Best Posts in Forum: LGBT News and Events

  1. OckyDub

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    As Jamal Lyon on Fox’s “Empire,” Jussie Smollett portrays one of primetime television’s most prominent gay characters of color.

    The cultural significance of the role isn’t lost on the actor-singer, who came out publicly as gay in 2015. Appearing on SiriusXM’s “The Clay Cane Show” Wednesday, he explained why he insisted that Jamal’s love interest on “Empire” be a man of color, too.

    “There was talk about Jamal having a white boyfriend,” Smollett recalled. “And I said, ‘Fuck no!’ Not for any reason, except we have a responsibility and we have a such a beautiful opportunity to show two black men in a relationship together, in a healthy relationship.”

    Stressing that his casting view “wasn’t anything against white men,” he continued, “This is what I hope, this is what I want to see and this is what I wish I had seen as a kid. If I had seen certain things as an adolescent, I would’ve had a much different understanding of who I am.”


    Jamal began dating a journalist, Kai (played by Toby Onwumere), on “Empire” early in the show’s fifth season, which debuted in September. In the season’s fourth episode, Kai disclosed that he was HIV positive.

    Mainstream entertainment has, of course, suffered from a noticeable lack of diversity. The 2017 Hollywood Diversity Report, which surveyed 1,206 TV shows that were airing or streaming in the 2014-2015 season, found that people of color had made gains relative to their white counterparts in front-of-camera roles. But when it came to behind-the-scenes positions like writing and directing, they lost ground.

    Later in his interview, Smollett pointed to the Oscar-winning 2016 film “Moonlight” as an example of Hollywood depicting issues that impact queer people within the black community specifically ― and doing it right.

    “It was just beautiful,” he said of the film, which starred Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe and Trevante Rhodes. “It was also not about sexuality, it was actually about masculinity and the rules that are put on little boys, specifically little black boys, from the moment that they are born that we never really talk about.”
     
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  2. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    Tadd Fujikawa, the youngest American to make the cut in a US PGA Tour event, became the first openly gay male professional golfer, making the revelation in an Instagram post.

    The 27-year-old from Honolulu said he had been pondering about going public for some time before telling the world he is gay.

    “I thought that I didn’t need to come out because it doesn’t matter if anyone knows,” Fujikawa wrote. “But I remember how much other’s stories have helped me in my darkest times to have hope. I spent way too long pretending, hiding, and hating who I was.

    “I was always afraid of what others would think/say. I’ve struggled with my mental health for many years because of that and it put me in a really bad place.

    “Now I’m standing up for myself and the rest of the LGBTQ community in hopes of being an inspiration and making a difference in someone’s life.”

    Fujikawa made the cut in his hometown PGA event, the Sony Open in Hawaii, in 2006 as a 16-year-old amateur, shooting 66 in the second and third rounds on his way to sharing 20th.

    Only China’s 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, who was 58th at the 2013 Masters, and 15-year-old Canadian Bob Panasik, who shared 66th at the 1957 Canadian Open, made a PGA cut while younger than Fujikawa.

    Fujikawa has competed in 17 US PGA events, the most recent of them last year as a Sony Open qualifier. He played five pro events last year in Canada and last year captured the Hawaii State Open, his first pro victory in seven years.

    Fujikawa said he wanted to champion acceptance for gay children, teens and adults in society, saying, “I will continue to do my best to bring more awareness to this issue and to fight for equality. We must liberate and encourage each other to be our best selves, whatever that may be.

    “It’s the only way we can make this world a better place for future generations. Let’s do our part to make this world a better place.”

    Fujikawa played his only major at the 2006 US Open at age 15, missing the cut. In 2009, he fired a third-round 62 at the Sony Open before finishing 32nd.
     
  3. Nick Delmacy

    Nick Delmacy is a Verified MemberNick Delmacy Da Architect
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    081617-lifestyle-see-black-gay-dads-kordale-lewis-and-kaleb-anthony-family-star-i-9.jpg

    See The Major Fashion Deal These 2 Black Gay Dads Just Scored

    Acne Studios just introduced a new collection featuring Instagram's favorite dads Kordale and Kaleb!

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    Jonny Johansson, Acne's creative director, commented about the campaign, saying, “I have been thinking about families for a long time. Since Acne Studios started as a collective, we would see each other as a family back in the days. I therefore wanted to portray households of today, in all constellations — this is how we found Kordale and Kaleb. How does the face motif fit into all of this? Well it’s just an ordinary Swedish citizen. Not too happy, not too sad, but somewhere in between. Lagom in Swedish. Like me.”

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    Acne used their new campaign to depict how emoticons are able to transcend language. Acne celebrates the spirit of inclusivity in the new campaign dedicated to the face motif collection, which features Atlanta-based couple Kordale Lewis and Kaleb Anthony and their four children, Desmiray (10 years old), Maliyah (9), Kordale Jr. (8) and Kaleb Jr. (6 months).

    Inez and Vinoodh photographed the family on location in New York City while the family was there on vacation. If for some reason you don’t know these popular dads, Kordale and Kaleb first came to popular awareness as the result of a 2014 Instagram post when they photographed the start of a typical day in their household.



    We commend Acne for this progressive campaign, which highlights a new normal and definition of family. Congratulations to Kordale and Kaleb's family for being selected as the face of this new campaign!

    A limited edition, free publication designed by M/M (Paris) featuring an in-depth interview with Kordale and Kaleb will be available in select Acne Studios stores worldwide from mid-August and featured on Acne's website. The collection will be available for sale on August 17. Be sure to check it out!

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  4. cuspofbeauty

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    Insecure Asks, ‘Why Can’t Black Men Explore Their Sexuality Without Being Labeled?’

    IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS EPISODE DO NOT READ THIS

    "Why can't black men explore their sexuality without being labeled as gay, or bi, or whatever?"

    I hope you’re watching HBO’s Insecure. If not, get your life. It’s like Girls but actually funny. And set in L.A. And black.

    Based partially on Issa Rae’s acclaimed web series Awkward Black Girl, Insecure offers a dynamic representation of young black womanhood not seen on television since Girlfriends, Kelsey Grammar’s greatest contribution to television (and I love me some Frasier).

    Rae stars as Issa Dee, the kind of awkward millennial just doing her best, kinda, that’s easily relatable regardless of race or gender. Her best friend Molly (played by serial scene-stealer and wig-snatcher Yvonne Orji) is, to put it plainly, a hot mess. But her looks are always on point so you gotta give her that.

    In the latest episode, written by Amy Aniobi and directed by Debbie Goddamn Allen, the perpetually single Molly learns that the current dude she’s seeing—a real "nice guy" and a departure from the usual tools she dates named Jared—has had a same-sex experience.



