I'm black. I think my fellow African Americans should be the least homophobic of all. why is it the opposite?

Question

I keep hearing how homosexuality is the least accepted among African Americans. Is this true and if so, I feel that my fellow African Americans should be the least homophobic of all. After all, homophobia is not much different from racism in which a group of people are being unfairly discriminated against for something they can't help but being. I would have thought after our dealings with racism and the stuff caucasians put black people through, that my fellow African Americans would know better and at least wouldn't be the main race known for homophobia. I keep hearing how homophobia is most common among African Americans. I don't know if this has anything to do with a lot of African Americans being Christian or what, but I would just expect the opposite. I'd expect caucasians to be the main ones who are homophobic because number 1, there are more whites than any other race and number 2, there the ones responsible for civil rights and slavery. Why are African Americans most anti-gay?

if I came off racist against whites, I'm sorry. I got some nasty answers from white people below and my question seemed a bit racist. Sorry! :) I love both white and black

Answer 1

I have to say I aplaud you for your question and the way it was written, We write an advice column for LGBTQ people, we are known as Hersband and Wife the lesbian advice duo. We first would like to have the right to pose your question to our readers, who are made up as a cross of both African American readers and Caucasian readers alike. We are in negotiations with a very popular magazine for urban (African American) Readers both Gay and Straight. and would love to do a compleete column on this subject with your permition as we think this subject needs to be covered.

Wife being of mixed race has posed this question many times as she is what is called in the southern states a "fence rider" (both black and white)

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Answer 2

Huzzah! This has been a real pet peeve of mine; I couldn't agree with you more. I think there are several factors to it, and honestly I have a *lot* of respect to a black man who comes out of the closet. He risks so much more than other minorities and certainly a lot more than anyone who is white. P.S.: All apologies to the idiots giving you a hard time- there will always be garbage ideologies and people who adhere to them. Their numbers are dwindling, but no idea ever went extinct; not even the bad ones. Anyways, I think the Church has a lot to do with it, especially because the *type* of Church attended, i.e. Baptist (mostly) but definitely something in a Protestant/Fundamentalist vein- not many black Catholics, which officially tote the same line but unofficially you'll find quite a bit more acceptance. Secondly, there is a machismo bit, fed by the deep support system blacks have in surviving and helping each other. Coming out often will ostracize a black man from that support and at that point their on their own, so there's a real incentive to tow the line and bash on gays. Finally, there is this mentality of bashing on the "new guy"- not that homosexuality (born: dawn of time) is new, but that it is so open now forces us to talk about an issue kept as a family secret in previous generations. And anything that new gets hammered- e.g.: newest wave of immigrants (pick 'em), Native Americans, and of course Arabics/Muslims now. Of course Islam, a very popular religion among many blacks, also reinforces the anti-gay slant of religion same as Christianity. It is a mentality that simply hasn't changed. Whites and white attitudes about a lot of things, however, is changing. Now if we can drag Alabama into this century we'd be set. : /

Answer 3

I believe that the homophobia from the Black community stems from two intertwined issues.
First there is an unwillingness to tackle any more social problems than they already have on their plate. The Black community has worked very hard to prove themselves as the strong, capable and intelligent people that they are.
Second is the issue of the perceived weakness of homosexuals. However, this basically follows the first point of wanting to be recognized as a strong people.
People can argue whether or not racism still exists in America today, but nobody can argue whether or not homophobia exists (in more than just Black communities). So it is understandable that there is a large barrier dividing the Black community and the homosexual community. When Blacks are more respected in this country, I believe that they will have more respect for homosexuals.

Answer 4

It is a bit more complicated and deeper than that. Yes, according to common sense we would expect African Americans to be the most accepting of all. But dont forget that during all the process of racism they have faced, all the struggling, all the cutting out and unemployment, being denied education and equal opportunities, they had to focus on their own problems and didnt have the time to develop the general human rights and equality mentality that went around already. It was just a matter of priorities, and if you think of it, it goes down to the white people because they denied African Americans the right to be equal. So, is the African American community the most homophobic? Maybe....Why? Because of the white American people who still hate them and even kill them in some places in the south.
Another unofficial reason would be the fact that as a culture that African American community promotes the macho style. In music and arts etc etc.
Hope this helps clear things a bit, and I am white (European though) so have nothing to do with white Americans, we are millions of years ahead over here when it comes to mentality and social science.

Answer 5

I definitely agree with you here. I always feel like a people so conditioned to bigotry and hatred and intolerance should have the greatest amount of acceptance. I am black and Puerto Rican, so I really understand where you are coming from. I don't have an answer for you, I wish that I did. But in a lot of black families I see this present. And it's worse for African American men, because if they're gay they're not seen as real men in the community.

Answer 6

I dont think that the generalization that black people are the most homophobic is correct.....but what i think is that because black people historically have gone through being treated the way gays and lesbians are still treated, when a black person (i.e. Tim Hardaway) makes a comment bashing gays people.....people run with it because its rude, a famous person said it, and black people should understand how it feels to be treated that way.

I get along great with my beautiful black sistas and everytime Ive gone with them to parties and things like that, where the crowd is a "black crowd" everyone is nothing but nice to me......I mean I'm not feminine so its not obvious, but I dont hide it either.....to group together all blacks because of a group of ignorant people is ignorant in itself as is grouping together all whites as though they are all responsible for past transgressions

Answer 7

I am neither black nor gay, but I have heard that the African-American populations tends to be homophobic because so many African-Americans are devout Christians. This really bothers me. I am Christian and I think homophobia is wrong because it goes against Jesus's teachings to love everyone.

Answer 8

I see your point & understand it. You also have to remember that a lot of Blacks were indoctrinated by the church. The church is extremely homophobic. "Hate the sin & not the sinner" the same people who say that sin on purpose everyday of their lives.

I personally don't care what someone does in their personal life. I agree that homophobia is a form of racism.

Answer 9

Not all African-Americans hate gays, but alot do. i think it has to do with the black youth culture of ultimate manliness (pimps, hos, guns [not necessarily owning them but not minding them, either], power)...it is why Scarface is so popular, first you get the guns, then you get the money, when you get the money, you get the power, when you get the power, you get the womens. That is a very empowering stereotype. If you are gay, you have no power in that structure, so gays are seen as powerless, and, in the community, depowering.

Answer 10

I find it hard to believe that Blacks are homophobic. Most of the "out" homosexuals I've known were Black and they were accepted by the Black communities in which they lived. The most hostile to gays are typically Bible-thumping Whites. So I have to disagree with your premise.