed.)
UNEQUAL MINORITIES: The LGBT community is not a “minority” as is the African American community. Blacks are a racial minority whereas the LGBT community amounts to a numeric minority. To put it in perspective, billionaires are a numeric minority, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have clout. During Apartheid in South Africa, Whites were a numeric minority, but they obviously were in control. This is not the case with Blacks in America. There simply is no comparison. Moreover, as I quoted one magazine in my book, Are Gays Really “Gay”?-A Sociological, Scientific, and Theological Analysis (1994; now of out print), “Homosexual business people know that the ‘gay’ world is not poverty-stricken. Not long ago After Dark, an American magazine slanted for a homosexual reading audience, reported that its subscribers had a median income of $18,000. [This was well above the average of the general population at the time.] Sixty-three percent were college graduates and over 70 percent owned stocks, bonds or mutual funds shares. Some 40 percent had traveled to Europe in the previous five years.”
SIN AND SICKNESS: Is HIV/AIDS a curse that God has visited upon the gay community? In his infinite wisdom, Almighty God hasn’t seen fit to fire off an email to me with the answer. (Imagine that.) However, if what he did to the Philistines as recorded in his Major Email to everyone–the Holy Bible–is any indicator, it’s possible. When these enemies of the Israelites stole the Ark of the Covenant, God “smote them with hemorrhoids.” (1 Samuel 5:6; 21st Century King James Version) “But these were enemies of God,” you protest. “People in the LGBT community are God’s children too,” you continue. “Surely he wouldn’t do this to his own people, would he?” Well, hold on to your hankie: Yes, he would–if they were disobedient. “The LORD will smite thee with the boils of Egypt,” the Israelites were told, “and with the hemorrhoids.” (Deut. 28:15, 27) Ouch. So, as to the question of whether or not God would punish gays with AIDS; well, I wouldn’t put it past him. Oh, and please resist the temptation to say that what HIV/AIDS is to the gay community sickle-cell anemia is to the Black community. First off, it’s not a sin to be Black–at least not in God’s eyes. Second, most people in the world who has sickle-cell anemia are not Black.
As stated in Wicked Words: Poisoned Minds–Racism in the Dictionary, “In a front page article dealing with sickle-cell anemia, the Los Angeles Times, January 31, 1995, had this to say concerning the origins of the disease: “‘Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease that is most common among people whose ancestors came from Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean basin and India.’ The World Health Organization says that worldwide, 250,000 babies are born every year with sickle cell. It’s estimated that about 72,000 blacks have the disease in the U.S. This is an infinitesimally small amount when you consider that there are 30 million blacks in the U.S.”
“EIGHT IS ENOUGH!”: Voters who voted yes on Proposition 8 say that that should have ended the debate on the illegitimacy of gay marriage. “Eight is Enough!” is their resounding cry. “Leave the courts out of it,” they say. “The people have spoken. Prop 8 is great!” Your comments, criticisms, observations, and wailings are invited. Amen.
THE RESPONSE
Dr. Carr, while there are many things I could respond to you in your article, I’m going to stick to the most obvious. Where does this leave Black lesbian and gays, bcause I can tell you that I DON’T HATE MYSELF.
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“Oh, and please resist the temptation to say that what HIV/AIDS is to the gay community sickle-cell anemia is to the Black community. First off, it’s not a sin to be Black–at least not in God’s eyes. Second, most people in the world who has sickle-cell anemia are not Black.”
The most people in the world who have AIDS are straight… what now?
Blacks are more likely to attend church than any other group. So why are more than 70% of black babies born out of wedlock? Maybe that’s why blacks are “cursed” with sickle cell anemia. Just kidding of course. But you get the point (I hope).
Today the majority of those infected with the HIV/AIDS virus around the world are blacks, especially black Africans. BLACK AFRICA is being depopulated by HIV/AIDS. What’s up with that? Are black Africans “cursed”?
Dear Sir,
Great article! But the simple answer seems to be the same reason no one else does.
Them white he/shes sure are pissed at you aren’t they?
