The Hypocrisy of White Gay AmericaGays Can Protest Isaiah Washington, but Remain Silent on White Gay Man Who Performs Blackface Minstrel Show

After 24 hours of protest by white gay America towards “Grey’s Anatomy” star Isaiah Washington because of accusations from fellow gay co-actor T.R. Knight saying Washington referred to him as the f-word and Washington’s primetime mistake of using the word at a press conference at the Golden Globes, the gays have won. 

In an editorial I penned, I referred to the protest as something that reminds of 1876 in the Deep South.  In 1876, when a white woman would scream rape at the hands of a Black man, that Black man was then dragged out of his home in the middle of the night and beaten and lynched by an angry white mob without any proof or evidence, just the word of his accuser.  It was another case of guilty until proven innocent.

At the end of the day, the issue for many Black Americans, including me, was the fact that in the beginning this was the issue of one man’s word against another and without any further evidence, all of white gay America pounced on Washington defending their beloved Knight.

However, for the most part that’s the way it always goes.

Moreover, in the end, as I said yesterday, Isaiah was wrong for using the word at the Golden Globes, he could have said “the f-word” instead of repeating the entire slur again.  However, it really didn’t matter because the gay mafia’s wheels were in motion and they smelled meat, dark meat.  It didn't really matter whether Isaiah apologized or not because it was all down hill for him anyway.  Once you’re labeled as a homophobe in the entertainment industry, it’s hard to shake that wrap.

But something about this whole thing reeks of white privilege, gay power, and what I commonly refer to as the hypocrisy of white gay America.

The gay mafia didn’t have a problem defending their pretty boy Knight whose career will probably sky rocket now that’s he’s out of the closet.  However, at the same time, there’s been no protest launched against Charles Knipp, a white gay man who dresses up in blackface as a character he calls Shirley Q. Liquor and describes as an “inarticulate Black women on welfare with 19 kids.”

Set to perform during Black History Month in West Hollywood, this self-described comic has built an entire career of promoting the most negative and vicious stereotypes of Blacks, in particular Black women.  In broken English, Liquor makes comments like “axe your mamma how she durrin” and misuses words like “ignunt.”  Knipp mocks the Black American holiday Kwanzaa and makes fun of stereotypical Black names in a music video entitled, “Who Is My Baby’s Daddy,” even going as far as to use sexually transmitted diseases as names of Black children.  Knipp’s characterizations of Black woman played out on stage in city after city are ones that portray Black women as being on welfare, living in the projects, illiterate, shoplifting sexually promiscuous mothers who don’t know who their children’s fathers are, alcoholics, and drug addicts.

But let’s look a bit closer at the hypocrisy.

I already mentioned that the gay mafia has said nothing about Knipp, but do you want to know why?  Because they’re the ones responsible for selling out his shows as he tours around the country. 

Knipp doesn’t bring his shows to the people he’s degrading.  No, he books his shows in white gay Mecca’s like West Hollywood, Chelsea District, and the Castro District. 

So let me get this straight, no pun intended, it’s not ok for the Black person to use the f-word, but it is ok for the white gay person to dress up in blackface and perform parodies that mock Blacks.

I once made the comment that if Knipp were making fun of Jews his act would have been cancelled a long time ago, but I think I’ll change that to include gays as well given the recent incident with Washington.

I learned a long time ago that as a Black lesbian, my place was with Blacks.  The same racism and classism issue that exists between Blacks and whites in general, applies to the gay community as well.  I may have issues with the occasional homophobic Black pastor or rapper, but at the end of the day, we as Blacks know what discrimination and racism is because we’ve dealt with it all of our lives.  Therefore, when it happens, we can call it out.  Unfortunately, when it comes to the gay community, if it’s not affecting their rosy white lives, then they couldn’t give a damn.  But hey, isn’t that what white privilege is all about?

Comments

[houfootball]

Jasmyne,
I agree with you 100%. The white gay community seldom takes offense to any issue that doesn't affect them directly. What was GLADD's reaction to MTV's Real World (Denver) gay cast member, Davis calling his black roommate, Tyrie,the n-word???? Nothing, because it wasn't an insult on their character.

Right on Jasmyne! You have just as many people in your corner.

