Ok, Now I Will Speak
Have tried to stay out of this matter, as one was brought up NEVER to discuss religon or politics, however without any intention of given offence, here goes.
As far as the "black community" is concerened, the "gay" civil rights movement is a bit of a johnny-come-lately on the scene.
African-Americans endured almost 100 years of brutal slavery, then a period of equally brutal Jim Crown/Reconstruction period, leading up to simple out right discrimination leading to the civil rights movement and today.
Yes, "blacks" have made gains, Tuesday's election results are testament to that. However even amoung the black community, Mr. Obama is not the "ideal" black American, (he is bi-racial and considered more "white" than black, which worked in his favour some say as it made him all the more non-threatening to certain aspects of white America), and would have preferred someone like Jesse Jackson or some such from the community, but will take the win anyway they can.
Are gay men and women discriminated against? Of course, but in many of the African American eyes, they have not historically endured their sufferings, nor do they today.
We are not just speaking of economic or social sufferings, but major physical violence, sanctioned by law. Black men and boys have been pulled out of their homes and lynched for reasons ranging from sport, to some white woman miles away made a claim of "rape", by a blackman. It mattered little if the man killed was guilty of any crime, keep hanging/shooting/killing any black you see, sooner or later you will get the "right" one, or if nothing else one can have a good time while keeping the black populace in their place.
Again, not meaning to give offence, but there is a rather strong feeling of resentment in the African American community that gays have compared their lot to the struggle for the former, for all the above reasons.
Indeed many, and not just those in the African American community see gays, especially white gay males and a few women doing very well for themselves. From television, to banking, to finance one sees gay men and women happily going about their business, and in many cases making vast sums while at it.
One of the interesting things about gay marriages is the announcements in the New York Times. One sees gay doctors, hedge fund managers, partners at white shoe law firms and top investment/brokerage houses all white, all quite comfortable. Indeed the New York Times (aka the "Advocate" by many here because if it's seemingly endless slant/promotion of "gay" issues, does not miss an issue where happy gay men or women (some with their children), are shown happily beaming from their pages.
The upshot to all this is the preception that the "gay marriage" movement is nothing more than wealthy or at least upper middle class white gays trying to "force" their agenda onto society and remove any remaining stigma keeping them from their place at the top table.
Again, these are not my views, nor does one share them, just letting you all know how things on the ground are playing out.
Sorry if the above gave offence, I did not mean it.
L.
www.allsaints-pas.org
