Make Me Wanna Holla and Throw Up Both My HandsHow Does...

Let’s get straight to it.  What the hell were Obama’s people thinking when they invited a white openly gay minister to open for his South Carolina gospel concert with Donnie McClurkin?

I’ll repeat it once more.

I said, what the hell were Obama’s people thinking when they invited a white openly gay minister to open for his South Carolina gospel concert with Donnie McClurkin?

Is he trying to lose the race?  That’s all I want to know.

It was bad enough that Obama’s people, and I say people because I eloquently explained on Tuesday how these types of things can happen, invited and announced a gospel concert tour through South Carolina with openly homophobic singers Mary Mary and the ex-gay Donnie McClurkin which sparked accusations of Obama running a homophobic campaign.  But keepin’ hope alive, I tried to make the best of it hoping that the protests would be used as a teachable moment for Obama and his campaign advisers.  No such luck.  First we get the standard statement, that I will point out was posted in the LGBT section of his website in the beginning and not the website’s general newsroom, as if to say that this is for the gays only and we want to keep this under wraps.  But to add injury to insult, Obama’s campaign announces that he invited an openly gay minister to open the gospel concert.  Initially I thought he’d gotten with someone in the Black same-gender loving community, perhaps a minister from Unity Fellowship Church, or some other minister that was of African descent.  Instead we get Rev. Andy Sidden, a white South Carolina pastor.  Then, just in case the knife wasn’t in deep enough Obama speaks with the Human Rights Campaign’s president Joe Solmonese about it.

Where are the Black gay civil rights groups and am I the only one that sees this as problematic?

Now see this is the BS I keep talking about.

First of all, let’s address the issue of having a white gay pastor at a campaign event that’s geared towards religious African-Americans.  Here we have a perfect opportunity for African-Americans to internally address the issue of homophobia with an African-American presidential candidate and instead of inviting a Black openly gay pastor, they invite a white man.  Um, are we trying to see a repeat of 2004?  Because if that’s the goal, we sure are headed down the right track.  And in the end, in my opinion it’s Black gays who have the most to lose from this happening as there’s already a general consensus that gay is synonymous with white.  All this will do is further that notion and drive it home undoing all of the work that Black lesbians and gays have done over the past decade within their communities.

Oh and please save your energy and mine too from having to press delete.  I already know that what I am saying is harsh.  Harsh not racist.  Harsh but true.  It’s already been established that using white gay folks to explain to Blacks have the gay civil rights movement is the same as the 60’s Civil Right Movement doesn’t work.  In fact, it’s an automatic turn off for most Blacks, including this Black lesbian.  With a sensitive issue like this, it’s important that Blacks talk to Blacks.  Our community needs to see us and hear from us and no one but us.  And if we sit up here and allow this to go down, we have no one but ourselves to blame for our invisibility.

It’s not personal against Rev. Sidden, I am sure he’s a great person.  It is personal however with HRC who knows better but can’t ever seem to pass up the chance to make the national news, no matter whose community gets dumped on in the process.  But oh I forgot, we’ve come such a long way.

In a statement, HRC thanked Obama for including Sidden but said that they were disappointed McClurkin will remain part of the program.

Please note that they were not disappointed that an openly Black minister wasn’t chosen or that there Black gays were not a part of the conversation and that it was important for African-Americans to hear from their same-gender loving daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, mothers, and fathers.  No, they were disappointed that McClurkin was still a part of the program.  Geez, that’s mighty…oh never mind!

And I quote:

"There is no gospel in Donnie McClurkin's message for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their allies," Solmonese said. "That's a message that certainly doesn't belong on any presidential candidate's stage."

But what about the message in using a white openly gay pastor at a Black event to convince Blacks that homophobia is wrong?  What kind of message is that going to send?

So now I am wondering who or what constitutes as an ally?  Is an ally an ally when it’s beneficial to them and them alone?  Is an ally and ally when there are no media around?  Is an ally an ally when they have millions in the bank and are still going after the same pots of money as their lesser-funded “people of color” counterparts?  Tell me, are we allies then?  Because an ally would have bowed out gracefully and encouraged, oh I don’t know, maybe an African-American gay civil rights organization to take the lead.  And if that organization for whatever reason failed to step to the plate, instead of trying speaking for people that you know nothing about, could that ally at the very least taken the time to point out that an important part of the equation is missing…us.  Maybe something similar to the strategy adopted when our allies went running down to Jena, Louisiana to show their support for Blacks.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall them trying to upstage or drown out the voices of Reverend’s Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

But no, Black gays get [insert four letter expletive here] from both sides, no pun intended.