Peace and keep up the good work.

[Mimi]

Since when did RuPaul become the arbiter of things racial? RuPaul is black in skin color only, he plays to the same adoring crowds and would do white face to get a few coins off the floor to revive his dead career.And, what better way to get someone to buy his last tanked cd than to be on the back of a scandal, and yet, no one cares about his take on Liquor, since that cd is still not selling. The continued insensitivity to even show a smidgen that someone might be offended by trotting out some black or some "black" who loves Liquor, proves the point, the Shirley brigade is grasping at straws to show that the black face review is nothing but positive fun, and, so far, not one of the ones like myself, has yet to see the humor or wit, of Liquor of the rabid fans of it. They have way too much time on their hands and are now rather pathetic in their pleas that this thing is funny, and such a sweet, gentle soul out of black face, and I'm Barbara Bush.

[Sophia33]

This is a comment from a bigoted white poster of the board that I mentioned above.

It sufficiently proves the point I made earlier. Yes, Washington's actions do allow people to express their racism. Yes, we should not support his homophobia. And yes, we need to address rascism in the white gay community. But all of these things need to be addressed as separate issues. Mind you, this poster is bigoted and of course he feels that rascism doesn't exist except in our minds of course, but the comments made by many on this board as to why we should support Washington only serves to support this kind of thinking.

Here is the message from said poster:

None of this "remedy" cuts close enough.

Grey's creator and producer, bigot Shonda Rhimes needs to be fired for sweeping all of this under her racist, homophobic carpet.

Oprah Winfrey needs to be slammed in a big way for automatically giving a homophobic platform to Washington to Covah Fo' Da Brutha and proffer/back up his lies to the public.

Black America needs a thorough examination to finally get to the root of why blacks everywhere feel the impunity to be smug, arrogant bigots in all spheres of daily life, toward everyone, such as we have witnessed here. Why the chips on shoulders? Why all the automatic lieing and covering up for one another? Why all the condescension and subject changing when they are called on their inappropriate actions? Why, why, why?

Granted, the examination of blacks on this will be endless, circular and no doubt receive a dishonest and violent response, as usual. But the time has come for this nonsense to end.

As the song in Avenue Q goes, Everyone's a little bit bigoted. However, it's time to open the topic up to the largest exporters of hatred on the planet today: blacks. You can't just say Well, string up Michael Richards, but Da Brutha don't count cuz he's entitled.

[RichWhiteLady]

Ok, Old White Namedropper. Sorry about getting personal on you. You hit my soft spot, because I'm probably the only other person here old enough to know who Sylvester and the Cockettes WERE (I adore them all, BTW).

And isn't it a small world: I was a regular at Pyramid in 83-92 - got in free for a while - did you know Michael Ullman and Hattie? Funny you mention Pyramid, because that was EXACTLY the sort of hip venue that would appreciate Chuck Knipp's comedy. I'll bet you didn't know that The Lady Bunny invited Chuck to perform at Wigstock in 2005? (Try calling Bunny a racist - she'll rip you a new a**hole.) Unfortunately Chuck couldn't attend because he was busy watching all his possessions get washed away by Hurricane Katrina.

And I suppose I'm impressed that you know RuPaul. But if you two are so tight, why don't you ask him to weigh in on the subject here and explain why he DOESN'T think Chuck's show is racist? (Actually, never mind, he'll just have to endure alot of idiotic verbal abuse, and who needs that.)

But I know Chuck personally, and Chuck's tight with RuPaul - so there!

I can see merit to both sides of this issue, and I've protested against racism and sexism and homophobia myself. The bottom line is, I understand why the protest, but I VEHEMENTLY object to the attempts to shut down the show.

Why? Because I honestly believe with all my heart that Chuck's work is important, that it has artistic merit, and that it has brought innocent joy and therapeutic comic release to a many, many people, including myself.

Maybe you think Chuck's material does more harm than good (or maybe to you it's all harm), but for me it does way more good than harm. And I strongly resent people discounting and belittling my heartfelt thoughts and feelings simply because I'm white. So sometimes I take the white gloves off and remove my Prada earrings to fight like a white lady for what I think's important ...

