Black Americans have become the scapegoat for the passing of Prop 8. Since Wednesday morning, I have received half a dozen private messages from white
homosexuals asking me what can be done to change Black people's minds about gay marriage.
What.the.fuck? White folks, I can't help ya with that. Yes, I am Black; however,
that fact doesn't arm me with any special insight into the Black mind.
Right-wing religious white people are the ones who pushed to have Prop 8 on the 2008 ballot. Don't forget that, ok? Those people then appealed to other
religious people using a very common scare tactic: "if you're a real Christian, you'll vote to ban gay marriage, or your ass is goin' straight to Hell." My exhusband's new wife
used that same tactic with him to convince him to start a 5 year custody battle for our children: "if you're really a Christian, you wouldn't allow a lesbian to
raise your kids." That tactic works well for people who are afraid of living eternal life in the lake of fire.
The religious right relied heavily on the assumption that Black voters would turn out in droves for this year's historical election. It was always a part of the
Yes on 8 strategy.
Religion wasn't the only factor that influenced Blacks to support the passing of Prop 8. Black women have been fighting for decades to hold on to their Black men.
An increase in Black male/white female coupling combined with the large percentage of incarcerated Black men means less eligible Black men are available for Black women.
Nearly one-third of all Black and/or African American men have been incarcerated either
as adolescents or adults. This negatively affects Black men's ability to keep and maintain
jobs and relationships. Maintaining a sexual relationship with just one person is difficult
when Black men are incarcerated at high rates and cycle in and out of the prison system.
Fewer available Black men in the community means Black couples have less opportunity
for long-term monogamy and more chance for multiple partnerships . . . (source)
When you ask a religious Black woman if she supports gay marriage, you're basically asking her
if she supports removing one more eligible Black man from the singles pool.
Black Voters Not to Blame if Proposition 8 Passes offers a really intelligent
take on the issue. It's a must-read. The author asserts that the LGBT community didn't make enough effort to talk to Blacks and other minorities. I completely agree.
Historically, Blacks are ignored by the very people who need them the most. Let's not forget how white feminists ignored the need to combine their efforts with women of color.
I ask all the white homosexuals who are sending me private messages, suddenly concerned about my opinion on how to talk intelligently with Blacks about homosexuality, where was that effort when the LGBT community needed it the most?