That has to cause some concern. Now I guess you expect a black man to protect you from them, don’t you ‘lil lady?
See baby it takes a good man to go after a bad man and after the way you did Buju, you’re on your own…sell-out.
Buju is scum…
Jasmyne: Dr. Carr says the Bible promotes the execution of gay people. It seems to me that this is being put into practice around the country. Duanna Johnson anyone? And let’s not forget that other transwoman who was murdered in Syracuse, New York several weeks after Duanna. And please don’t forget all the other unnamed murdered LGBT people of color.
Straight blacks like the good Dr. hate you (and me) for being gay FAR more than white gays hate us for being black. In fact, I don’t think most white gays “hate” us but they are often racially insensitive for sure. The good Dr. spoke for a lot of religious black people and for many who aren’t so religious. Look at the rappers. Look at the Jamaican dance hall musicians (“murder music” anyone?).
We black gays are not “family” to most straight black people. Admit the truth, baby girl, WE ARE ON OUR OWN.
As a straight, black and christian woman from California, I am appalled by this. I don’t know where to begin but suffice it to say that there are just as many scriptures in the bible that I could quote that contradict what has been written. Dr. Carr is a doctor of what exactly? I am curious.
The bible is a religious fairy tale. It was written by men with an agenda to push. To quote the bible in justifying your arguments would be no different than someone else quoting Aesop’s Fables to justify theirs.
“Dr. Carr, while there are many things I could respond to you in your article, I’m going to stick to the most obvious. Where does this leave Black lesbian and gays, bcause I can tell you that I DON’T HATE MYSELF.”
I know I love my gay black self and I’m sure you’re “out and proud” as well. However, we can’t sit here and pretend that this sort of sentiment is widespread within the AA gay community. AA gays don’t have much of a voice within AA community much less the larger gay movement, simply because we refuse to make our presence known by living out and proud lives.
The rare few who do openly identify as gay, tend to get lost in the larger gay movement when their presence is most needed within AA communities and AA gay organizations. Even if gay marriage isn’t necessarily a priority(and I’ll be honest, it really isn’t my main concern, give me equal “marriage” rights and call it garriage for all I care), hate crimes legislation should be. Or how about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell or even gay adoption? The point is marriage isn’t the only gay issue that should concern us. We are both black and gay. We shouldn’t feel that we need to neglect one identity for the other. There are issues that affect us that don’t affect white gays, but there are also issues that affect us that don’t affect heterosexual blacks.
And no, I’m not under the impression that the majority of white gays live their lives openly, in fact it’s probably quite the opposite. But enough of them live “out” lives to make their presence known. I mean people know white gays exist, so much so that many communities of color often identify gayness with whiteness. Recently, my Chinese nieghbor told me that Chinese people could not be gay, because homosexuality is a European genetic defect. And the reason there are AA’s and hispanics who are gay, is due to European admixture and since Chinese people have no European admixture they cannot be gay. Which is why you never see gay Chinese people but instead you see tons of gay white people. Therefore gayness is a white problem. Crazy, but that wasn’t even the first time I’ve heard something like that.
Anywyay, just imagine if AA gays had greater presence not only within the larger movement but within the AA community. There is real power in numbers. We have straight AA allies in powerful positions willing and able to help our cause, but until we stop apologizing for our sexuality and become willing to live our lives openly it’s all for naught. If we don’t speak up and out about the rights that we seek, if don’t support the organizations which were created to support us, we will continue to be disregarded.
*I apologize for this disjointed mess of a post, it’s just one of my half awake, half asleep late night ramblings
Regarding the article ” The gay/ black divide.”
Jasmyne,
I live in Chicago, with my wonderful girlfriend, and unfortunately NOT my wife. Her father sent us this article of yours from the Los-Angeles Times.
