The State newspaper runs my column on lgbts of color

My column about lgbts of color is up and it looks good. From what I understand, it will be on The State's webpage until next Saturday. It is the first time that the State newspaper addressed lgbt issues from an African-American gay man's perspective on its editorial pages.

Click here for the link. One of my favorite highlights:

Instead of real conversations, gays and lesbians of color are supposed to be placated by ridiculous assurances that no one has a problem with our “lifestyle” as long as we aren’t in anyone’s faces about it.”

Then we are condemned about our supposed “lifestyle” — as if homosexuality was the original sin that drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden — while over-sexualized images in African-American entertainment, fornication and out-of-wedlock births are given a virtual pass in the pulpits. (When President Obama called out homophobia in the pulpits, he was given a standing ovation while his advice went unheeded.)

Meanwhile black-oriented television shows and motion pictures consider us as persona non gratis or simpering oversexed caricatures.

Gays and lesbians of color are being pushed in a psychological closet and muzzled by our own community. We are treated like dog dirt on the front lawn of black America, something to be avoided or eliminated with the utmost efficiency.

Like I said before, I deliberately avoided the tired comparison of the "black civil rights movement" and the "gay civil rights movement."

There have been very few words or columns that center on the plight of lgbts of color, period. When there are discussions about African-Americans and lgbts, there seems to be this need to separate the two entities. I can't tell you how many times that hurts me. I feel like a rope in a vicious tug war game.

I want some attention to be focused on lgbts of color; not how the black community ignores us affects the lgbt community at large, but how the lack of attention affects us.

And I don't want patronizing comments from well-meaning supportive black heterosexuals either. For a change, I want all words to come from us and all eyes to be on us.

Yes I sound selfish when I say this but I don't care. I've seen other people talk about lgbts of color for the longest time.

Now it's time for us to do the talking. Or rather the shouting because we have been talking but no one has cared to listen.

Also, to the side, I have added a new feature - The Best of Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, which features some of my best work. Message to the Religious Right is included.