It's hard enough being black in America. Especially being black in America and living in the south. It must be hard as [insert appropriate word here] to be gay and black in America.

Our community has a lot of work to do. I do think Roland should have been suspended. I don't think he should be fired. But, I do think he has a better appreciation for his predicament. Violence against any group or individual absolutely cannot be condoned. Roland Martin was not calling for violence against gay people. I thought it a stretch to say, because he made the comment, he was inciting violence. He's a public figure. So, he should've realized that his words would be carefully scrutinized. I don't know many black people that took the perspective that GLAAD has taken in its initial campaign to have him fired. But, I also have to wonder is that because many in our community are showing a level of insensitivity. Cleo Manago, an activist for same gender loving individuals has also raised the possibility of GLAAD being racist in their targeting of Roland. His words. He refuses to use the word, gay. I know absolutely nothing about this group or Manago. But, until Manago's conversation, I hadn't considered an alternative motive for their actions.

I haven't heard many voices from the African American community in support of Roland. I can imagine why. No one wants a target placed on their forehead by organizations like GLAAD and others. Or, perhaps they thought it was silly of Roland to place himself in this predicament in the first place. But, I also haven't heard many voices from leaders in the African American community calling for him to be fired.

In a sense, the silence is deafening. I have two questions, if you're African American. Why the silence? Not your silence here on DU. That I can understand. I think many blacks have left DU for a better environment. Ironic, that we have to leave a democratic board for tolerance. But, oh well. It's the silence from black political or public figures. I'm not asking if you think Roland should get the boot or not. Although, you can share if you want to. But, have I missed a comment from Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc. I may have. Share a link if I have. I'm just curious. Or, just share a link, if you don't want to risk a comment.

And, if you're gay and black in the USA, I would have to think you want someone to say something. Even something more than, Fire Roland. Firing Roland doesn't help gay blacks in America. Or, at least I assume it doesn't. Assuming is dangerous. But, conversations about tolerance and support within the community would be helpful. I think these are conversations that could happen with black leaders in the community. That is, if you still think we have black community leaders.

Wow, the silence is deafening? Wow, the silence isn't deafening? Wow, this is crazy talk? Wow! Macy's is having a great sale?

WHY is this not national news?? Why haven't we heard this before?? When we hear about violence against gays that becomes a national issue, it is hardly EVER about gays of color.

WHY IS THIS NOT SPOKEN MORE?????

And it infuriates me that this whole issue is being skewed the way that it is. Roland Martin is one ignorant assed dumb assed man. But because of the color of his skin, it is somehow being discussed as "homophobia in the black community." The conversation INSTANTLY pivots from "Why is Roland Martin such a dumb assed stupid man?" to "why are blacks so homophobic?" Would LOVE to see this type of attention and cultural smearing of entire groups the next time some white man or woman utters something equally as disgusting and reprehensible.

I appreciate the comments from NBJC which I have supported for years. And I think that they are right on the money and this is why this group's voice is so crucial imho. But it is the automatic "let's talk about black people" instead of "let's talk about the ignorant ass at hand" from groups/individuals that have NO relationship to the black community and want to make this about black people that piss me off to no end. I heard that CNN suspended Martin and they should have. But it would be so damn nice if black people could be treated as individuals in this country. God, I LONG for that miraculous day.

Just watching the news, you wouldn't think it's that bad. It reminds me a bit about the missing children segments. The What About Our Daughters blog posts pictures of missing women and girls and color. It's another horrific statistic. They never make the evening news.

WHY is this not national news?? Why haven't we heard this before?? When we hear about violence against gays that becomes a national issue, it is hardly EVER about gays of color.

Because - it plays better when it's a cute 15 year old caucasian boy.

Just like when it is a caucasian women being denied fair pay . . . she's "earned" it. So it's aok to tell of her special and unique struggle.

I long for that day too - re: Being treated as individuals . . . but the longer I live (turned 39 yesterday) the less I believe that will ever be so.

Sorry to be a negative nelly here - but feeling a little disheartened by the 'liberal and progressive' community at large today.

