Black Civil Rights and Gay Rights – Same Fight? (Part II)

Wow-wee!! So, I’m just sitting around, typing a blog – minding my own business -- when suddenly, all of these people respond with what are incredibly insightful and passionate arguments! And as promised, I will conclude my discussion on the subject of same-sex marriage and whether it is a struggle comparable to that of the Black Civil Rights movement in the United States.

What?! Excuse me?! A comparison of what?! Is THAT what that article was about? Well, yes; it was actually. Or at least, it was supposed to be. The one thing that I have quickly learned about starting a discussion -- particularly one that is controversial or emotional, is that the ensuing responses and arguments can quickly go on tangents. I suppose the rule-of-thumb in engaging and moderating a particular issue is to shape it as neatly and narrowly as possible into a form that does not touch upon too many peripheral topics. In other words, tryto define its parameters. I believe I failed in that regard.

As I look at my original article and the many responses to it, I see so many other topics that sprung out of the original subject matter: Racism, homophobia, self-hatred, religion, slavery history, literacy history, Christian history, black-on-black crime, the Black church, genetics, the Constitution -- and so many others. Heck, I think someone even brought up SEWING! Don’t believe me? Stasha (AKA “the doggedpursuit”) said:

“I'm looking forward to your take in part two. I'm on pins and needles here, honey -- pins and needles.” (emphasis added) See -- told ya!

As this is a subject that can take on a life of its own – or rather, it is a subject that can take on an IMMORTAL life of its own, I will not belabor it much further. After all, I have many other subjects matters to discuss -- that will piss people off! I will bring this subject to a close by addressing a question that (again) my great friend Stasha asked in her last comment on 12/17::

“Are you saying that that same religious belief is a justification for actively OPPOSING that the minority group has the same rights as the majority? In short, an obligation to vocally oppose?”

My answer is, No. I am saying that people who hold such religious beliefs have the right to vocally oppose – whether they are in the majority or the minority. The point is – we cannot inhibit the exercise of one right (speech/expression) for the perpetuation of another. The Ku Klux Klan is a hate group. If they had their way, I (and anyone who looked like me), would still be in the fields -- or at least, nowhere near the White House – or white people! The negative opinions about this organization range from descriptions of “ignorant” to “satanic” and “evil.” But though they would lynch my Black behind as fast as you can say “rope,” I would vehemently defend their right to speak out and oppose my very right to American citizenship, were it at issue.

The topic I intended to press in this article was a comparison of the Black Civil Rights movement and the Gay Rights Movement. Personally, I believe there are more dissimilarities than similarities. However, I believe that Gay rights and same-sex marriage advocates can take a lesson from the Civil Rights movement and its leaders. My study of the movement and its history did not reveal a strategy of silencing the opposition. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the other leaders and organizers of the movement did not engage a tactic of denigration, belittlement or the minimization of other people’s rights to oppose their movement. Instead, they took their movement to the streets and educated people about their history, their plight and their struggle. They made it clear that the laws and the treatment of Black people could not be easily reconciled with the words (if not the legislative intent) of the Constitution. It is the reason why many Civil Rights scholars are skeptical that other Black leaders like Malcolm X and other less “passive resistance” strategists could have been as successful as "quickly."

My advice: Talk to and educate people on the merits and necessity of the cause – one person at a time if necessary. I understand that for many such a discussion is “not up for debate.” Well, that is a position that sometimes just has to be accepted – just as we accept that many people still oppose Blacks’ rights – even in my hometown of good ol' Ocala, Florida!

The word “tolerance” has become almost cliché on both sides of this issue. The word, in fact, is taboo word for some on the religious right because it implies “concession” on fundamental principles espoused in the Bible. But I believe “human tolerance” is a more appropriate concept onto which we should grasp. The ability to embrace what we do not understand or even that which we oppose is a serious challenge for our society, indeed! But it is a challenge to which we MUST find a solution.

We have spent our entire history trying to establish that “more perfect union.” All the while we have failed to realize that we become more perfect every time we promote inclusion. Inclusion of people – inclusion of ideas and inclusion of opinions. We do not have to agree with each other in order to respect each other. But don’t mind me . . . I’m just thinking here!

Black Civil Rights and Gay Rights – Same Fight?