[ytorlando]

rich white lady
and another thing...ha ha
although you mocked my 35 years of activism-it is possible you wouldn't realize what that gives one-and others like me.

we learned-who to contact in the press, how to get them somewhere, and how to make sure we got a favorable soundbite and how to give good photo op.

we learned-how to close government offices, drug companies, highways, and whatever else we felt we needed to, to get the message across.

we learned how to deal with police, politicians, and the uninformed. how to write a leaflet, paper a neighborhood, what to put on a sign, and the power of images and buzzwords.

we learned how to be tough and when to be tough, and when not to be. how to antogonize and how not to, and how to reach the public and keep them on our side.

i guess we learned a lot of stuff, huh?

[ytorlando]

wow rich white lady-thanks for taking it personal. classy.
doll, it's not about protesting a man in a dress-so fucking drop it. where were you in 71? I was in SF and hanging out with the Cockettes. Sylvester was a close and dear friend until he died.
where were you in 81? I was hanging out at the Pyramid club on the lower east side watching all the cool drag acts. do you know Rupaul personally? i do. ever had any transexual employees? i have.

as for the humor you missed-have you been to roscoe's? try going there for dinner in blackface and let me know when you do. you'll see how funny it is.
i stated the terms were to be Jasmyne's-so put your reading glasses on

the other thing you may have missed - i am not afraid to take on fucked up people-white or black.
so how bout you chill on the personal and stick to topic?

[johnosahon]

some people do not seem to find shirley offensive, they even go as far to say that if a striaght man was playing sterotypes of a gay man, they would find no offence.

so i have created a character called "TOP-BOTTOM" played by in straight guy in night clubs, tell me if it offends you or not.

*************************************************************

his name is "TOP-BOTTOM" in clubs, he goes to every bareback party, immediately after work. he is married and still in the closet. He makes sure he abuses gay men anytime he goes out with his straight friends.

But, the comedian will make it funny, ofcourse.

Now, this would be played in the straight community, let's say republican conventions(LOL) or just striaght clubs (it is just sterotypes). Would you be offended as a gay man or woman, or call it just straight guys making fun.

and by the way he has A.I.D.S. and has told no one.

[Ty]

Thanks Sophia33, you have summed it up better than I or the other posters here have done since this war of words started. I guess that I have a totally negative opinion of the white gay community based on the actions of a few, and oddly, I don't have a negative take on white people as a whole.

But, you are right, two wrongs don't make a right, no matter how some try and put that spin on it. Thanks for breaking it down and keeping it real and in the context that makes sense.

[Sophia33]

In the second paragraph of my comment I meant to say:

The initial commentary in this blog is saying the same thing in reverse. "We should allow homophobia to slide from a black person because white gays are racist." That my darling is B.S. two wrongs don't make a right.

[Sophia33]

O.K.Two wrongs don't make a right. I participate in many blogs. I do indeed participate in a gay blog sight that essentially white. I have had to endure white gays saying and doing things that are clearly racist or at the very least intended to be racist. Such things include being called a nigger, having pictures of blackface and Aunt Jemima posted to get me all ralled up. There reasoning behind this is of course, "Well blacks are homophobic and until they stop being homophobic I will be racist."

The initial commentary in this blog is saying the same thing in reverse. "We should allow homophobia to slide from a white person because white gays are racist." That my darling is B.S. two wrongs don't make a right.

Removing all of the emotion from this IW situation, let's look at what he did. IW basically harrassed a co-worker in the workplace. If anyone on this board, black or white went to work and called a co-worker by a racial, religious or ethnic slur we would most likely be fired. Many of us forget that our actresses and actors are doing their job. No different than any of us do our jobs everyday. I am sure that the actors of "Grey's Anatomy" have to make public appearances (i.e. the Golden Globes) so that too is considered the workplace. Washington did harrass Knight in the workplace. That indeed needs to be addressed.

That said, there is indeed a great deal of racism in the gay community. The only time the larger gay community wants anything to do with us (blacks) is in situations like this one when they want to make a pseudo all rainbow appearance. That is a separate issue that we need to address.

But defending IW is not going to help them address their racism. It will just further entrench it. And yes, there are white gays that are using this situation with IW to express their own racism. But again, defending Washington is not going to help that either.