Join the club. I joined about 12 years ago which is why I'm an independent.

And yes, you can "go there." That's what this group is all about.

And for the record, I agree with you. I don't care how many whites scream "it's not race, it's class!" because more often than not, it IS race. No matter what the cause (equal pay, gay rights, victims of crime, whatever) if the media in this country can find a blue-eyed blonde male/female (or as close to it as possible) to personify it and become its living, breathing embodiment, that will ALWAYS be the way that they choose to go. The way it's always been in this country. This is exactly why so many blacks and other minorities have formed and have ALWAYS formed their own separate entities (including minority media) to deal with the unique issues that they face that the majority culture doesn't even consider.

Conversely, if it's a cause that a group is trying to do AWAY with (welfare, veterans' benefits, anything at all) the quickest way to build up public opinion in favor of getting rid of it is to cast it as benefiting too many blacks (although now Hispanics and Arabs are added to this Undesirable list).

like the audre lorde project and other community organizations. however they tend to be LGBT POC organizations not AA or POC orgs primarily. I think there are less people to listen to them.

obviously people of color are a minority group, of which only 10% is LGBT. so its a tiny group that talks or listens to violence against LGBT POC people.

However a lot of LGBT POC people do talk about violence in our communities, towards our people etc.

I use POC deliberately because the organizations I know about are POC, not just African American.

What about gay media? Shows/films/I don't know created by gay artists? Why does it still seem that just about every well known cause related to the gay community has a white, male face attached to it? And the fact that as usual, it's those with melanin that are facing 70%(!!!!) of the violence and so few know that is surreal to me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/opinion/06wed3.html
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/michigan-gop-pass-bullying-bill-giving-license-to-bully/politics/2011/11/03/29580
http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=9747&MediaType=1&Category=26

and these came as a result of me typing "laws named after gay Americans" into Google. Didn't type race, gender or anything. I'm sure I've missed a bunch of stuff so if you have any laws/legislation named after a person of color I would love to see it.

do you really pay attention to lgbt news? there has been talk in the lgbt media about violence and homophobia that black gay kids face and the alarming HIV rates etc.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/07/12/LGBT_Violence_Up_Significantly/

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/02/04/police-identify-trans-woman-fatally-stabbed-at-d-c-bus-stop/



http://www.queerty.com/brandon-white-victim-of-brutal-atlanta-bashing-speaks-out-at-press-conference-20120208/

but I'm not familiar with the case or that person. I have heard about the person that was stabbed in DC as it was fairly recent. Have never heard about Brandon White and it's particularly interesting considering I am from Atlanta and black folks talk about stuff that's happening there.

But I can get any more info that I need from other sources. Thanks.

should they maybe cover it more? absolutely. however to say they are not covering assault of black LGBT is not accurate. i think more accurately there are few readers of lgbt media and therefore its not out in the world as much as it should be

Last edited Thu Feb 16, 2012, 07:43 PM - Edit history (1)

except the media in general. I asked about gay media only after you mentioned that "some orgs" were talking about this.

The real issue is here is that no one in this forum that has participated in this thread so far had any idea that gays of color were by far the number one victims of violent crime against gays. These are numbers I have NEVER read before and I have read lots of info on crime stats in this country.

Again, thanks.

i dont want to be antagonistic at all about this.

I think most of us pay attention to "the" news. Me personally, I'm probably not paying attention to lgbt news, black news, news for women, etc. But, I watch the news. I read newspapers. I read journals and articles.

To my mind, none of us should have to go to a special outlet to read about statistics like these. Or, to find out about Kevin. I'm wondering about CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, and the other alphabet soup companies.

I don't think any of us could blame gay media unless we're followers of gay media and recognized a shortcoming. I do believe there is a shortcoming in the so called mainstream news media outlets that I tend to follow.

Now, Cleo Manago is a black, same gender loving male, who often blames gay media. He takes issue with certain lgbt organizations and ties the concern to race. It was after hearing an interview with him, that I made the initial post. Cleo would probably be a better person to question for blaming gay media.