Recently, the D.C. City Council, the legislative body of Washington, D.C. government, by a vote of 11-2 approved legislation to make same-sex marriage legal in the nation’s capital. This is a great victory for both gay-rights advocates and those who staunchly believe in the right to marry whomever one wishes without government-compelled restrictions. For those opposed to same-sex marriage, it was a crushing blow and a step backwards in what many perceive to be a head-long dive into social debauchery and an egregious affront to many religious beliefs.

Today, I had a great conversation with a friend of mine who happens to be gay. Yes, “I have gay friends!” Let’s get that out of the way. She, still ecstatic about the recent vote, did have one area of disappointment. The two votes in opposition to the measure were from city wards that are predominantly Black in population. My friend is Black – more accurately, she is half Black and half white. So, she was disappointed that the representatives of those wards voted against the measure that she believed “would free so many citizens of this city of their statuses as second-class citizens.” In giving their reasons for voting against the measure these two representatives indicated that they were voting the wishes of their constituents. Quite frankly, if that is true, then they did the right thing. That is what a democratically-elected official is supposed to do – act in compliance with the wishes of their constituents, right? No? Okay, that’s another article at another time.

So, my friend asked: “Why are Black people so ignorant sometimes?” Her summarily dismissing her own genetic make-up was alarming; and since I am at least 80-85% Black, I was offended. She continued, “if no one else should be able to understand the feelings associated with discrimination and exclusion, Black people should.” This offended me even more than the “ignorant” statement; and it was here that I explained to my race-jumping friend that the two fights are not the same. I explained that while I do not believe that anyone should be the subject of hatred, violence or discrimination based upon their sexual orientation, and that one has the right to their identity, to compare the fight for same-sex marriage recognition and the fight to be treated as human beings and citizens in a place where one’s ancestors have lived and labored for nearly 400 years is an apples and oranges argument.

Now, I’m just a guy thinking, but I do not personally know of any gay people, openly so or otherwise, being turned away from restaurants or public parks because they were gay. I do not see separate restrooms or drinking fountains for “gay” and “not-gay” people. Gay people to my knowledge were not being forced to sit in the back of buses – unless they were gay and Black. I do not recall fire hoses being turned on participants of gay marches or rallies. I have not heard of police dogs biting into the flesh of a gay activist or a gay person having their heads bashed in by officers of the law – just for being gay. I can not imagine that there are many documented cases of gay bars or gay meeting establishments being bombed or children of gay couples being killed or beaten – simply for being children of gay people. I will not belabor the contrasts of the two experiences. Suffice it to say, there are many.

The fight that same-sex marriage advocates have waged for what they believe has been a hard-fought and admirable one. This cannot be denied; no matter what one’s position is on the issue. So, let that fight stand on its own merit – not piggy-back on the brutalities inflicted upon an entire race of people who did nothing more than be born into a socially disfavored gene pool.

I also reminded my friend that while most Black people are politically liberal, most are also socially conservative. This, in one regard is a function of a historical and widely-ratified distrust of government-imposed legislations that mandate what we must or must not do in our private lives. After all, it was legislation – the law of the land, in fact, that consigned Black people into life-long slavery and effectively kept Black people in a quasi-slavery, fourth-class citizen status for more than 100 years after the abolition of slavery.

But I believe there is a more profound reason for many Black people’s opposition to same-sex marriage: Yep – that one. Religion. Keep in mind, Christianity was beaten (literally) into the hearts and minds of the African slaves forced into America. Well, it worked! The Black (Christian) church still remains, albeit not on the same level as a generation ago, the backbone of Black social culture, beliefs and political might. This deeply-held identification with Christianity generally does not force the Black population on a large scale to vigorously rail against gay relationships since it is essentially a “that’s your business/to each is own” kind of issue. It does, however, compel many Black people to withhold support of it when formal legislation arises that lies in direct opposition to a deeply-ingrained, fundamental Christian/Biblical belief. That is, that same-sex relationships are sinful in the eyes of God. And to ratify its legitimacy by applying a holy sacrament (marriage) to it is wrong. Now, from a historical and even present-day perspective, can anyone deny the power of religion and its influence on the hearts and minds of people? Black people as a group are simply not as “open” about some matters as other races.

Now, I like what I am about to do (and you are going to hate it). I am going to end this article – for now. This is one of those truly hot-bed issues that require more reflection (and more writing). And this article has gone way over the limit that I set for myself. So, you will have to wait for Part II. Until then, keep on thinking . . .