What should happen is that we address the homophobic comments that he made, but in doing that demand that our rights/priveledges/presence as gay members in the lbgt community be acknowledged and that our concerns be addressed. We should go to GLAAD and address the Shirley Q Liquor incident. We should demand that hate crimes against black and latino gays get the same news coverage as Matthew Shepherd. We should demand that the classism and racism in this lgbt community be addressed.

The gay community as a whole is too damn small to be a house divided. White gays whether they believe it or not need us just like we need them. But this attitude from white gays saying "Well they are homophobic so I can be racist" (Which is ridiculous because the people you are being racist towards are also gay.) And "Well they are racist so let's let homophobia slide" (Which is also ridiculous because you are gay too)is not going to achieve anything. The only thing it achieves is a house divided and quite frankly none of our objectives towards making this country and the world a better place for us are being met.

Like I said two wrongs don't make a right.

[Chris]

We need to stop excusing bigoted language, regardless of whether the person blasting it is black, white, or yellow.

Otherwise, we run the risk of being hypocritical.

Its obvious that some of you seem to have a grudge with Jasymne. She stated her opinion on two particular issues, the Grey's slur and the Chuck Knipp black face act. Yet, the overwhelming majority of the same posts who are for the beheading of Washington are also the most vocal for the black face revue, and are angry that the person who runs HER board feels different, even though she from her page seems to be as focused on gay, lesbian and black issues as anyone online.

It seems that there are that vocal few who don't represent eh entire spectrum of the glbt community are doing what they do best, smear anyone who does not agree with them. And, yet, as the one poster mentioned, give people like Rosie a pass when she makes racial slurs, its always anyone but us it seems.

I think it might be prudent for the anti-Jasymne crowd to get their own sites, that way, you can have only people who agree with you on gay issues, since its apparent that there is little room for anyone not to toe the gay establishment line. So, do what you claim to hate, bash and condemn anyone who disagrees's, a shame, but, typical, and this is why the message sent to the public does not work, they can see it in the sort of discourse evident on this board, one way or no way. And, until the glbt's get thier act togather and are able to speak as one, instead of only the elite, the anti gay forces will continue to run amok with the same hatred that has occured for the past few years.

[jbyrd130]

Kylah,

I see what you're saying, but that's a very subjective arguement, as is the idea of "safety."

I still maintain that Jasmyne has a habit of playing this "hierarchy of oppression" game, which IMO is self-effacing. How people create community is very personal, and in my experience, it's not productive to generalize about what space is "safer" for who and why.

I also think it's important to distinguish between the idea of "comfort" and "safety". As people who experience oppression on various fronts, sometimes we prioritize or "choose" which individual issues to confront, while ignoring other issues for the sake of comfort, because addressing those issues may challenge our sense of safety.

[Kyla]

I think I was unclear. By "oppression olympics" I mean that neither group has it worse than the other; both face discrimination and prejudice, in different ways.

By "the problems like with white gay racism" I meant that, from what I've observed, non-heterosexual people of color are "safer" among other people of color than among non-heterosexual white people. I don't see how this negates the "oppression olympics" statement. One oppressed group seems to be better at providing a safe space for gay POC than another oppressed group. It doesn't mean either group as a whole has it better or worse, just that they handle intersections between gender identity/sexual orientation and race differently.

[RichWhiteLady]

Dear "Old" "White" "Man" -

Your post is so confusing and incoherent that I don't know where to begin.

If you find a call for compassion and turning inward laughable, then it's clear you haven't spent much time doing either.

And your gobbledygook about Shirley meeting Jasmyne in blackface is confusing - if you're making a lame attempt at humor you should clarify that yourself. It would be very easy for someone to take that out of context and report that Chuck is imposing some sort of ridiculous conditions.

"I have not fought for gay equality for 35 years to see it go to this without a protest." Splendid, very Rocky Balboa. So you're gonna picket a gay man in a dress. I see we've come very far thanks to you.

Oh, Jasmyne, you got the white folks duking it out for you lol - all you have to do is sit back and watch.

[jbyrd130]

Kyla,

Respectfully, you just contradicted yourself by saying that this isn't an "oppression olympics" arguement, but then later claiming that white gay racism is "where the more hurtful problems lie."