I agree with much of what you say regarding the equality of black people. They ARE Unfairly pulled over, UNFAIRLY populating our prison systems, UNFAIRLY unemployed and have UNFAIR EDUCATIONAL opportunities .. That being said, There is no FAIR way to compare the hardships of blacks to homosexuals.. This is not a issue trying to do so. This is an issue of a stepping stone, EQUAL RIGHTS come in many many forms. This one comes in white, black, latino and asian.. I guess what Im trying to say..
its an AMERICAN GAY equal rights issue.
I cant help but think….. its just perfect, that once again the majority of people can split the minority of people into groups amongst themselves so they can not work with or for each other.
You start your article letting us know you deeply care about social justice. Well, I do too. You say this is a white/gay campaign, but Jasminne, I know many black homosexuals. You are one too right? Marriage is a RIGHT of Americans!!! I too campaigned for Obama. If this measure was being voted on in Illinois, I would NOT have neglected its importance. Marriage has and always will be a part of equality in America. It was a stepping stone for black people in the 50’s,60’s and 70’s, and as you state.. it has not cured everything.. but it was a START, was it not? You can not deny that. Of course it did not heal everything, but it was a beginning, THE BEGINNING of EQUAL rights!!!!!!
I am quite aware of the hard ships black Americans have gone through, throughout American History. You act as if black gays and white gays are very different when it come to GAY rights. We are not talking about the fact that discrimination still prevails.. of course it does… WHY? I answer this question the very same way you answered the question regarding why black people were not for gay marriage… THE CHURCH!!! Its a double edge sword.
The church… I know many black gay people who attend church, and your right, the issue of gay marriage has become NOT a high priority for them.. Church going people listen to their preachers, they BELIEVE what their preachers say. If the church changed the way they interpret certain issues of the bible.. LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF AMERICA..( even time) maybe this would not be the case.
I have lived in a community in Chicago basically since I was 18 that is 1.03% white, 26.4% black, 75.7% Latino, .26% Asian, and .91% others. If a measure like Prop. 8 was put on a ballot in Illinois you better believe I would be campaigning MY neighborhood and OTHER neighborhoods, PEOPLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
Maybe, just Maybe the problem is the fact that we keep on pointing out these differences among people.
WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS… PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!
You can not tell me this is a white/gay issue. I see daily what goes on in my neighborhood. I also have done volunteer work at the boys and girls club, me and my NOT-WIFE do free tutoring. It seems like our apartment is filled with children everyday. A safe zone if you will… internet access, t.v., sit down dinners etc.
Being a White Jewish lesbian, it took a very long time for me to be accepted in this neighborhood. I would never try to even compare the hardships of black Americans to homosexuals. It is not even close… But, being Jewish, and having had many of my family killed in Germany, I do feel that my points are valid.
The very root of discrimination is SUPERIORITY. If You feel that straight married couples love is on a higher level… then your right… homosexuals should not get married..If gay love is INFERIOR to straight love…. that’s DISCRIMINATION.
Being discriminated against is a minority issue, and the further and further apart we pull ourselves from one another, the longer it will last.
So I urge you, while in ANY “type” of neighborhood… do not pull us apart from one another.. even if one persons hardships can not be compared to the next… we are talking PEOPLES RIGHTS.. not who had it worse.
Afrikan-American males, for we do better research before we make a choice, or opinion, our females don’t, don’t care for gaydomism because it wasn’t our natural choice.
HomoSInsualism was forced upon us through centuries of being raped, molested, and cramped into living environments with people we didn’t know. It didn’t matter what the age differences were. Besides, even the President and his staff has stairs leading to female slave quarters.
Then too, Blackguys are too straight and honest, coming from the genealogy of Christ Jesus, Thee Mahdi, Muhammad, Gandhi, etc., we speak the truth and face the consequences. Sodomites are too sneaky, “closeted,” and undercover for us. Using chemicals and drugs to influence their victims (of blashesxualism).
Finally, they’re too quick to punk and use their positions to gain their desires. Such as, principals in schools, the Dept. of Edu., librarians, teachers, and political officials. All I might add, are female. When you don’t know history, or who your direct God is, you can be swayed by whomever comes before you with a “good time.” Hence the phrase, “girls just wanna have fun!” Not think, Revolutionize, be mothers (misopedia), submit to their males (misandrysim).
