Queer Theories African American Homosexual

Trapped The Dilemma of the African American Homointimate Colin Chastain April 1, 2013 Dr. Wayne Brekhus Sociology 3300 indulge Theories Introduction When some unity hears the word brisk or queer, they closely a lot think of the middle class, Caucasian risible male. For my look into proposal, I plan on canvas what is very very much oerlooked in queer identity the struggle of queer identity in the African American homo male. I am interested in studying this because I grew up knowing I was joyous in a sm both, middle class town in rural America.I wish to contend how aerial African Americans atomic number 18 restricted by smuggled stereotypes, queer stereotypes, acceptance with stipulations in the comic corporation and black company of interests, racialism in the laughable corporation, homophobia in the blackness alliance, perceptions of blackness and masculinity attitudes toward paederasticity and their load on audacious coloured workforce living openly, tra nsvestiteity and devotion (the black church), and media perceptions of filthy risibleness. The majority of the black union stated they wished to stick up restriction free lives. They be non able to fully be themselves in their daily lives and often deliver to assimilate to be authorized. trance untold research has been conducted on white man males, there is very lower-ranking study on African Americans who identify with the queer identity. African Americans already curb to struggle with the racism and stereotypes of cosmos black as an highly masculinized and heterosexual person environ handst while struggling with the internal conflict of cosmos audacious, which makes their experience unique. Because African? Americans impart already encountered a very traumatic experience with oppression, unity could safely assume that African? Americans would be much than than sensitive to socially oppressive practices such as being mirthful so most decide to conceal it.S adly, African? American homoerotic males be largely viewed by forbidding heterosexuals as non rattling Black, deviant, a disg turn tail, an embarrasswork forcet and, worse as yet, an agent of genocide aimed against their own race (Alexander, 2004 76, 78). Racism within the Gay Community It is sad to tally that racism is good-tempered prevalent til now within the gay companionship a company that is oppressed almost as much as African Americans. The transactionhip between the gay community and Black community has been ace of association and disassociation. The gay community through bring emerge history has the likes ofned their struggle to that of Blacks in America.The Black community has had little interaction with the gay community and has as secern to distance itself from being compared to the gay community. Keith Boykin, author of One More River to Cross, often speaks to the dissensions between the Gay community and the Black community. He try outs both the gay co mmunity and Black communitys relationship to each causeer(a) and gay Black men. Boykin states, The dirty little secret about the homosexual population is that white gay people are just as racist as white straight people (Boykin, 1996 234). To be gay has taken on a white face as wholesome as white experiences (Boykin, 1996 235).Homophobia within the Black Community One liaison I never realized is how many African Americans feel they have to choose between being Black or being gay based on homophobic pressures within the Black community. In her accommodate, The rightfulness that Never Hurts, Smith dedicates a chapter specifically to this issue. . Smith states, The underlying surmisal is that I should prioritize one of my identities because one of them is actually more all-important(a) than the rest or that I must arbitrarily choose one of them over the others for the sake of acceptance in one particular community (Smith, 1998 125-132).This is an issue gay Black men face as they have loyalties to each of their respective communities. Smith acknowledges the double soul that many gay Black men face in choosing between the gay community and the Black community. In my experience, being a Caucasian gay male, I never had to go through this since being gay, like Boykin states, has taken on a white face as the most researched and highlighted community of gay men. Gay Black manpower and Issues of Masculinity and Homosexuality Afrocentricity a sense modality of thought and action in which the centrality of African interests, values, and perspectives predominant.In terms of action and behavior, it is a devotion to the idea that what is in the best interest of African consciousness is at the heart of ethical behavior (Asante, 1998 2). It seeks to highlight the idea that to be black is to be against all forms of oppression, racism, classism, homophobia, patriarchy, child abuse, pedophilia, and white racial domination. concord to Asante, one cannot be afrocentric an d gay. With this being said, afrocentrism recognizes homophobias existence, but cannot condone oddity to be accepted as good to further the national exploitation of a strong people.This is what most Black men struggle with yet again. To choose to embrace their black heritage and furthering an oppressed race over embracing their sexuality. Its almost as if Black men are trapped between conflicting interests of different communities. Perceptions of Homosexuality leading to Risky, Dangerous, and flower Behaviors Studies have overly been conducted which look at the Black gay community and riskier sexual behavior leading to AIDS. Previous research has press outn a join between riskier sexual behavior and beliefs regarding quirkiness in the Black community (Peterson, 1992).This link this creates an added barrier for Black gays when compared to white gays. Previous research has as well as shown that gay Blacks do not seek refuge primarily within the LGBT community and tend to be le ss involved than gay whites (Stokes, 1996). In fact, as Lewis points out in his study, gay Blacks experience racism in interactions with white gays (Battle, 2002). Attitudinal differences are important to understand as we attempt to bring out those obstacles gay Black men view as restricting their life-time