Whether you believe it or not, having to talk about this in the manner that I have is not something that I get a kick out of doing.  In fact, I try to ignore as much of this I can.  However, since it’s either going to be left up to HRC or Rev. Sidden to be the voice of Black gays regarding this slap in the face, kick in ass, jab in the gut, and knife in the back, I was compelled to give my two cents.  I’ll be damned if I don’t feel it necessary to point out the hypocrisy from organizations that claim to be our allies while being recognized, credited with, and referred to for representing the majority of the gay community.

Now back to my man Obama, who over the past week has made it increasingly difficult for me as an African-American to overlook a horrendous mistake that was only made worse with the announcement of the invitation of Rev. Sidden.

Look, I can put up with a lot.  I can put up with you hiring people who don’t look like me or you who are then sent into our communities to “rally us.”  It’s hard, but I can deal with it.  Even when those people come into our communities and use our leaders to stage events and that bring us out, and then at the same time turn around and try to undermine our strategies.  I mean after all, there’s no written law that says you have to be from the community and at least identify with the community you are trying to cajole.  But it does help, that’s all I’m saying.

I can even rationalize how a homophobic gospel artist could get booked for a campaign event, especially if there’s no one around to say anything differently.  No one, like maybe openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender Blacks.  Although, there’s still no guarantee that even if there had been someone that raised a flag about the concert that his or her opinion would have been taken seriously.  Just keeping it real.

Organizations like HRC help to pave the way for decisions like having Rev. Sidden at an African-American gospel concert.  Decisions like inviting Rev. Sidden, a white openly gay pastor to address a mostly African-American audience further push the idea among Blacks that gay is white.  The belief that whites are trying to push gay issues onto Blacks further divides the African-American community from their same-gender loving counterparts who continue to remain invisible.  All of this while racial incidents involving whites and Blacks are occurring from coast to coast causing many Blacks to question whether or not there’s a coordinated plan in action for their reentry in slavery.  Couple that with a heavily divided Black constituency on issues of morality during a pivotal Presidential election and we stand a higher chance of repeating the past, which resulted in the current regime. 

The behavior of certain organizations is almost expected.  It isn’t the first time and won’t be the last.  But where does all of this leave Black gays?  What are we supposed to do?  You keep pushing us against wall and I know we let you slide before, but this one can’t be overlooked.  We deserve better.  Nix Sidden and invite an openly gay Black pastor.  Then let’s sit down and talk about this so it doesn’t happen again.  Anything less, and it’s a wrap.

Listen to audio from today's interview on WVON 1690 AM The Roland S. Martin Show.

h/t Keith Boykin, Rod 2.0 + ClayCane.net EXCLUSIVE: An Interview with Donnie McClurkin's Ex-Lover

Also Rev. Andy Sidden the openly gay pastor of Garden of Grace United Church of Christ in Columbia will be interviewed by Mike Signorile on his show today at 4:30pm Eastern / 1:30pm Pacific on SIRIUS OutQ 109.

Comments

[PJ]

Your opinions are very Afro-centric - Obama needs to keep in mind that all races and religions need to come together to vote him into office this Fall. Why can't a gay, white, minister address a crowd of African Americans? Because they can't identify with him? That's called reverse racism.

At some point we need to learn how to integrate. Not just by standing in the same room, but by learning to engage.

[kahan qatazap]

I pray that all faggots and dykes die horribly. I also pray that the Most High, blesses me with the ability to act as HIS instrument of death to all faggots and dykes. I pray that the Highest gives me the order to kill all of you wicked nasty people. I can't do this but by the will of the Father. If it is His will, then I will be in the right. Until then, I only write poems about killing faggots and raping and killing lesbians. There is one poem I have, Praise the Lord, entitled, "Dyke killer" In this poem I rape and torture and then kill a dyke, it is a poem that has given women nightmares. GOOD! Dykes need to have nightmares because they are so wicked. I hate all of you. repent, you sinners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[music]

very interesting.
i'm adding in RSS Reader

[Mary]

Comment above: "So he's White. So what? Perhaps he's a really good speaker. Perhaps, he has something important to say. The idea it is wrong to have a White person speak to a Black audience in 2007 is pretty damn shocking."

Please. How disingenuous. Thank you for this blog entry, J. I missed this piece of campaign news so I'm just catching it here, but I've been unimpressed with HRC(F)'s ability to have anything but the most mainstream (white, male, typically gendered) interests at heart for over twenty years. There are so many powerful people who could have been chosen to speak (perhaps even a woman), who could have opened people's eyes... I really mourn the lost opportunity.

How could anyone who lived through the past twenty years as a political being not get the importance and delicacy of choosing who speaks to whom to make certain points? I learned my lesson after a few of those "why aren't the Black women joining our group" moments in college. Maybe because "we" consider it "our group"? Duh.

Anyway, thank you for being pissed. You're so right, and it's so classic.