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    At this point Molly has already confessed to making out with a girl at a frat party, as nearly every college girl has done, but she’s not prepared for Jared’s own homoerotic dalliance—even though he tries to assure her that it was strictly a one-time thing.



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    She then, of course, turns to her girlfriends for advice. Tiffany, who won't even entertain the idea of her man being anything less than 100% straight while admitting that there's a double standard when it comes to men and women, immediately dismisses Jared and his "one time."



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    However, neither Kelly (the the tell-it-like-it-is-no-matter-what-the-circumstances friend we all have or need) nor Issa are having any of this reductive nonsense. Kelly challenges Tiffany's belief that a man so much as touching another man's penis makes him gay.



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    While Issa argues that Jared does not "subscribe to the heternomative rejection of sexual fluidity" (come through, that one gender studies class from freshman year) and then asks a question that hasn't been posed nearly enough:



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    It's a question that has myriad answers, but Molly responds with one that is very telling:



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    No surprise there, but Issa's reaction to it is surprising, and it's what makes this scene truly remarkable.



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    Issa challenges Molly's relation to masculinity, while highlighting the fact that if Jared was white, she would just "chalk it up to the game," meaning that a double standard exists not just between men and women, but also between black men and white men.

    For example, take New York Giants wide receiver and certified hottie Odell Beckham, Jr. Beckham has been the center of not only gay rumors but also anti-gay harassment because he goes against traditional perceived notions of masculinity, particularly black masculinity. Then you look at someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has had his fair share of gay rumors, but no one really seems to be incensed about it.

    If pics of Cristiano Ronaldo making out with a dude suddenly appeared on the internet, A.) hooray, and B.) one could easily dismiss it as him being "European" and therefore more sexually liberated, or maybe he was just drunk. Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but if pics of Odell Beckham making out with a man surfaced, A.) also hooray, but B.) he'd be branded gay, no questions asked. Because black men are rarely allowed to view our sexuality, or our masculinity, as a spectrum, which leads to conflicts of identity and overcompensating to appeal to a masculine ideal that does more harm than good.

    By Issa confronting Molly with her own homophobia she's taking black women to task for being complicit in the propagation of toxic masculinity. Shows like Insecure and FX's fantastic Atlanta and the critically acclaimed film Moonlight are part of an exciting wave of art challening the very concept of black masculinity, both as an offshoot of slavery—the Mandingo of yore—and as a necessity in a world that treated black masculinity as something to be feared, undermined, or destroyed.

    As gay men, we can also challenge what it means to be a man and stand up against the toxic masculinity run rampant in our own culture. So next time someone comes at you with that "masc 4 masc" bull, hit 'em with one of these:



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  5. Fanon

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    Listening carefully to the at times homophobic and hateful commentary about homosexuality among Africans, a social critique of the international community and the local elite is heard. Dislike of homosexuality is used to protest at the levels of inequality and how corrupt African leaders continue to be supported by the West. The white savior complex ruins rather than helps the cause of LGBTI rights in Africa.

    This is the season for gay pride parades. Some have already been held in Uganda, Germany and Denmark among other places. This also marks the beginning of the annual criticism of the lack of equal rights particularly in Africa. Normally pieces on homosexuality and Africa focus on the idea that Africans are homophobic, and laypeople and journalists try to examine why. Meaning the conclusion is written before a proper analysis has even begun. It also buys into the idea that "we" are the good guys, and Africans are the bad, primitive ones "we" have to lecture. To put it mildly, this "methodology" is flawed, and ends up falling victim to confirmation bias and circular reasoning. So, instead, I will cast a more critical look on some of the factors behind the resentful comments on homosexuality by numerous Africans. Furthermore, a critical look at the Western world and how Western countries and people use homosexuality to fuel a flawed self-perception and narrative of themselves and the world.

    This piece will be divided into four sub-headings:

    1. Condemnation of homosexuality by Africans has often little to do with homosexuality
    2. Why it is idiotic for Western leaders to threaten an African country for passing a bill criminalising homosexuality
    3. Western countries' flawed self-image and the negative consequences
    4. Solution/conclusion
    Condemnation of homosexuality by Africans has often little to do with homosexuality

    The upsurge in hateful comments on this issue is fairly modern. In Ghana, the interest began to grow notably in the 2000s, likewise in Cameroon, Uganda and the Gambia, and a similar pattern can be detected on the African continent in general. The Ghanaian professor of philosophy and currently lecturer at Princeton University who is openly gay, Kwame Anthony Appiah, did not recall same-sex intimacy as newsworthy when he grew up in Ghana during the 1970s (Anthony, 2011).

    Several things have happened in the last 20 years. With increased urbanisation, more and more people have access to phones, the internet, TV, and a liberalised media. Furthermore, democracy. When Nigeria became democratic in 1999, people believed it was the end of corruption, and that from then on things would turn to the better. Today, 50 to 66 per cent of all Nigerians are still poor, while nepotism and corruption (neo-patrimonialism) continue unchanged. During the 1990s, the economy began to recover in numerous African countries, but it predominantly favoured the elite, while the majority did not feel the positive effects of the economic growth to the same extent. The transition to democracy has failed a lot of Africans.

    Generally speaking, we see a growing gap between people living in the rural areas compared to those living in the urban areas. We see a growing economic disparity, and we continue to see a worrisome group of disenfranched citizens, especially the youth, who cannot find work.

    How is this important? According to Nguyen (2010:157-173), a moral barometer was invented in Côte d'Ivoire by the press. Homosexuality affects this barometer negatively, and it explains economic misfortunes. Homosexuality was understood as men sleeping with men for money. It happened because of a greedy elite. They sold their soul to sleep with men. Rich men only gave away money in return for sex. Hereby, wealth was only redistributed among gays. Morally strong men were punished for not accepting money in return for sex. Power, money and sex became increasingly intertwined.

    Similar notions are to be found in Ghana, Cameroon and Uganda. Professor Nyeck notes that in Cameroonian papers, the media portrays the political elite as secretly gay. In one cartoon, a politician even wears a diaper. [1]

    African leaders also misuse this to their own advantage big time. Gambia’s Jammeh, Nigeria’s Jonathan, Zimbabwe’s Mugabe, Equatorial Guinea’s Nguema Mbasogo and Cameroon’s Biya have all to a certain degree misused the issue of homosexuality to hide their own failures. It is easier to blame gays.

