A few weeks ago I read an article on NPR detailing the story of Michael Sam’s struggle to fit in in the NFL and more specifically in the Dallas Cowboys. This got me thinking out the complexities of homosexuality and gay marriage within the black community.
When Jason Collins came out as gay after the 2012-2013 NBA season, he became the first openly gay athlete to play in any four major North American professional sports leagues. Following Collin’s lead, Michael Sam publicly came out as gay before being drafted by the St. Louis Rams to become the first openly gay player in the NFL. These events are shocking in and of themselves simply for the fact that homophobia still pervades many American lives. The fact that both of these players are black males makes these stories even that much more interesting.
African Americans, especially protestant African Americans, are historically the most conservative group with it comes to the acceptance of gay marriage in the United States. While most black are democrats today, that does not mean that they are necessarily liberal when it comes to all social issues. In fact, there is a strong attitude of conservatism in the black community, as evidenced by the reluctance of many blacks to endorse gay marriage. Although polling among African-Americans has been shifting, support for gay marriage in the African-American community still lags behind other communities. Why is this though?
One factor is religion. Opposition to gay marriage is higher among religious people, and African-Americans are more religious than the general population. As we’ve seen, Christianity has played an important role in African American culture before, during, and after the Civil Rights Movement. However, I would argue that religion is only one of the many factors at play.
When looking specifically at gay males in the African American community, there seems to be the idea that homosexuality is in conflict with African American masculinity is also a reason why homosexuality might be so unpopular within the African American community. Stereotypically, black males are expected to be extremely masculine. Conversely, the idea of homosexuality falsely implies a male who is not masculine.
Perhaps another reason contributing to this disapproval of homosexuality and gay marriage is due to the lack of blacks on TV or in film that are gay when compared to the number of gay Caucasians on TV or in film. While the numbers are rising, the numbers of white gay characters on network television outnumber the amount of black gay characters. This brings me back to the reason why I mentioned Jason Collins and Michael Sam at the beginning of my post. By having these high profile men portrayed in a positive light, there is an even greater possibility to shatter the stereotypes that black males are not masculine or that they should not be gay. In the spotlight are two immensely talented black males who are not only saying that it is all right to be gay, but that it is all right to be a black and gay. I think Michael Sam said it best when he said "I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player, instead of Michael Sam the gay football player."
Besides the influence of the black protestant church, the perceived threat to black male masculinity, and the lack of gay blacks on TV, what other factors do you think contribute to homophobia in the black community? If you support same sex marriage, what can be done to lessen some of this homophobia?
http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/09/07/346097883/black-gay-cowboy-michael-sam-steps-up
When Jason Collins came out as gay after the 2012-2013 NBA season, he became the first openly gay athlete to play in any four major North American professional sports leagues. Following Collin’s lead, Michael Sam publicly came out as gay before being drafted by the St. Louis Rams to become the first openly gay player in the NFL. These events are shocking in and of themselves simply for the fact that homophobia still pervades many American lives. The fact that both of these players are black males makes these stories even that much more interesting.
African Americans, especially protestant African Americans, are historically the most conservative group with it comes to the acceptance of gay marriage in the United States. While most black are democrats today, that does not mean that they are necessarily liberal when it comes to all social issues. In fact, there is a strong attitude of conservatism in the black community, as evidenced by the reluctance of many blacks to endorse gay marriage. Although polling among African-Americans has been shifting, support for gay marriage in the African-American community still lags behind other communities. Why is this though?
One factor is religion. Opposition to gay marriage is higher among religious people, and African-Americans are more religious than the general population. As we’ve seen, Christianity has played an important role in African American culture before, during, and after the Civil Rights Movement. However, I would argue that religion is only one of the many factors at play.
When looking specifically at gay males in the African American community, there seems to be the idea that homosexuality is in conflict with African American masculinity is also a reason why homosexuality might be so unpopular within the African American community. Stereotypically, black males are expected to be extremely masculine. Conversely, the idea of homosexuality falsely implies a male who is not masculine.
Perhaps another reason contributing to this disapproval of homosexuality and gay marriage is due to the lack of blacks on TV or in film that are gay when compared to the number of gay Caucasians on TV or in film. While the numbers are rising, the numbers of white gay characters on network television outnumber the amount of black gay characters. This brings me back to the reason why I mentioned Jason Collins and Michael Sam at the beginning of my post. By having these high profile men portrayed in a positive light, there is an even greater possibility to shatter the stereotypes that black males are not masculine or that they should not be gay. In the spotlight are two immensely talented black males who are not only saying that it is all right to be gay, but that it is all right to be a black and gay. I think Michael Sam said it best when he said "I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player, instead of Michael Sam the gay football player."
Besides the influence of the black protestant church, the perceived threat to black male masculinity, and the lack of gay blacks on TV, what other factors do you think contribute to homophobia in the black community? If you support same sex marriage, what can be done to lessen some of this homophobia?
http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/09/07/346097883/black-gay-cowboy-michael-sam-steps-up
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