Jesus is coming…
What the FUCK is going here?
As a Black Gay Man who is proud and not ashamed. I am a little tired of who ever these damn authors are writing these stories about Blacks don’t like Gays as if we are the only race who feels as such and other races are so accepting. GIRLS PLEASE.
UMMMMM EXCUSE ME
The Roman Catholic Church is MORE HOMOPHOBIC THAN SATAN
85% WHITE
68% HISPANIC
18% BLACK
11% ASIAN
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH IS ALSO HOMOPHOBIC They are….
98% WHITE 2% OTHER
And speaks against Homosexuality and don’t forget the main cheerleader Rev Fred Phelps from Kansas who marches at soldiers funerals and shouts GOD KILLS FAGS DEAD!
How many Black Pastors go to funerals and do such things…
NOT ONE!!!
THE WHITE EVANGELICAL MOVEMENT IS 89% CAUCASIAN AND 11% other and they take major stands against Homosexuality.
I need not mention any other faiths out there.
While I will not excuse homophobia from the African American community and it is there for all to see. If you think some of the most outspoken White Gays out there are accepted, or are on speaking terms with their family. Then Jesus Christ eats “FRIED ICE CREAM”.
We all need to understand each other and teach the tolerance and acceptance of our lifestyle to all. Us being radical and throwing our lifestyle up in folk’s faces will not be the way and unfortunately that is probably one of the reasons Prop 8, 102, and 2 passed.
Another thing LGBTQ people of all races.
Take heed to something the great Malcolm X said
WE CANNOT BE AT PEACE WITH OTHERS UNTIL WE ARE AT PEACE WITH OURSELVES
Saying that all this racism and discrimination in our own community needs to stop and we will NOT move forward as ONE until we totally wholeheartedly UNITE! We are self destructing before the world and the heterosexuals are watching!
WAKE UP FOLKS!
It is amazing how people try to separate the gay community from the black community, as if people like me (black and gay) do not exist.
If it is true that life started in Africa (which by all accounts is true), then homosexuality just like heterosexuality was started in Africa.
But I guess when you are clouded by hatred, facts like this do not matter.
Most people feel homosexuality IS satanism.
While the dude that just posted before me may be spritually misguided he is right on a lot of issues.
You can’t change scripture, sorry about that. As a normal person I struggle with things the bible says I can’t do every minute of the day. There are however going to be a lot of ‘normal’ people in hell.
I have read some of the posts that are being posted on ‘The Advocate’s website, I have to tell you give a priceless view into a segment of society’s (white gays) that has hidden their racists and let straight whites take all of the blame. Villified their (our) white brothers. And now we find out that there was a lot more that gays (white) had a lot in the closet than we ever knew. Thank God for the internets’s double edge.
I have said it many times that Barack Obama’s victory would fluch out a lot of closet racists but this is just bonus time. So now I know that if I see a gay white person, you are more than likely a racist and I cna deal with you from there.
And yes black gays are really going to feel the squeeze now, because as much as much as you can be sure that a white faggot is a racist, you can know that a black gay will sell his own people out. And black man, this is a hassle that you really don’t need and can correct.
I am currently running off 1,000 copies of the cover of ‘The Advocate’s “Gay is the new Black” issue to send to black and white inmates in U.S. to see why they need to come home and vote to help defend their communities against this attack from a splinter group of racists. That’s just for starters…
A Bet and a Dare:
I WILL BET ANYBODY HERE THAT IF GAY MARRIAGE EVER COMES UP AGAIN IN CALIFORNIA IT WILL LOSE.$500.00 SAYS SO. TAKE THAT DICK OUT OF YOUR MOUTH AND PUT YOUR MONEY THERE.
DARE: I DARE ANYONE , BLACK OR WHITE TO MAKE A SANDWICH SIGN THAT reads, “GAY IS THE NEW BLACK’ AND WEAR IT ON THE CORNER OF FLORENCE AND NORMANDIE.I FUCKING DARE YOU.