    This leads to perhaps one of the overlooked factors in the hatred toward homosexuals contained in newspapers, online, social networks and during conversations. Mistrust. The state has failed in redistributing wealth, and people can no longer trust their own patrons or social networks to re-allocate wealth. It is aided by urbanisation, where rural family members increasingly mistrust their urban-living relatives. People do not trust the politicians or each other; that paves the way for myths and conspiracies used to make sense of it all. That is where the moral barometer enters the equation. The negative side-effect of mythologising homosexuality is that it disenfranchises the people even further, since it almost deifies the rich, making them untouchable. It weakens the average (alleged) gay person, who faces the wrath of the people, but without the protection a rich person has. They have become an easy target and outlet for people's frustrations. When the elite promise to fight homosexuality, they try to appear morally good by telling voters they will fight corruption, which they won't.

    To sum up, it will be noticed when listening to the critique by many Africans that underlying their angry remarks on homosexuality is mistrust, economic inequality and social criticism.

    Why it’s idiotic for the West to threaten an African country for criminalising homosexuality

    First, it rightfully creates flashbacks to the colonial past, where colonial powers treated Africans as children. Today, when a Western country threatens an African country, Africans are once again scolded as misbehaved children. No one likes to be treated as a child. To use threats as well creates a space where local leaders promote themselves as true defenders of Africa fighting neo-colonialsm. Suddenly, to be against homosexuality has turned into a fight whether you support African independence, or you support (neo)colonialism. To be pro-gay is to be a traitor, and to be anti-gay provides you a platform to promote yourselves as a true pan-Africanist. Either you support us, or you support them.

    This is also the reason why numerous African LGBTI organisations criticised former British Prime Minister David Cameron in an open letter when in 2011 he publically threatened to cut aid to Uganda, Malawi, and Ghana, if they did not adhere to proper human rights [2]. Those who issue such threats also seem to forget the obvious: Homosexuals or perceived homosexuals live normal lives among their non-homosexual peers. If aid is cut, it will negatively affect everyone. Homosexuals do not live in a protected bubble. If a school or a road is not constructed, everybody gets hurt. Meaning, cuts harm the homosexuals too and risk turning them into scapegoats for the woes experienced by the surrounding communities.

    But this is just one reason; there are other reasons why threats are at best worthless, but more often counter-productive.

    One other issue is the feminisation of Africa. "An empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest (...). We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness" (Conrad 1899:36-38)

    Or this one by John Gunther from his book ‘Inside Africa’ from 1955: "Rhodes fell in love with the Matopos when he penetrated here in 1896 (...)" (Gunther 1955:609)

    Africa was a woman, the White European man penetrated her. Africa was described as a naked, female virgin, just waiting for the white man to penetrate her with or without force.

    When two men are together sexually, one is penetrated and one is the penetrator. The one being penetrated is referred to as the female, and the penetrator is the male. The male symbolises power and dominance, whereas the female is the submissive one. In relation to the feminisation of Africa, Western criticism feeds into this narrative. The West is the male and Africa is the female. Today, a lot of Africans have had enough being the one being penetrated. Dominated.

    When Western powers air support for homosexuality, it is translated into a different narrative. In this narrative, the West wants to continue treating Africa as a woman it can dominate and penetrate as it pleases. The role of Africans is to bend over and accept penetration with or without force.

    This narrative has a spillover effect in how African leaders react to criticism from one or multiple Western powers. Greed, power and sex come into play. If an African leader bows to pressure, he (or she) would prove he is the female and the West, the man.

    If an African leader came forth supporting equal rights, he risks to being seen as a traitor, a puppet. But he also risks to be seen as one engaged in a homosexual practice because of an imagined endless lust for money demonstrated through predatory greed. African leaders accept aid from Western countries, making an African leader to be seen as being submissive to the West. It is a common conspiracy, where Western leaders are the homosexuals, and homosexuals are rumoured to only redistribute money to other homosexuals. Sex is a financial transaction, and if a leader supports homosexuality or refuses to renounce it, it must be because he is a homosexual himself, and he is part of this system, keeping the common man from getting access to ressources. Hence a critique of homosexuality is also a critique of the (imagined?) imperial West and a mistrust of the local institutions (Nyeck 2013:161).

    Yes, it is nonsense when some Africans argue that homosexuality is foreign to Africa prior to colonialism. But if we remove the outer layer, the core of the critique cannot be as easily dismissed. Africans have good reasons to mistrust Western countries and local leaders. African corrupt leaders have enjoyed the financial support from Western donors. It is also true that several Western powers, it appears, have not realized that this is the 21st century, and Africans are not willing to bend over. They are neither children nor are Western countries their father. Africa consists of sovereign states and they demand equal respect. Africans, regardless of their sexual orientation, speak out against the negative consequences of threats; the LGBTI open letter is an example thereof.

    If we listen to the at times homophobic and hateful comments on the issue of homosexuality among Africans, a social critique of the international community and the local elite is heard. People just tend to look at the wrapping instead of what is inside.

    These first two parts of the article aim to show that the critique of homosexuality aired by average Africans is actually not about homosexuality. Homosexuality is used to understand the level of disparity, and how corrupt leaders continue to be supported by Western countries. Hence the cause is more likely found in growing inequality, mistrust of national and international actors, and growing divide and mistrust between the rural and urban population.

    Western countries' flawed self-image

    Western countries seem stuck in the 20th century, especially in relation to the “white man's burden”, a phrase popularised through Kipling's poem bearing the same name. Africans have been portrayed as backward, primitive, brutal and ignorant, whereas whites are portrayed as modern, civilised and well-informed. The burden of the white man was that he should help the primitive black African to become a civilised, white man. Today, when scrolling through Facebook or you turn on the media, these notions still come into play, where Westeners themselves use hateful language against Africans framing them as savages, when commenting on the issue of homosexuality and Africans. This is rooted in a falsely perceived idea, that Africans are primitive. It is a circular reasoning, offering nothing but self-confirmation reaffirming a supriority complex.

    This understanding activates the white saviour syndrome. "We" in Europe tend to feel intellectually superior, due to the imagined intellect and the lack thereof among Africans. "We" have to save the poor homosexuals from the savage Africans. This syndrome reduces Africans to voiceless and hapless victims. Africans become pawns and this tale helps no one. It makes everything worse.

    It also reduces the debate to a discourse revolving around two agents, Africa vs. the West. Two monolithic voices. It serves two purposes. First, it is nice to tell oneself you are the good guys, whereas the other side is wrong. It feeds into the formerly mentioned superiority complex. This also somehow makes everyone suffer from acute amnesia. I will return to this in a minute. Secondly, this important human rights issue loses nuances. Neither the West nor Africa is a country.

    To return to the promised acute amnesia: It is amplified when the West is depicted as gay-friendly and inherently gay-loving because of their level of maturity and intellect, whereas Africans as gay-hating because they are primitive. This is to summarize most Facebook opinions and general coverage by people in Western countries.