That white privilege and racism persists in the gay world is a no brainer. The hypocracy of many well heeled white gays like Rosie (to be clear, I thought her joke was stupid and lacked humor, but calling it racist is a bit extra), or the SQL supporters (of **any** color) should not come as a shock. My issue with Jasmyne is that she constantly turns the arguement into what "they" do wrong, and not what "we" can do right about this.

In the meantime, the real "hurt" comes from within our own community. Defending Isaiah Washington from white gays (and white gay allies) on some flimsy racial justice logic only plays into this idea that we have to "choose a side". Had it been some str8 white actor who made this slur toward a semi-closeted black gay actor, heads would have rolled, and rightly so.

IMO, Knipp is not even worth discussing, there are much more pertinent issues within the Black LGBT community that we should be up in arms about. The success of Shirley Q. Liqor's show is in no way dependent on the opinions of the black community, so a protest spearheaded by us will mean absolutely nothing. At the end of the day, shutting down Shirley is the work of anti-racist white folk.

[Kyla]

I followed the link trail here, and I have to say, I found this post very interesting, and some of the comments just... gah.

First off, I see what you're trying to say in the post, but it's clear most people don't. It's not about comparing who was worse, it's about the hypocrisy shown by many white gay people when it comes to oppression. (And no, JustAsking, it's not just one white blogger; it's a repetitive, systematic pattern, like the crowd of white gay people who backed Rosie when she outed Clay Aiken over a joke that was about rudeness, not his sexual orientation, but paid no attention at all when she ching-chonged her slur all over Chinese people, too.)

It's not oppression olympics, it's a statement that the "mainstream" gay movement (mainly white) will mostly ignore the marginalization of people of color despite their inclusion in the community.

RichWhiteLady, you keep bringing up Chris Rock. In Never Scared, he calls the Bush administration on their anti-gay agenda (not extensively, but he does it). Rosie O'Donnell, arguably the most famous lesbian comedian (Ellen being the other choice) recently made a racist slur, took a week to apologize, and then qualified it with, "I'll probably do it again."

So...yeah, I think the comparison is there, and I think it's a valid one, and from what I've seen (not speaking from experience here, just observation), a lot of gay and transgendered people of color seem to find more support from and identify more with communities of color than the gay community. From what I've seen, of course; I could be wrong. But I think that's a big clue on where the more hurtful problems lie.

[jbyrd130]

Please get it together Jasmyne,

A few months back, you were appalled that White gay orgs were "using" black gay employees as "empty", token mouthpieces for diversity to "move us out of the picture and do the job that we are doing." Now you feign shock and awe that GLAAD aren't spearheading a "fagwa" against charles knipp? You can't have it both ways, either we're going to have a "for better or for worse" relationship with white allies, or there won't be a relationship at all.

I know you know better than that, which leads me to assume that you're posting this simply for shock value and for more hits per day for your site. If this is true, then you're severely losing your credibility.

This is not a diss or an attack. Frankly, we as a community need your intelligence and insight for genuine progress, but not for futile "oppression olympics" rants that get us nowhere as a community.

[Mimi]

Studiotodd, he has already benefited,over and over again as he sells out to people like you who seem to share his way of dismissing others, but, you are right, just more publicity for him and more moeny in his purse, and the healing effects of his words and actions, from both him and his fans to black people are just profound.

Enjoy that show, if it goes on and smile for the crowds protesting and tell them they are wrong and too sensitve about he whole thing!!!

[studiotodd]

Go on and protest if you must. But understand that you will have exactly the opposite effect that you're hoping for--you will provide more publicity for the show than Chuck would otherwise be able to generate. He will, ultimately, benefit by your calling attention to him.

If that's ok by you, then I'll see you at the show!

[Dan Holzman]

Gee, "Rich" "White" "Lady", it would have taken you far less space to simply write, "No, Dan, I cannot explain the context in which a white person putting on black face is not racist, because in 21st Century America no such context exists."

[Just Asking]

This is really intelligent:

"To highlight the hypocrisy of white gays, here's a blogger from NYC ..."

So now one white gay blogger speaks for all of them?