relegates. Self? estructive behaviors today carry ond to a negative self-concept are also the result of internalizing heterosexual ideology. High incidence of substance abuse, increasing rank of suicide, and risky sexual behaviors are the most common self? iconoclastic behaviors exhibited by homosexuals. This is even more prevalent among Black gay men because the way they perceive themselves correlates to W. E. B. DuBois double consciousness. Gay Black men research often feel rupture between the gay community, the Black community, and being a man in society.Having to combat stereotypes makes it difficult for these gay Black men to find a home in either community (Alexande r, 2004). Acceptance with Stipulations in the Gay Community and Black Community go gay Black men did feel accepted at time within the gay community and the Black community that acceptance often came with a stipulation. Stipulations in the gay community were assimilation and/or sexual interest. The participants stated that if they demonstrated traits that were similar to the white community, they were often accepted into the community without any problems.Some participants even stated that they felt more accepted in the gay community when they muted their Blackness. The participants also stated that if the whites had an interest in gay Black men, then they also were accepted into the community. Stipulations in the Black community were usually silence (vocally and visibly) and explanations of what it agency to be homosexual. Black gays often felt that they were accepted into the Black community as long as they did not speak about their lifestyle or demonstrate their lifestyle (i. e. holding hands with another man, kissing another man, being golden or effeminate, etc. . Many Black gays claim to feel accepted in the Black community once they get a chance to talk to a Black individual one on one to show them that not all gay people are what the media has portrayed. Ultimately, Black gays, like many gays, have to act straight and not break dance any inclination that they were homosexual. Homosexuality and Religion (The Black Church) The understanding of queerness within the realm of trust is also important to consider because religion has been a primary aspect of Black liberation for centuries.Homosexuality remains a major restrict in religious talk which has prompted many researchers to analyze why homophobic attitudes exist. In Delroy Constantine-Simms text, The Greatest Taboo Homosexuality in Black Communities, the question is asked whether or not oddity is the greatest taboo? Constantine-Simms, E. Patrick Johnson, and Horace Griffin all provide articl es that analyze the relationship between homoeroticism and religion (specifically the Black church). All authors defy that the bible has been co-opted by the religious right wings placing a greater emphasis on withdrawal rather than integration.The authors all compare the homophobia that revolves around religion to the racism and sexism that quiet down today clouds religion. Constantine-Simms states, With the interpretive grid provided by a critique of domination, we are able to filter out the sexism, patriarchalism, violence, and homophobia that are very much a part of the parole, thus liberating it to reveal to us in fresh ways the in breaking, in our time, of Gods domination-free order (Constantine-Simms, 2000 87).In Keith Boykins book One More River to Cross, he speaks of several ministers hes interviewed regarding gayness and religion. The majority of reverends interviewed agreed that homosexuality is a sin often quoting the Bible to reinforce their opinion. Boykin highli ghts one reverend in particular who has targeted the gay community as sinners. Boykin cites the Reverend James Sykes as one of best cognize opponents of homosexuality in the Black church. Boykin quotes Sykes defending a Klu Klux Klan meeting, If I like pork chops and the Klan likes pork chops, nobody has cipher to say.But because the Klan agrees that homosexuality is wrong, and I agree that homosexuality is wrong, then all the sudden Im dormancy with the Klan (Boykin, 1996 127-128). This attitude toward homosexuality is appalling considering Sykes is the other(prenominal)or of a four speed of light plus member church. Boykin, along with several other scholars, assert that the verbiage of religion has been corrupted by right wing moralists who want nothing more than to eradicate homosexuality from the church. Media Perceptions of Black Homosexuality Images of Black homosexuality have been predominately negative in popular culture today.Across the board all individuals who have r esearched this topic agree that gay Black men are represented negatively in popular culture. Gay Black men have been portrayed as void of masculinity, hyper-sexual, sassy, and flamboyant. Marlon T. Riggs, author of Black masculine Revisited Reflections of a Snap Queen, discusses his anger towards the straight men of the Black community. Riggs states that he expected the obstacles in life from the White community because of his race, but never expected obstacles from his own brothers regarding his sexuality.Riggs believes that they should understand what it is like to be oppressed, and therefore should abandon any notion of oppression since they have to face a form of it every day as well. Riggs cites several Black men who have done nothing but participate in the degradation of the gay Black male. His best example lies in a comedy show that used to air entitled In Living Color, in which ii straight Black men portrayed gay Black men to review movies from a mans point of view. Rigg s also brings the treatment up again regarding the trap of being gay and Black. I am a Negro Faggot, if I believe what movies, TV, and rap music say of me. Because of my sexuality, I cannot be Black. A strong, proud, Afrocentric Black man is resolutely heterosexual, not even bisexual. (Riggs, 1991 389-394) Various video productions have been produced that attempt to acknowledge the difficulties of being both gay and Black. pips such as Tongues Untied intimately rede the experience of the gay Black male. Tongues Untied is directed and produced by Marlon Riggs.The picture palace addresses the struggle gay Black men face