    Historically, until recently homosexuality was outlawed in many Western countries. Until 1981 it was a mental illness in Denmark. If we move to several African countries, it was not frowned upon in some countries, even encouraged until colonialism took hold. Colonial powers wrongly believed homosexuality was alien to Africa. In reality, same-sex acts can be dated back thousands of years, as a cave painting of two men engaging in sexual conduct at Guruve, Zimbabwe, shows. To portray one side as gay-loving and one as gay-hating is evidently false.

    As mentioned, neither Africa nor the West are countries. By creating an "us" vs. "them", nuances are completely forgotten, making it easier to lampoon the other side for their shortcomings while forgetting your own. In reality, Western countries are like African countries. They are heavily divided on the gay issue. Several Eastern European countries have a terrible record when it comes to upholding and securing equal rights for sexual minorities. The USA is acting schizophrenic. In several American states you can marry one of the same gender Saturday, but when you return to work Monday, you can be legally fired for being gay.

    Even in the gay-friendly considered country Denmark, 2/5 homosexuals still fear been open about their sexual orientation [3].

    If we turn to Africa, numerous African countries are passing laws not banning homosexuality but laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Such laws have been passed in South Africa and Botswana among other countries. These countries are more progressive than most American states on this subject. At least 10 African countries have signed the UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity. In 2015, Mozambique took it one step further; it decriminalised homosexuality completely. In Nigeria and Ghana we see movies challenging the negative stereotypes of homosexuals. In some movies, homosexuals are portrayed as normal people.

    By reducing Africa and the West to two countries, we forget how divided the Western and African countries are within. By reducing Africa and the West to two countries, it becomes much easier to make one superior and the other inferior. That can be used by political actors to hide their shortcomings.

    As aforementioned, African leaders airing homophobic rants have been criticised for using homosexuals as scapegoats to cover their own incompetence and failures. But how are Western leaders any different? When Obama, then British Prime Minister Cameron, and other Western leaders threaten an African country over anti-gay bills, are they not doing the exact same thing?

    It is easier to talk about an African country's flaws than talking about your own problems. It is easier for Obama to condemn Uganda than to talk about the continuation and deep racial problems within the American society. It is easier for Cameron to criticise Ghana than to talk about Britain's complicity in the lack of proper reforms by continuing meddling in the affairs of African countries. Do I even have to mention structural adjustment programmes? It is a free ride condemning an African country, while it costs money to solve domestic issues or to address structural inequality favouring Western countries. When condemning anti-gay laws, Western leaders are not talking to an African leader or audience, they are talking directly to their own voters, trying to promote themselves as defenders of human rights.

    Here comes the big hypocrisy demonstrated by Western leaders that continues to provide oxygen for conspiracies driving anti-gay movements across Africa. Why is it that an African leader can be corrupt, place huge amounts of money in Western banks, allow blatant violence, rig elections, and beat protesters, and Western leaders do not say a word? Suddenly, when an African leader supports an anti-gay bill, Western leaders immediately sound the trumpet of all-encompassing and compassionate human rights defenders! It is no wonder some Africans believe in the myth that there is a linkage between homosexuality and power!

    Solution/conclusion

    It might sound like anti-gay bills, hate crimes and human rights violations shall be swept under the carpet. They shall not! I am only saying that Western countries and people tend to want to help either for the wrong reasons or in such a way that is actually counter-productive.

    It is necessary that organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and local NGOs criticise laws hampering human rights. This has a preventive effect because authorities know they are monitored. It also protects alleged or real homosexuals when interrogated by the police or are imprisoned. An eye is watching. This is life-saving. Hopefully, laws might even be amended for the better.

    The problem, however, is, threats and ignorant comments from Western leaders overlook some of the problems where Western leaders are partly blamable for lack of proper reforms in several countries fuelling the mistrust and growing inequality. Furthermore, these threats and comments overlook that not all African countries and Africans adhere to an anti-gay agenda. Even in countries known for their anti-gay bills like Nigeria, Uganda and the Gambia, we cannot conclude that people hate homosexuals before we have examined what exactly the people express dissatisfaction about. I argue that the expressed homophobia is multilayered, where homophobia is not rooted in backwardness or an imagined primitivism, it is a reaction to modernity which in several African countries has led to increased inequality and mistrust.

    Furthermore, the white saviour syndrome prevents real change. Strong voices and forces within Africa are completely forgotten or, worse, Westeners do not feel they need them, since they know best. When looking at the African continent, an active civil society consisting of lawyers, academics, clergy and laypeople fighting for equal rights is present. The white saviour syndrome takes ownership of a battle that does not belong to Westeners, and is not fought by them, but fought by locals.

    Of course the fight for equal rights is a global one, but it can only be won locally by locals. Danish homosexuals fought for their cause in Denmark; that fight could not have been done by outsiders. In America, Serbia, Finland likewise. The fight for equal rights in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and elsewhere cannot be fought or won by outsiders. It is a fight we should all support by supporting local voices.

    Criticism should be done behind closed doors by Obama and other Western leaders. When Cameron criticised then Ghanaian President John Atta Mills in 2011, Mills was forced to condemn homosexuals in public, even he had tried to defy the subject. When Obama criticised Ugandan President Museveni in 2014, Museveni had to sign the anti-gay bill to avoid being seen as a Western puppet.

    The fight for equal rights is a global one, but has to be fought and won locally. Expressed homophobia is tied to mistrust and economic inequality. Therefore, combating homophobia is closely intertwined with combating corruption and support for the demands for transparency.

    Westerners need to be aware of their colonial past, where the stereotypes produced during this era are still alive and still influencing how Africa and Africans are perceived and perceive themselves, including the homosexuals themselves.

    Link:http://www.pambazuka.org/gender-minorities/africa-homophobia-and-western-hypocrisy
     
  6. cuspofbeauty

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    [​IMG]

    It shouldn’t be a surprise that talking about African-American history includes lessons about black LGBT people, and now that history is on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, opening this weekend.

    “It’s difficult to tell the story of African-American history and culture without acknowledging the accomplishments and contributions of African-Americans who cover a spectrum of identities and experiences, including gender identities and orientations,” curator Aaron Bryant tells the Center for Black Equity. "Our goal is to tell the story of America’s history through an African-American lens, and so the museum embraces and celebrates the fact that black communities are diverse, as is American culture and history.”

    The new museum is designed to give the visitor the sense of looking at history through the “lens” of the African-American experience, with five openings representing the “lenses.”