[ytorlando]

old white man here-lol-maybe this time typepad will keep my 'name', and I won't have to be o.w.m.
first-I find RichWL plea for compassion and turning inward touching-and utterly fucking surreal. and laughable. are you SERIOUS??
Jasmyne-a wonderful opportunity for understanding and reconcilation has been sincerely offered to you by Shirley. PLEASE accept it. Sometimes we just need to do the right thing.
On TWO conditions only-
1-that Shirley will attend dinner AS Shirley and may discuss whatever he wants to say to you-in the voice and mannerisms of Shirley.
2-that is be the restuarant of YOUR choosing. I think Roscoe's would be perfect-you decide which location. As Shirley is all good clean fun done with love and understanding, it should be enjoyable dinner for both of you.

Please post photos of your dinner together.

The very recent use of whiteface by some black comics in movies has no 200 year precedent of the black race oppressing the white race in the US, either in film or traveling 'reverse minstrel' acts. If I am mistaken-please correct me and cite that history.
Racism becomes acceptable when a race of people are objectified by caricature and ridicule. Over time the stereotype becomes the 'fact'. This is not the case with the Caucasian race in the US. ok?
As the racial demographics in the US continue to change-white racial insecurity will rear it's head in many forms. Because Shirley and his audience don't see that does not mean it is not the case.
As gay people we lose whatever 'moral authority' we might hope to claim over intolerance and prejudice when we allow it to be 'entertainment' within our own community. That is why I object to a "harmless comedy act in a nightclub". It is not harmless.
Do not give me "you haven't seen the show". I listened to his tapes on his site, read his interviews and Wikipedia entries. I will allow that the person I referred to as being banned by YouTube may be yet another gay white guy in blackface doing his 'harmless' act. It seems hard to believe there could be two of them-so FANS, is it the same person? I saw those videos, and felt the love.
There needs to be just a little 'consciousness raising' done in the gay community-West Hollywood doesn't have the best reputation in regard to racism in the first place-let us use this act to educate. Let our refusal to allow it to go on unprotested speak.
Lastly, I agree with "all it takes is a little spark". To incite a race riot in West Hollywood? If that is true- we REALLY need to ask ourselves why that is-and fix it.
I take "a little spark" to be a challenge-to light the fire under the asses of the club, city and community for thinking this is harmless and fun for a 'hip' audience. We are the center of world entertainment and look what's playing here.
I have not fought for gay equality for 35 years to see it go to this without a protest.

[Robin]

The dichotomy that gets set up between black and white drives me crazy! Is NGLTF really a white gay organization? I thought it was a multicultural organization.

So many of us operate in a lot of multi-racial contexts, although of course we are inevitably shaped by the way our skin color has impacted our life experience. But that doesn't mean that we haven't also had the benefit of a diversity of perspectives.

I don't want to see I.W. fired -- I think his apology is what was called for in the situation. But that doesn't mean I've agreed with the apples to apples comparison of a reaction to Grey's Anatomy (national show/national star) and SQL (subcultural cabaret/cult star -- if that).

Jasmyne, I signed your petition. I agree that it's time for people to back off. The guy apologized!

[tennisguyaz]

Rich White Lady, funny screen name btw, since I could never see a rich white woman having anything to do with this board, but, that's neither here nor there.

While I don't agree one bit with your assessment that the SQL show is just harmless fun, that's your right to think it is. But, to equate a peaceful rally with people toting guns and shooting over show is nothing short of racist. You say the show isn't, I don't know, since I would put a penny to see a grown man in black face, just like I wouldn't pay to see a black man in white face, I personally find both offensive. But, to sit and say black people are so violent prone as to shoot up the place is just plain wrong. This is why shows like the SQL can't do a darn thing to get what is in the hearts and minds of people to look at things fairly.

Hopefully with this sort of sentiment, the gay rights movement will now detach themselves from the MLK/black civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's, Lord knows, they wouldn't want people to think that they are packing guns and shooting their way to equality.

And, the truth shall set you free, but, you have to know where to look, and starting with SQL and then dragging in black actors to make your point, isn't the way. If, SQL was actually across the board funny, and not to small select crowd that supposedly is in on the "joke," it would be different. Nope, he has a stage act, and a web site that sells things that the Klan would be proud to buy, so, the truth can't be told in two different versions, even for a rich white lady with a heart of gold and an open mind.