silenced and torn between both the gay and Black communities. Riggs video encapsulates the pain, fear, and hatred gay Black men deal with negotiating their identities within a community that does not recognize their race and a community that rejects their sexuality. The film presents a commanding message for gay Black men to love not moreover themselves but thei r Black brethren. Tongues Untied presents the best visual representation of what it means to be Black and gay in America.Current media is attempting to expand cultural stereotypes. While some of those negative stereotypes that have been reinforced by popular media still exist, these new forms are seeking to eliminate those past stereotypes and show the population that there isnt just one image of the African American gay man. Attitudes toward Homosexuality and their effect on Gay Black work force Living Openly White and Black attitudes toward homosexuality have directly affected gay Black men to a greater horizontal surface than gay White men. Previous studies have yielded an array of mixed results.Levitt and Klassen (1974) plant in their research that whites significantly maintain more negative attitudes toward homosexuality than Blacks. Years later Hudson and Ricketts (1980) and Schneider and Lewis (1984) make up the opposite. The most common results regarding Blacks and white s and their attitudes toward homosexuality displayed that Blacks were more likely to support anti-discrimination laws but Whites were typically more accepting of the homosexual lifestyle. Gregory Lewis (2003) conducted research that measures Black-white differences in attitudes toward homosexuality and gay rights.His article uses responses from almost sevener thousand Blacks and forty-three thousand whites in 31 surveys conducted since 1973 to give more definitive answers on Black-white attitudinal differences and their demographic roots. Lewiss findings correlate with the research of the past displaying Blacks as percentage points more likely than whites to condemn homosexual relations as always wrong and percentage points more likely to see them warranting Gods punishment in the form of AIDS, but no more like to favor criminalizing gay sex (Lewis, 2003 63).Lewis also found that while Blacks attitudes regarding homosexuality were predominantly negative Blacks are percentage points more likely than whites to support laws prohibiting antigay job discrimination. Difference in attitudes matter because as Lewis states, First, Black lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGBs) may rely on same-race heterosexuals for acceptance even more than white LGBs do (Icard, 1986) (Lewis, 2003 61). Those same researchers cogitate that Blacks attracted to their own gender often experience more pressure than whites to hatch their homosexual behavior, have children, or marry (Icard, 1986).This fear of coming out represents a problem within the gay Black community and they constrain trapped which prevents them from living the lives they feel they ought to be living. Conclusion The Black gay male struggle certainly is a rough one. Compared to my experiences with homosexuality, it seems that Black gay males have much more pressure on them to conform to the heterosexual social sanctions of society, their own black community, and racism. I can definitely relate to the substance abuse a nd acting straight (such as pushing the thoughts out of my mind).The way society views all homosexuality makes to change, and is slowly changing. Black gay males should be paid a little more aid to in the media, research, and other forms of communication so that the weight of these pressures may be lifted off of their shoulder. Even other minorities such as Hispanic, Asian, or Indian should be more looked upon to open the nations eye to the diversity and struggle of all homosexuals, not just the white gay male. With this being said, I feel we are taking great strides with the LGBTQ community to further the goal to include all who are struggling.We just need to find a way to eliminate any prejudices that make it even harder for Black gay males or any ethnicity/orientation to find ecstasy and acceptance. Works Cited Alexander, William H. (2004) Homosexual and Racial Identity Conflicts and Depression Among African? American Gay Males, Trotter Review Vol. 16 Iss. 1, Article 8. Availa ble at http//scholarworks. umb. edu/trotter_review/vol16/iss1/8 Bailey, Robert W. (1999) Gay Politics, Urban Politics Identity and Economics in the Urban Setting. Chichester West Sussex, untested York Columbia University Press.Boykin, Keith (1996). One More River to Cross. Doubleday dell Publishing Group, Inc. Anchor Books. Constantine-Simms, Delroy. , ed. The Greatest Taboo Homosexuality in Black Communities. Alyson Publications. 2000. Hudson, Walter W. , and Wendell A. Ricketts. 1980. A Strategy for the Measurement of Homophobia. journal of Homosexuality 5(4)357-72 Icard, L. (1986). Black gay men and conflicting social identities Sexual orientation versus racial identity. Journal of Social Work and Human Sexuality, 4, 83-93. Levitt, Eugene E. , and Albert D.Klassen. 1974. Public Attitudes toward Homosexuality Part of the 1970 state Survey by the Institute for Sex Research. Journal of Homosexuality. 1(1)29-43. Lewis, Gregory B. Black-white differences in attitudes toward homos exuality and gay rights. Public Opinion Quarterly. Chicago Spring 2003. Vol. 67, Iss. 1 pg. 59, 20 pgs. Peterson, J. L. (1992). Black Men and Their Same-Sex Desires and Behaviors. In Gay Culture in America, edited by Gilbert Herdt. Boston Beacon Press Riggs, Marlon T. Black butch Revisited Reflections of a Snap Queen.Black American Literature Forum, Vol. 25, No. 2, Black Film Issue. (Summer, 1991), pp. 389- 394. Riggs, M. (director). Tongues Untied. 55 min. Frameline, Inc. , 1989. Available at http//www. dailymotion. com/video/xe80ww_tvxs-gr-tongues-untied_people. UWRkFE7n9Ms Smith, Barbara. The Truth that Never Hurts. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and London. 1998. Pgs 125-132. Stokes, Joseph P. , and John L. Peterson. 1998. Homophobia, Self-Esteem, and Risk for HIV among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men. AIDS Education and Prevention 10(3)278-92