[The Social Critique]

I love Barack, and I think I will overlook such a stupid move. I think his move to include this minister is so transparent and disingenuous. It's clear that now he's trying to pander to the LGBTQ community only AFTER being called out for including that self-hating, closet case McClurkin. In my opinion, if you were going to be inclusive, then that should've been the case from the outset, not as a REACTION to bad press, which this is. It's so bad, I'd just prefer him to apologize, call out the Black community for it's homophobia and hypocrisy (i.e. Tonex, McClurkin, etc) and keep it moving.

[Monica Roberts]

Right on Jasmyne. I'm one of those people who has been torn between Hillary and Barack, but after this mess I'm starting to slide closer to supporting Hillary.

[Monica Roberts]

Right on Jasmyne. I'm one of those people who has been torn between Hillary and Barack, but after this mess I'm starting to slide closer to supporting Hillary.

[Sylvia]

Don't feed the troll.

[Black guy]

This blog is crazy. And these critiques of Obama are nonsense. Do you really think your nutty point of view represents most blacks, most gays, most voters, or most Americans?

[girladvenger]

I don't think it's fair to slam Hillary Clinton for giving out her statement, she is only going on what Barack Obama to her personally, about Rev. Sidden.

Barack Obama made the case for Rev. Sidden to Hillary and since we don't know what he said to her, you shouldn't slam her for your disappointment in Senator Obama.

Obama made this mess, not his people, but Obama did and that should tell you how out of touch he is to the LGBT community...he's only giving lip service to you.

Why are you shock?!? Haven't Obama time and time again thrown his friends under the bus?!? Or have you forgot MoveOn.Org or all the those non votes in the Senate.

Now as a Hillary Supporter, I'm happen with my Choice.

[pico]

In fact, now that I think about it, that might be another part of this story right there: HRC made an embarrassing and public mess of themselves over ENDA just two weeks ago, and they probably got flooded with angry letters from now ex-supporters. I wouldn't be surprised if they saw this as a big moment to regain some of their clout in the LGBT community, and rushed in blaring without thinking it through. Just a thought.

[pico]

I'd only add one thing: the Obama campaign certainly can't argue that no one from the black gay community approached them - NBJC contacted him about this as soon as it hit the news, but they chose to answer HRC instead. I can't find any evidence he saw, acknowledged, or responded to NBJC. Instead he has some joint letter posted on his site from black and LGBT leaders, backing him 100%.

HRC is pretty tone-deaf when it comes to race, but they're not the ones running for president. Then again, this is a one-two punch for HRC after their waffling inability to support the transgender community on the ENDA issue.

Meanwhile FOX has a headline up now calling it "Black versus Gay politics", like they're two fully distinct groups (no such thing as black gays) just squabbling over fringe concerns.

[Carmen]

Preach on it girl, preach on it! I don't hold anything against Rev Sidden, but, just what can he tell moe or any other black perosn about "tolerance" in the South no less??? He may be a good man of God, but, not one I would want to hear on anything. And, he has no idea of the plight of gay blacks and the church as it is a very complicated issue.

Obama, boo, you need a clue, and some real black folks around you, this is just sad at how this has spiraled out of control, and, shows you really don't have the expericance.

Time to vote Kucinich, well, maybe not, but, he has a great plan for America, and, its inclusive!!

[Nita]

To Anonymous, the HRC were the ones who 'pitched a b*tch' (to use a colloquilism) the loudest about McClurkin in the first place. It was the HRC's objections that reached the mainstream, not black GLBTs' objections. So it makes sense that Obama's people would interact with the HRC, since they've made themselves the most out spokespeople for gays on this issue.

I'm not going to diss Obama or his people for this. If Sidden is indeed the HRC's choice, *then the fault lies completely and squarely with the HRC*. Is the HRC a predominantly white gay organization? If blacks are reaching out to Obama, but the HRC is demanding that Obama use their own representative at this conference......... what does that say about white gays and black gays, that the first representative the HRC could come up with, is a white?

Obama is being screwed over with strange advice, yes.... but I am not enjoying how whites are once again using blacks to fight their wars, and blacks will get nothing but scars and bruises and a foot on the neck.

[Nita]

Otis, I too thought Sidden was a light skinned black. I didn't have any problem with it, thought it was black folks talking to black folks. Get all sides of the 'fam-bly' together to straighten things out, talk to one another, say happy gay blacks exist, here we are, let's all talk to together. I had to go to Kevin McCullough's townhall blog to read Keith Boykin's take, and thus Sidden's real race: "Adding Rev. Sidden to the agenda will not quell the outrage from the activists in the white gay community either. They've already begun to criticize the decision. They don't want Obama to participate in the concert tour at all. They may not be as upset as black gays about the issue of race, but they're not likely to be appeased just by throwing a gay guy onto a platform with anti-gay performers."