    There won’t be a specific LGBT section; instead, several of the museum's collections will contain artifacts related to LGBT black life. The inaugural exhibits include 11 collections covering the range of historical, social and cultural contributions of African-Americans, with more exhibitions slated for 2017. Over 34,000 items from sports, music and performance, military history, civil rights, and more fill five levels and over 400,000 square feet of space. And the LGBT contributions are included throughout, just as in history itself.

    One artifact is a playbill from the play The Colored Museum, a compilation of sketches written by Tony award-winning playwright George C. Wolfe in 1986. The play features 11 satirical depictions of African-American life, including Miss Roz, a black transgender woman originally played by late actor Reggie Montgomery.

    A playbill from Lorraine Hansberry’s work A Raisin in the Sun, partly parodied by The Colored Museum, is also a part of the "Taking the Stage" exhibition, featuring contributions to the arts.Hansberry, who died of cancer at 34, wrote about sexuality and dated women, and she joined the first lesbian political group, Daughters of Bilitis.

    An iconic picture represents the Million Man March, a rally in Washington, D.C., first held in 1995, in the "Making a Way Out of No Way" exhibition. The black-and-white photo, shot by Roderick Terry, depicts an attendee holding a sign reading in part “I’m a black gay man.” A D.C. activist who wrote about the event on its 20th anniversary recalled hundreds of black gay men and lesbians participating in the march.

    The museum officially opens to the public Saturday and is booked through November. The kickoff celebration features three days of events, including a performance by bisexual musician Meshell Ndegeocello.
    [​IMG]
     
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  7. DreG

    DreG is a Featured MemberDreG Art Heaux
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    This was revealed for a pride event in Montreal.I actually like the design.
    [​IMG]
     
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  8. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    [​IMG]

    In the world of mainstream media, blogs, vlogs, websites and social media; phrases or terms like toxic masculinity, hyper-masculinity, #MasculinitySoFragile, misogyny, sexism and homophobia are in my opinion often misused for the silliest of situations. Not in this case pertaining to the disturbing video below.



    It has been scientifically proven that those who identify as heterosexual, who aggressively outwardly express anti-homosexual attitudes are usually attempting to hide and deflect their own bisexual or homosexual tendencies. I’m not saying this is the case here but it is very possible.

    The disturbed individual who pointed his gun at the African American man exiting the store, who he referred to as a “dick in the booty ass nigga”, goes by the Twitter handle @Binswanson and his Facebook page is Flex Swan Finesse. His Twitter account under this handle has now been made private but not before the video uploaded went viral.

    He not only had to prove to those in the car with him how intact his masculinity is by speaking and displaying his disdain for homosexuals; he also was compelled to record the criminal act and share it with his 2000 plus followers and the world via social media. Once it went viral, he replied to the understandable outrage by stating, “All the gay people mad. “I don’t give a fuck about none of that shit y’all saying I hate gay niggas save that shit.” He also went on to say in a Periscope video that he would have shot the man who was wearing the “tight” pants.

    What you witnessed was masculine fragility. Even though the sexuality of the man who had the gun pulled on him is not known, this was gay bashing. This was bullying. This was menacing. Also on a small scale, this was terrorism.

    [​IMG]

    The Detroit police department is actively investigating this incident so of course this hoodlum idiot is going to be arrested and possibly jailed. He possibly could even be prosecuted under Federal Hate Crime laws. Unfortunately this will add another Black body to the US prison industrial institutional system.

    I could make this about homophobia in the Black community perpetrated by Black men but I don’t feel like reading a bunch of “white people do it too” comments, so I’ll finish with just two points.

    First; why is it that gay-bashers cowardly hunt in packs? If you view non-heterosexuals as weaker than or easy targets, why not single handily commence the attack? Why is a group typically needed to harass, violate, physically attack and kill a homosexual? Shouldn’t a anti-homosexual masculine man be able to attack a homosexual without weapons, tricks, or sneak attacks on his own? Isn’t that a better way to show stronger hyper-masculine prowess?

    Secondly, (and I know this is offensive to most) at what point can it be universally acknowledged that anti-non-heterosexual attitudes and resentments are rooted in religion? Anti-homosexual beliefs are taught and passed down from generation to generation. Even passive tolerance is just as much damaging. “Hate the sin (homosexuality), love the sinner” or “I’m against discrimination but I’m also against the Gay Lifestyle”, is still oppressive and dangerous. By the way, what the fuck is the “gay lifestyle”?

    These attitudes and ideologies heard by the minds of non-heterosexuals at an early age can lead to psychological dysfunctions, depression, suicide, STI transmissions, substance abuse, self-hate and deceptions from being in the closet.

    Worse, these attitudes continue to influence and contribute to violence inflicted upon homosexuals and transgenders such as the case with the massacre at the Pusle night club in Orlando, FL.

    I’ve had a gun pulled on me during a carjacking, it’s surreal and terrifying. To the Black man in the video who had the gun pulled on him… stay strong brotha.

    *** *** ***

    Detroit police are asking the victim or if you know the person with the gun to call 313-596-2200. Click Man points gun at person in suspected gay hate crime Twitter video to see the news report video of the story.








    Read the whole post here.
     
    #1 OckyDub, Jul 13, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2016
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  9. cuspofbeauty

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    I hope its safe to post this.

    I don't think I have ever worried about my barber finding out I was gay. The conversations that go on are a whole different story. Now that i think about it, I have always gone to a Latin barbershop. I couldn't understand what they were saying anyway. The past five years my barber(owner) has been black and the environment is not heavy. You can be yourself.

    What have been your experiences?

     
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  10. NickAuzenneNOLA

    The Great Debater The 100 Daps Club

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    This young lady is so amazing to me. I love that the generation after mine has more freedom, understanding, and knowledge of self to identify themselves. To present who they are and articulate what they stand for without being dismissed. I'm proud of her and wish I had that clarity at 17 but I realize my journey was predestined and so is hers! Shout out to Amandla!


    http://amandla.tumblr.com/post/136866720678/so-i-took-over-the-teen-vogue-snapchat-today
     
    #1 NickAuzenneNOLA, Jan 13, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2016
  11. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    I usually avoid HuffPost Gay Voices but this right here was pretty cool.
    ******** **********
    [​IMG]
    I have had enough. Simply speaking from the heart, I desire more for our community. It feels like we are stuck in a rut. We've built a jail for ourselves, first engineered by the lies of false prophets, reinforced by the hate we were taught to inflict on our own selves, and guarded by pain that is only satisfied with unresolved hurt. We have to rewrite the narrative.