Love between a man and a woman is what got you here, and if it wasn’t, that is probably what the fuck ya’alls problem is.
Also note: The Roman Catholic Church IS Satan, as evidenced by all of the closeted gays that have molested thousands of liitle boys.
The article “Why Blacks don’t like Gays” does not mention black gays and lesbians at all as if we don’t exist. Article like these reflect the logic of some religious black Christians, as well as some Afrocentrists. The logic is that homosexuality is foreign and “unnatural” to the people of Africa and those of African descent.
I had an argument with one so called Afrocentrist, he argued that “no where in African history can you find records of homosexuality behavior. If a black person is gay, they were influenced by whites and that homosexuality is a European phenomenon.” Unfortunately this opinion is very common in Africa, Caribbean and to some extent among blacks in the U.S. Also, this kind of sentiment indicates that many blacks are STILL colonized. I argued that there was homosexual behavior in Africa, before the presence of Europeans. The Pangwe people of Present day Cameroon were known to have homosexual relations. Some of the Pangwe Men preferred the company of men than women…before European Contact. The San people of present day Zimbabwe would record anal sex drawing on rocks, before the presence of Europeans. The Igbo people in Nigeria had “female husbands” where a woman was allowed to marry another woman.
Sadly some Afrocentrists like to promote the myth that homosexuality does not exist in African history and culture. Ironically, some Afrocentrists still embrace these Eurocentric homophobic views which were first brought by European colonialists. Homophobia in Africa, the Caribbean, and blacks in the U.S. can be attributed to the imposition of Christianity from European Colonialists. Of course at the time European Christians rejected homosexuals and some blacks were bought into that till this very day. Many blacks still cling to the old left over colonial vestiges (Christianity). We have to admit that some blacks in the Caribbean and Africa are too Christianized=Colonized. Christianity and Homophobia is a European phenomenon. Homosexuality is universal.
No one, at least I am not trying to say gay is the new black.. not at all!!! The point I was trying to make is that discrimination can not be determined by who had it worse.
thats like telling someone your drinking problem was worse than theirs, therefore you do not deserve treatment.
and please dont get into gay treatment.. its not treatable, and not a psychological disorder, like it was once believed to be, and for years gay people were put in mental hospitals, put through horrible treatment, and the consequences of that were severe. Gay people living in the closet in fear of hate crimes, and discrimination.
we are finally coming to a point in america where we do not feel like hiding anymore. There are 5 countries on earth that have legalized marriage, that is not including certain states that have legalized marriage within certain countries.
CANADA-SOUTH AFRICA-HOLLAND-DENMARK-AND SPAIN.
surveys done throughout these countries asked the same question over and over again… has anything changed?
the answer is pretty constant being “NO”
I have yet to hear one logical argument, that does not include a religious book of choice explaining why gay white/black…AMERICANS GAYS should not have the legal right to marry.
Do you eat shell-fish? well..thats an abomination if you read the bible… but not now? why? interpretation my friends!
gay people dont want to take anything away from straight people, we would just like AN OPPORTUNITY, THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS YOU. also, the arguments your using about gays, were used about black people… and again.. still are. black discrimination has not ended with the elect of a black president, it takes time for oppressed people who have gained rights to return from a state of depression.
this cycle must end. love your neighbor.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters of the LGBT Community:
I just discovered this blog. You’ve had much to say. Jasmyne asked me a very simple question, namely, “Dr. Carr, while there are many things I could respond to you in your article, I’m going to stick to the most obvious. Where does this leave Black lesbian and gays, because I can tell you that I DON’T HATE MYSELF.”
The answer is simple. Please note what I stated at the very outset of my article: “The reasons why the vast majority of Blacks don’t like gays are…” According to the polls, the “vast majority of Blacks don’t like gays.” Jasmyne, you and the other Black lesbians and gays–and a few others–fall into the small minority who do. That’s where it leaves you.
Dr. Firpo Carr