Poor Barack. Because his mother is white, I'm willing to give him half a pass on this. He treads the line, so I can fan-wank for him that adding a white minister is 'fambly time'. But it really, really, really would have been better to find an out black GLBT minister for this predominantly black event. And then white folks could come in, in a positive way and far-reaching way interacting with the community (not as damage control). But black GLBTs have to be seen out and about in the community first.

You know what hurts most? Jasmyne speaks of fallacy of 'gay = white', but that's between us; the meme I'm seeing among whites is 'hate = black', 'irrational = black', 'homophobe = black'..... as if whites can't be any of those things! I want to thank Thrasher over at Salon for knowing exactly what is going down, even if the posters at Salon don't want to hear what he has to say, automatically dismissing him as 'Angry Black Guy' because he's not conciliatory towards whites when he writes. That's eye opening that a woman would tell John Amaechi that she didn't know black men could be gay. Little Richard's been out for how long, in the mainstream, and he didn't make an impression? RuPaul's been the friendly mainstream drag queen for how long, and he doesn't make an impression? Are black GLBTs neutered Magical Negroes 2.0?

I disagree about nixing Sidden, though, to go back to something Jasmyne wrote. Let him remain, but find those GBLTs of color who are undoubtedly contacting the Obama campaign and place them on the panel as well. *No one needs to be excluded* at this point. Let's have a real 'open tent'. This can still be pulled out of the fire.

"Is he trying to lose the race? That’s all I want to know."

No, Jasmyne, he knows very well what he's doing! He wants votes, pure and simple and, like virtually all politicians, he doesn't give a damn how he gets them! If he dumps McClurkin and Mary Mary, he knows he'll alienate a lot of Blacks, so he's keeping them on board. If he takes on a Black Gay person, he's affirming what many people don't want to admit: there are also many Gay people in the Black community, so he fears that many potential constituents will not vote for him. By taking on a white Gay person, he's reaffirming the belief among many that being Gay is largely restricted to whites.

Obama and other contenders for President don't make mistakes of this magnitude. They have a staff and they have consultants, few if any of whom are political novices.

As you wisely pointed out, Obama felt the need to consult with Solmonese of the HRC, rather than with credible Gay-affirming people in the Black community, such as Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. Even I know that a man like Dyson would have done a lot to defuse the anger (not "disappointment" as Solmonese put it) that has ensued, and I know virtually nothing about running Presidential campaigns.

No! He knows perfectly well what he's doing!

He's not a "friend" of the African-American community; he's not a friend of the LGBT communities; like most politicians, he's his own best friend!

[Nita]

Doug Dilg, did you not read what Jasmyne just wrote??!

[Doug Dilg]

So he's White. So what? Perhaps he's a really good speaker. Perhaps, he has something important to say. The idea it is wrong to have a White person speak to a Black audience in 2007 is pretty damn shocking.

[JNR]

Not black, not gay, and have nothing to add! Except to say thank you for doing a little educating. So: many thanks for showing me a new, and compelling, perspective about this that I was totally missing. Really appreciated.

[Otis]

Damn Jas, you hit it on the head. When I first saw Rev. Sidden's photo on Pam's site I said hmmmm, maybe he's really light (no joke), maybe his congregation is predominately Black...I mean I'm trying to give this decision to invite him the benefit of the doubt. But no, once again the visibility of Black lgbt/sgl people is undermined. Just yesterday former NBA John Amaechi tells Oprah that a woman he met on his book tour thanked him for speaking about coming out because she didn't know Black people could be gay! So to other people confused about why this is so upsetting is that many Black people already see being gay as a 'white thing', so to have a white gay man on stage at a Black gospel concert is not only culturally insensitive but down right disrespectful.

Obama not only needs to reach out to our community, but he needs to diversify his inner circle to include the experiences and knowledge of Black lgbt/sgl folks. If we had a place at the table this whole drama could have been avoided.

[Jamilah]

I'm sort of perplexed by the whole event. Obviously Obama and his campaign are trying to placate to different constituencies that have vary different ideas. That is why it looks hypocritical, or confusing to have an openly gay preacher and a anti gay singer on the same bill.

It just looks like Obama is an opportunist and that does not make him any different than any other politician.

There will not be the widespread acceptance or even tolerance and respect for the Black LGBT community within the larger Black community if the Bible, with all its contradictions, is used to oppress people. The Bible has been used to justify slavery, the whole book of Philemon is Paul telling Philemon to return to his master. And I feel it is being used to oppress people, including LGBT people, today.

We have to start from the place of truth. Whether or not it is true that Black LGBT, and the larger LGBT community, are full of people who deserve respect and tolerance because the community consists of human beings, or should they be discriminated against, harassed, or even killed because they do not adhere to your idea of sexual identity.