    There lies an untapped potential within the black gay community that I believe needs to be unveiled and activated. Every time I come across a think piece or Facebook post from some douchebag who writes about the agenda to turn black men gay, it reminds me that there are people that desire to erase us. What's even more disturbing is the innate need many of us have to oblige them.

    This theory that black men are being persuaded to "turn gay" or the notion that there is a conspiracy to feminize black men are lies. What they are as I see it, are the cries of some black folk that want to stay in the box that was engineered for us. We know the descriptions -- militant, aggressive, thug, hyper-masculine, Mandingo, unemotional, n-word. We know them well, don't we? While we hate stereotypes, I have to acknowledge that many of us have subscribed to them.

    Most recently, the outing campaigns that have been rolled out for Odell Beckham Jr., have been led by urban publications and promoted by many in the black community. Why? He likes to dance with his friends. He doesn't spend enough time beating his chest and sporting around non-black women; obviously, he's gay. While many of us recognize this as complete bullshit, I was shocked to see the amount of chocolate gay trolls poking fun at him as well, urging him to "come out". What's sad about this to me is that we have bought into the propaganda that black masculinity and gayness are mutually exclusive.

    For this very reason, there is a host of gay black men who are comfortable being silent. I tell people all the time, I know many more masculine gay men than feminine gay men. The difference is that feminine gay men, whether by choice or not, live their lives out loud. They are seen because they have not subscribed to the traditional definition of black masculinity. I believe that many gay men who hold up the tradition, understand the privilege that it carries both within and outside the gay community. Let's face it, his peers probably don't suspect a thing and he gets more messages with a booty attached on Jack'd than he can handle, even if he would prefer a dick pic. Once he acknowledges his gayness publicly, he breaks out of his box. As liberating as that may sound, that declaration has been his most notable antagonist for his entire life. It's not easy believing that you can be more than the big dick, deep-voiced, intimidating black man that you were always told you should be.

    We need to break down some walls that have been built in the names of masculinity and femininity in our community. There's so much more for us to explore internally and externally. Can you imagine all of the connections you would have made along the way had you not judged some of these guys based on the stereotypes you had in your mind? Can you imagine how many more times you would have decided to shake your ass in the club if you weren't worried about how you would be perceived? Tell the truth...

    We have to start believing that we are more than the characters in a Dawgpound USA video. We are multidimensional human beings and our masculinity and gayness are not incongruous. Rather, we must celebrate the men in our community that chose to express themselves in their authentic ways and acknowledge that masculinity can never be compromised by a stereotype. We have to allow ourselves the freedom to be exactly who we are even if that will take some unlearning on our part. Healing from the inside out is the only way we can rewrite this story. Cheers to the manly men and the not so manly men that love them; we're all men after all. We'd do well to remember that, because despite what we've been told, we really are in this together.

    "Black males who refuse categorization are rare, for the price of visibility in the contemporary world of white supremacy is that black identity be defined in relation to the stereotype whether by embodying it or seeking to be other than it...Negative stereotypes about the nature of black masculinity continue to overdetermine the identities black males are allowed to fashion for themselves."-- bell hooks
     
  12. Nigerian Prince

    Squad Veteran Most Valuable Player The 1000 Daps Club Supporter

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    WOW! I just woke up to this article in my inbox! Watch the video interview with Yusaf Mack on Philly's FOX 29! Click the link below!

    Now Yusaf Mack Says He's Gay

    Some excerpts from the article:

    “I’m gay, I’m tired of holding it in, it is what it is, I live my life, I’m gay,” said the 35-year-old Mack who says he has known this for “about eight years.”

    Mack says news of the tape “hurt” him and made him suicidal. Additionally, his oldest daughter (of 10), a 23-year-old, told him to kill himself because he embarrassed the family.

    Mack says he no longer wants to kill himself, though. “I’m free, I’m happy.” He’s no longer engaged to his fiance of five years. “She was good to me, I was good to her, but it was a lie,” he says.

    “The truth is out, and I’m sorry,” Mack told the public. “You gon’ like me or love me regardless. I’m still me. So when you see me on the streets, I’m still Yusaf Mack.”
     
  13. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    100dap
    and I would add many of them (feminine dudes) prop and put themselves up on a pedestal as the real true representation of what a real Gay is. If you don't fit that narrow standard, then some how you are not brave, DL or hiding. Fuck that.
     
  14. ControlledXaos

    Squad Veteran Most Valuable Player The 1000 Daps Club

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    [​IMG]

    Tryna find out who you talking about, Jewld.

    You know, there are masculine, out, gay men in the world. Are there closeted, gay black men? Sure. And they are not DL either. You are generalizing all gay masculine gay men. I thought we were trying to diffuse these ideas on both sides? Fem gay men usually can't 'hide' their "feminine" qualities from others. Masculine men can 'pass' for straight. Maybe this is viewed as a benefit. Maybe not. But if that gay man is really masculine and doesn't fit into the fem or 'queer' lane, he gets talked about and described as not "living in his truth." Why can't we accept that gay men are not all alike? It's not masculine gay men's fault that 'society' views feminine gay men negatively. However, we can speak up for those gay men. On the flip side, masculine gay men, even if they are not DL, get called DL because that same society doesn't understand that gay men can be masculine and also have zero interest in females.

    While I agree that many black people, gay, straight, trans, etc, don't value or respect each other enough to not kill each other is shameful. However, you out here calling this man 'crippled' and 'handicapped' which he probably takes offense to. Help yourself help your cause.

    You are referencing grade school. Well let me tell you, about 90% of the dudes in my high school who rattled out the terms 'f@g' and sugar booty... I have the receipts on their same sex escapades as I found out about them years later from different sources. If some dude in high school had some sexual repression and years later came to terms with it, how can you still pass judgement on someone who wasn't even a fully mature adult when it comes to matters of sexual identity? Sure, they could be bi, gay, DL or whatever now. But we can't be holding on to the same messed up stuff that happened before we had a high school diploma. You have to let some stuff go and move on.

    There's nothing wrong with wanting to date a masculine dude. Most here want masculine contemporaries but I don't think we are all looking for the 'thug'. Most off the dudes here want a regular, average Joe type of dude, not a roughneck.
     
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  15. Dante

    Dante https://www.gofundme.com/qv7v5dw
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    To be clear, just because a gay man is masculine does not mean he is on the DL/Closeted. There are gay men who are on the DL/closetd men, including feminine gay men who are actors giving women the "pseudo" masculine man to suppress/hide their gayness. You can be masculine and Out with your sexuality, gay or bisexual.

    You cannot concur that in order to be a gay man, you have to be feminine or else, you are closeted/on the DL. That is an assbackwards perception on being a gay man. And with that perception is the problem. The problem that gives the heteronormative world the notion that "that is what being gay is". And with that, misconceptions and stereotypes taint being gay or bisexual and gives fuel to unneccesary homophobia.