I think the rest of us are blaming the mass news media outlets that we are more familiar with. And, although I think I understand what you mean by the information not getting out because there are not as many readers of lgbt media, I think these other media outlets have more than enough money and people to uncover, pursue, and publish these news stories.

I think they have actively decided to ignore some stories because either 1) they have assumed Americans are not interested or 2) they simply aren't interested. And, they do pursue the stories that interest them.

Thanks for your post!

Can you post a bit more about this please?

Now, Cleo Manago is a black, same gender loving male, who often blames gay media. He takes issue with certain lgbt organizations and ties the concern to race. It was after hearing an interview with him, that I made the initial post. Cleo would probably be a better person to question for blaming gay media.

Sounds interesting.

It seems like I see his name all over the place now. HuffPo has a recent article about him. I just made a new discussion post about him.

i read in Number23's original comment on this thread about this:

"WHY is this not national news??"

that is a crucially important question, and must be examined, without any doubt. i think it is one thing to reply with sensitive caring, that lgbts do care intensely, and that we do discuss and strategize endlessly on this very reality that lgbts of color still have to fight all the harder for recognition, rights, and mainstream recognition and compassion, and so on and on. it is another to reply defensively when the rightful criticism is of media in general, and not of lgbt media. after all, those not lgbt would not have immediate reason to know what is in lgbt media, except by someone such as yourself, or me, sharing that it is there, it is diligent, it is determined to shout about and change that indecent racist inequality both within and without our communities and world in general ....

thank you for posting, La Lioness Priyanka!

Really. Thank you.

it matters beyond expression.

thank YOU!

The conversation INSTANTLY pivots from "Why is Roland Martin such a dumb assed stupid man?" to "why are blacks so homophobic?"

absolutely! every chance M$M has to deform people's view of blacks, it does so, and it will do so, and we must stand up against it. absolutely. it is white supremacist opportunism at its most grotesque.

be certain that, as shown in the article and comments this discussion is about, it is, and has long been, an extremely potent method of dividing people.

look at how effective it is! M$M - white supremacist propaganda media - has stabbed exactly the right nerves to cause the fiercest imaginable reactions between lgbts with melanin and lgbts without melanin!

and believe me, all lgbts of consciousness i have ever known have an absolute fierce devotion to equality, and a passionate revulsion of unearned privilege.

as Ms. Coretta Scott King kept trying to tell people, "Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions.”


it is essential to white supremacism to divide us. and that is high praise to all of US!

because together we really can keep taking steps ever closer to this imperative growth, this "miraculous day":

... it would be so damn nice if black people could be treated as individuals in this country. God, I LONG for that miraculous day.

thank you for posting, Number23!

Girl...

I have met few people who can sum up the situation so perfectly and beautifully with just a few short words. :bowing: :tippingmyhat: :courtesying:

:swoon:


very dear Number23, you provoke and inspire very serious thought in me. on crucial questions. perpetually.

o! gratitude!!


:bowing:

and at the end, the reporter basically gave dude a pass because he's a brother on TV.

I don't give him a pass for what he did and he needs to have had his can kicked off air. What he wrote was shameful, offensive, vulgar and stupid--especially someone as old as Martin is should know better.

Last edited Sat Feb 18, 2012, 02:08 PM - Edit history (1)

I agreed with the suspension. I don't think he should be kicked off the air permanently for the comment.The comment was insensitive. But, I certainly don't believe he was inciting violence against gays and lesbians. I think that was the argument, GLAAD used, but I'm not sure. If that's the standard, I don't think Roland Martin met it. If the standard is, individuals that are insensitive to gays and lesbians should be tossed off the air...then he certainly met that one. But, now I'm wondering who else would meet that standard if it was applied broadly.

There are times when I have felt both MSNBC and CNN were insensitive to blacks. No one is surprised when Fox is insensitive. Insensitivity to women could send (to my mind) most of the males packing on every network.

CNN may very well give him the boot. It's their company, their right, and their choice. They could fire him for being stupid and I would definitely cosign. He should have known better. Perhaps this wasn't the first time he was offensive and it just caught up with him. I don't know.