Black vs. Gay?

OPPRESSION AND DISCRIMINATION

Racism is based on white supremacy and white skin privilege. Sexism is based on male supremacy and male privilege. Heterosexism is based on heterosexual supremacy and heterosexual privilege. These systems of oppression are all cut from the same cloth of dominance and power over others. Look at the similarities in past and present stereotypes placed on African Americans and homosexuals. African American gays and lesbians get a double dose of the following:

African AmericansHomosexuals
  • Sexually promiscuous
  • Sexually dangerous
  • Carriers of sexual disease can contaminate by touch
  • Socially marginal
  • Cannot control their sexuality
  • Seek special rights (i.e. affirmative action)
  • Condemned by God (Genesis) - Curse of Ham
  • Interracial marriage illegal until 1967
  • Inordinately talented: singing, dancing, athletics
  • Have agenda in opposition to white, male dominant culture
  • Criminal element in society
  • Wants to have sex with your sister
  • Important to keep Blacks out of history books
  • Feared & hated by dominant culture
  • Love/Hate relationship with Hollywood
  • Whites seek out African Americans for clandestine sex and turtive sexual tavors
  • Armed forces segregated until 1947 due to fear of sharing bathing tacilities
  • Blacks are labeled detriments to morale
  • Anti-black jokes common
  • Anti-black violence common
  • Ridiculed and despised by talk radio
  • Taunted hounded beaten & murdered for being black
  • Did not chose to be Black but deserving of discrimination anyway
  • Simply need to act more white to make in mainstream culture
  • Destined to spend eternity in a segregated heaven
  • Sexually promiscuous
  • Sexually dangerous
  • Carriers of sexual disease can contaminate by touch
  • Socially marginal
  • Cannot control their sexuality
  • Seek special rights (i.e. gay marriage)
  • Condemned by God (Leviticus) - Sodomy laws
  • Gay marriage unlawful
  • Inordinately talented: art, fashion, pop culture
  • Have agenda in opposition to white, male dominant culture
  • Criminal element in society
  • Wants to have sex with YOU
  • Important to keep gays out of history books
  • Feared & hated by dominant culture
  • Love/Hate relationship with Hollywood
  • Heteros seek out homosexuals for clandestine sex and turtive sexual tavors
  • Armed forces ban openly gay personnel due to fear of sharing bathing tacilities
  • Gays are labeled detriments to morale
  • Anti-gay jokes common
  • Anti-gay violence common
  • Ridiculed and despised by talk radio
  • Taunted, hounded beaten & murdered for being gay
  • Deliberately chose to be gay and therefore deserving of discriminiation
  • Simply need to act more straight to make it in mainstream culture
  • Destined to spend eternity in a segregated hell

EQUAL RIGHTS VS. SPECIAL RIGHTS

African Americans were accused of seeking “special rights” during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Now, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are accused of seeing “special rights”. Both populations are simply seeking equal justice under the law.

Unfortunately, gay rights have become the lightening rod in the rise of the reactionary right’s “Christian” or “family values” campaigns. Current and proposed legislation does not provide for any unusual or special treatment of gay people. Gay rights are NOT special rights; they only state that discrimination based on sexual orientation is illegal.

Exerpted from All God's Children: A Discussion Guide by Sylvia Rhue, Ph.D. & Linda Alband.
Copyright © WomanVision, 1998. Used with permission.


Return to Articles Index.

Navigation Literature Art Gallery SpiritSpace Links Cherry Grove S and M 101 Blog The Steam Room Relationships Albums OtherWords The Library Survey FAQs Tales Of The Talented Tongue Skyview Writer's Resources