    I cannot stress it enough. Feminine gay men breathe the stereotyping of how a lot of people think of gay men, especially the ones who mimic the female existence. And that is a concurrent problem that does not help us showcase us as men amongst the other type of man that is only looked at as being "what a man is" amongst the masses.

    Ijs!
     
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  16. Thami Ndaba

    Thami Ndaba Lurker

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    My main source has to be cypher avenue. I discovered this site back at varsity whilst googling "black gay news" because at that time (still the same today) there weren't enough websites dealing with issues most relevant to sgl (masculine) men of colour.

    I used to visit mused mag but I can't remember the last time I went there.

    Locally I visit mambaonline (www. mambaonline.com) -which is like the most up to date gay website in my country.

    The only other local website is Exit.

    The problem with gay websites in my country is that they're dominated by white South Africans from content to advertising. For me as an African gay dude, cypher avenue remains my primary source of news, discussion and insights etc.
     
  17. Winston Smith

    Best Site Comments The 1000 Daps Club Supporter

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    Bill Maher's latest Tweet sums it up for me:

    #Orlando Conservatives:"Don't say it has anything to do with guns!" Liberals:"Don't say it has anything to do with Islam!" #DrowningInBS
     
  18. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    None of this long diatribe has anything to do with fems behaving badly and it being blamed on masculinity. 'Thuggism' and masculinity or toxic masculinity had nothing to do with fem queens fighting in the numerous online "ATL Pride" videos. What you typed (just like the post from the website) has nothing to do with what was on full display.

    I saw zero, masculine fake/real thugs exhibiting toxic or thug masculinity in any "Gays fighting at ATL Pride" videos released. Real Housewife "Imma Bad Bitch" behavior was however on FULL display in the videos.

    I know it may seem difficult at first but try to examine toxic exaggerated femininity and matriarchy instead of the default of placing blame on masculinity when something is dysfunctional concerning Black people. I know the MSM and the gay queer feminist has us trained and indoctrinated well but it is possible to detach.
     
    #32 OckyDub, Sep 8, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2016
  19. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    ok...ok...I'm looking at this meme like.
    15781652_10154859147023088_6131512721389289846_n.jpg
     
  20. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    Go right-a-head. It wont take long for him to find out you aint loyal. As soon as a white man with a bigger blog (queerty) comes along you will be ghost like...
    [​IMG]
     
  21. Cyrus-Brooks

    Cyrus-Brooks is a Featured MemberCyrus-Brooks The Black Vulcan
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    It just goes to show you how demented many black people are. You can be almost anything in the black community and people still love you, a drug dealer, murderer, rapist, dead beat dad with multiple baby mamas, just don't be gay.
     
  22. Nick Delmacy

    Nick Delmacy is a Verified MemberNick Delmacy Da Architect
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    When you ask these "What really is Black Culture" questions I feel like you're either trolling us or you've really been outside of the United States and around those foo-foo french Black folks too long and genuinely have no idea.

    Personally for me, real life examples of Black gay culture that has been visible include:

    Quincy LeNear Gossfield and husband Deondray Gossfield

    Timothy Ware and husband Eugene Barry Hill

    Octavius Terry-Sims and husband Jamal Terry-Sims

    Juan and Gee Session-Smalls

    These aren't high profile celebs, but they provide examples. And, as noted in the original post, many of the instagram pages of celebrity lesbian women of color look EXACTLY like these Black gay men I listed here.

    I'm not saying that Black culture can't include privilege and a lavish 'high cultured' lifestyle that many of the celebrity black gay men project, but I do find it odd that you could instantly change the name and photos on ALL their social media accounts with random White men and said White men would never be accused of cultural appropriation.
     
  23. machoBLKnerd

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    my takeaway from this thread is simply an affirmation that blk ppl must discuss class more often. it def shapes how one experiences and expresses their blkness. i think if you came expecting a more nuanced perspective on blk celebrity and gender politics, you may feel disappointed.

    reading these responses feels like watching a movie scene where blk custodians and the mailroom clerk crack on the new blk hire, VP of marketing--the only blk person in management--at the firm they service. they immediately question his authenticity.

    while the thread lacks all kinds of nuance, there is validity to the belief that blk ppl historically have had to pay a price--their identity--to enter and maintain their place in white spaces. unfortunately, i think many explanations here peddled in simple uncle tom tropes which seem unfair to the successful gay blk men mentioned above.

    the dominant expression of blk american masculinity is a kind of working class aloof bravado. it's seen as the most authentic blk male experience. many blk men who have a slightly to completely different male expression due to the combination of their other identities--class, sexuality, ethnicity, educational attainnent, etc--contend with this cultural expectation in some way on the daily.

    blk ppl need everybody, from the ratchet to uppity negro. we can't afford to throw anybody away or dismiss them as not (blk) enough. there's a place for all of us. white supremacy will have us thinking poor blks don't work hard enough and that successful blks reject their blkness. i'm just rooting for everybody blk.

     
    #23 machoBLKnerd, Feb 20, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2019
  24. ControlledXaos

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    I'm in the south. I hear "that's gay" all. The. Time. On simple sh!t.

    Dudes complaining about movie seats because they don't want to sit directly next to each other. That's gay!

    Dudes can't sit next to each other at the Waffle House. That's gay!

    Bro hugs because they can't do a real hug. That's gay!

    "fuggin fagz taking over this gym, I'm not coming to this mofo no mo!"

    "I can't get a job at.... because all they hire are these damned sissies. "

    "oh Chile, you know Cora son gay! Yeah Chile! Guulll she said she support him but I know my sons ain't gay. Imma pray for her tho. Uhmmm Hummm. Moved to that Atlanta and got in with the wrong crowd. Shame chile!"

    I have heard or seen these things. I'm usually in mixed company but in my personal experience, black people are way more invested in who is and who isn't gay and making sure they are not associated with 'gay' than other ethics groups.
     
  25. SB3

    SB3 is a Featured MemberSB3
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    That's just what I do man. I think many guys on here lose sight of the fact that we all come from diff backgrounds. I'm a theatre/dancer kiddo and I have opinions too man. Send ur kid to my school and they might make it 'big'.
     
  26. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    LOL...honestly I think you should (of course you don't have to) keep in mind not only the nature of this thread but also the nature of men who fuck with, clown on, joke on and rib each other.

    Both @Nick Delmacy and @alton have clowned me numerous times in debates or back-and-fourths about "how they won" or "why you mad bro" comments, gifs and memes. Yes I may be tight for a minute but these fools don't mean no harm. I will eventually get them back AND I feel my point of view still trumps theirs on a particular topic.

