Posts Tagged ‘LGBT African American’
Civil Rights For All: The Making Of “The New Black”
Here is perhaps the most salient lesson I learned in making the documentary The New Black. What goes unspoken–and unheard–in our national conversations is equally as important as what is said. When, in 2008, an erroneous CNN poll laid the blame for the passage of Proposition 8 squarely at the feet of California’s black voters,…
Read MoreHow Shall We Be Seen?
How does one enter into this conversation regarding issues of racial justice, sexual identity and religious belief? I mean, seriously? Over the course of roughly a year, I have found myself having this conversation internally. Events like Jason Collins’ “coming out,” the Supreme Court’s ruling for marriage equality the day after deciding a section…
Read MoreSacred Solidarity: Do Not Squander the Precious Moments
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11th tragedy, there were amazing moments for solidarity between groups and communities rarely experienced. The solidarity was among U.S. citizens across the racial, religious, political, sexual, and economic spectrums. And solidarity within the global community as many nations and peoples were filled with genuine care and compassion for…
Read MoreBayard Rustin Speaks
My post today is unique because today is unique: the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Bayard Rustin, an unsung organizer of the march and the movement, was interviewed by my friend Mark Bowman for the quarterly publication Open Hands in 1987, the year of Rustin’s death. As subsequent editor of the magazine, I republished the…
Read MoreMany Voices: Celebrating the Soul of Justice
If you’re in DC—or coming into town for the Congressional Black Caucus or National Black Justice Coalition convenings—don’t miss Celebrating the Soul of Justice on September 17. Remember how worship and singing fueled the civil rights movement and encouraged Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and our community to move forward with resolve? So must we…
Read MoreEffects Of Abusive Theology: Depression In The Same Gender Loving Community
Over the past couple of months, several young, same gender loving, successful, driven, caring and religious men have begun sharing with me their mental health statuses. In this process I have come to understand that same gender loving men (i.e. Black gay men) are dealing with an epidemic that our religious communities, as well as…
Read MorePledge To Raise Your Voice
As pastors and church leaders, we are granted special access to the joys and hurts of God’s people. But much too often we abuse that privilege in God’s name, by promoting God’s love with conditions and wrath with fearful living. We unfairly judge people, make them wrong, and exclude them from being shown hospitality in…
Read MoreWe, The Black Church, Have A Sex Problem
My friends Renee and Susan have been together for nearly 24 years and are thoughtfully raising a beautiful and brilliant five-year-old son. Like most parents, they goad him to eat his vegetables, admonish him to “slow down” inside the house and to share about his school adventures. They are making a home life worthy of him and…
Read More‘NoWedge’ Event Shows Blacks and LGBTQ Not Exclusive Identities
Black faith leaders are hosting a town hall meeting tonight in Harlem to help voters talk about what it means to be part of the black, LGBTQ, and faith communities. The talk is part of the NoWedge Campaign 2012, a grassroots movement launched in May to engage Black voters and foster a unified front against right-wing tactics designed…
Read MoreBelieve Out Loud Seeks To Raise $200,000 For LGBT Inclusive Black Church
Believe Out Loud seeks to raise $200,000 for LGBT Inclusive Black Church
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