    Your argument is valid; HOWEVER the way you typed it initially was confusing as fuk. As a reader I feel it was kinda a foot note to the actual topic and accusatory in tone. Which to me was misplaced.
     
  27. Nick Delmacy

    Nick Delmacy is a Verified MemberNick Delmacy Da Architect
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    Rare occasion where I actually agree with @hannibal on this.

    If 50 Cent was different discreet and private person who was soft or feminine, no one would care that someone insinuated that he was gay in public. On top of that, gay people would actually be turning on the dude saying that he needs to "live in his truth."

    Trying to Out someone is never justified, but I think here even in the video Vivica made the point in her dig that 50 Cent goes overboard with the homophobia and talking about gay people. He kinda opened the door to this. I can see if this was just a dude who never said anything about gay people being "outed" or accused of being gay unjustly.

    As for the other thing @hannibal said, yeah why is being called Gay an insult even to gay people?

    Its like a joke I often repeat about Jesus being at least bisexual since he hung out with 12 dudes all the time, was a virgin, never even dated a woman and was a carpenter so he likely was into interior design. This causes gays to lose their shyt, as if its blasphemous to even insinuate that Jesus could have been gay in any way, as if it were the worst of insults But they're gay too, I don't get it.
     
  28. Nick Delmacy

    Nick Delmacy is a Verified MemberNick Delmacy Da Architect
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  29. cuspofbeauty

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  30. SwagJack

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    I'm basing my comments on the video. I get his points about performative masculinity, and he has some good ones. But he's basing them all on his personal experience and projecting that on an entire sex. By his logic, should we completely dismantle femininity too (I'm sure there's a layered conversation with valid points there as well)? I think a more intelligent way of addressing the issue would be to consider that there are folks that just don't fit into the binary of masculine/ feminine and lobby to make space for (versus ostracize) them in society. There are societies that have been doing this for quite a long time with varied results (Native American two-spirit people and Samoan fa'afafine). But it goes without saying that any place where machismo is dominant has less space (read: tolerant) for variations on gender expression. The last two and a half minutes of Wade's video best supports the point he was trying to make, in my opinion. Using examples such as Westbrook, Beckham, and the Smith kids as black folks pushing the boundaries of heteronormativity was smart. It shines a light on the possibilities of what's acceptable/ expected from folks that have a huge platform with perceivably a lot to lose by coloring outside of the lines. But to deduce that everyone who is "performing" masculinity is "wearing a mask" is just bad logic. To this day, I don't like the Bodyguard soundtrack.
     
  31. Purple_Is_Wack

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    Let's get real...that is faggy and cartoonish. At the very least it is disrespectful to feminine gay men and transgenders who are not flamboyant or outrageous. It is just a parody of most bway musicals....luckily I have cable. But what is most confusing is the voice over warning about using condoms. One major reason truvada was promoted, besides gay men being sluts, is that too many men forego condoms because either they could not get erection with one, or is was too distracting to put on condoms during tempestuous moments of passion.
    I feel like truvada similar to the way I feel about abortion...it is a necessary evil. Truvada means we can be mindless about sex, not worrying if our one night stand is so evil that he would inject me with the HIV virus without a moment's hesitation. It is a defeatist position like handing out syringes to intravenous uses in order to save lives. Ultimately it says we can live our lives as immorally as we choose and not suffer the consequences of our actions. For the record I have been HIV+ for 36 years, and always informed my partner of my status. I take zillions or more of HIV medications, am in great health, and smh when people mindlessly submit to taking a HIV prophylactic regardless of its toxicity.
     
  32. OckyDub

    OckyDub is a Verified MemberOckyDub I gave the Loc'ness monstah about $3.50
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    LOL yall going in.
     
  33. Purple_Is_Wack

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    continued. When you reach a certain age you see all these movements as just trends shifting back and forth. Masculinity as an identity has as much chance as being eliminated as America being a Christian state, or white people losing political power even if they quantitatively become a minority. Queens may get the most media attention because....well they are queens, but the queen's bitchiness may just be a compensation for being overlooked as a sexual partner, because Masculinity Rules in ones sexual choice.
     
  34. Nick Delmacy

    Nick Delmacy is a Verified MemberNick Delmacy Da Architect
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    Here's the deal. Personally, I don't get into, "Gurl, that Queen is gay and in denial" (Insert Black Woman On A Reality Show Gif Here) nonsense that seems to going on in this thread. I could literally copy-and-paste many of these comments and post them on Bossip and Mediatakeout.

    During the Kerry Rhodes situation, instead of playing into the gossip, I wrote this essay about the Black Gay Witch Hunt mentality that goes on: Gossip Sites, Black Women & Black Gay Witch-Hunts

    Kerry Rhodes gives me no gay-vibe at all.

    If even after that messiness, the dude says he's straight, I'mma take the man at his word. His fiance is taking his word for it and she knows him far better than any of us. Shit, it's really none of my business anyway.

    Just because many of us have lied about being straight at one point, that doesn't mean that ALL black men are lying when accused.

    Here are the facts:

    1) Kerry was NEVER seen kissing or lying in bed naked with that feminine dude. None of those photos were nudes or even secret snaps, they were photos taken by a third person (Kerry said they ALL were taken during a single vacation with his entire business team, not over years during a "secret" relationship).

    2) If Kerry Rhodes (supposedly paranoid and on the Down Low as you guys claim) was BOLD enough to date or even be seen and snapped out in public with a openly gay flamboyantly fem dude (who was even ONE OF HIS PAID ASSISTANTS), why wouldn't he be comfortable enough to say he's at least bisexual when "Outed?"

    3) He had already been released from the Cardinals at that point. Since then he has said he has no desire to play again, so why continue the ruse? Why not just be sexually vague like Frank Ocean and Jussie Smollet?

    4) Rhodes has said that he's straight, no ifs ands or buts...but he's also never attacked gays or even feminine men since then, even after dealing with a messy situation. So instead of giving him props for never diving into the homophobic muck, we join the choir in saying, "I wish that Gurl would finally just come on out and live in his truth." (Insert Black Woman On A Reality Show Gif Here)

    My point with all this is, true there are many reasons why a black man in this country would choose to remain in the closet. But in this situation, I choose not to join the homophobes in gossip comments sections on blogs and to instead go with what the black man "accused" of being gay has said and done.
     
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  35. Nick Delmacy

    Nick Delmacy is a Verified MemberNick Delmacy Da Architect
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    Welp, I know Instagram has exposed me like this several times as well b/c I be liking all my male homies body pics without giving no fukks :bronbad:
     
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