Local NAACP President Speaks out on gay rights and gets mixed Reviews from the Black Community!!!

The Homophobia being spewed from the Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle and his recent anti-gay statements are nothing new, but I want to touch this issue going on in Florida.Local African-American ministers, such as the Rev. O’Neal Dozier, have spoken out in favor of Naugle. What is wrong with black ministers these days? Anytime in history, there is someone or group that's an easy target for hate and intolerance. However, someone did the unpopular thing and stood up and spoke out for what's right:

President of the Fort Lauderdale branch of the NAACP Ellison’s mission was clear: She would speak out against what she considered hate speech and discrimination, regardless of the fact that the offending words were aimed at the gay community, a community she is not charged with representing.

“Mayor Naugle’s message is about one thing — hate,” she said. “Homophobia is hate, and hate has no place in the beloved community.”

Justice MH: That's what it exactly is. It's really sad to see black ministers stand by people like this Mayor Naugle. Why must former oppress people now oppress someone else? I guess once you're finally sitting at the table, then it's your turn to take the next group and beat up on them with the traditional holy bullies!
Diverse Opinion in the Black Community!

Brad Bennett, executive editor of the Broward Times, a newspaper that covers the local black community, said it was “odd that she would speak out about gay issues.”

“Based on what I’m hearing from readers, I don’t think the Fort Lauderdale NAACP reflects the views of the larger black community,” he said. “Publicly, members of the community fall in line with the pastors.”

Justice MH: Wow! If members of the community fall in line with ignorant and bigoted pastors, then they are some sheep without any God-given brains! And how is it odd for a NAACP president to speak out on gay issues? Every family has a gay relative and everyone knows someone who is gay. It seems the next opinion knows what i'm talking about!

Everybody has somebody who is gay in their family or knows gay people,” said Larry Bowman, a used car salesman and regular at Betty’s. “I have to agree with [Ellison]. It’s hate speech. The mayor is asking for hatred to be cast upon him.”Dorothy Jackson, who works the counter at Betty’s agreed.

Bowman and Jackson said they respect gays and lesbians, but they also pointed out that their neighbors don’t normally discuss gay issues.

“Gay people is not a top issue,” Bowman said. “There are more important issues like the relationship of police officers and citizens. How are you going to relate to officers if you can’t trust them.”

Justice MH: Well, this sounds like decent people who actually make sense. Of course they admit that gay issues are rarely discuss in the black community, and a discussion like that needs to happen. The black community needs to try to get pass this and move forward. The next opinion didn't sit well with me, and it really piss me off!

Elder Solomon Williams and his sister, who would identify herself only as Mrs. Williams, sat at the counter to order a plate of ribs and steamed cabbage. They had a heavy, dog-eared Bible with them from which they quoted scripture. The Williams reflected much of the black fundamentalist point of view at Betty’s, saying the gay community was asking for special privileges.

Although Elder Williams agreed that a public official singling out one group amounts to discrimination, he said he considers Naugle as speaking “the word of God” against the unrighteous.

“Every man you see who loves another man, they knew God before they got into their condition,” Williams said.
Ellison recognizes that black opinion is largely influenced by the church regarding gay rights, but she notes that Naugle’s backers are not representative.

“You need to take note of the churches that were not present [at the Sept. 5th press conference],” she said.
The communities “super churches,” such as New Mount Olive Baptist and Mount Bethel Baptist

Justice MH: Ok, where shall i begin with these hypocritical views? First, if you love someone, how can you not know God anymore? I can guess where she's getting this from? Let me guess, another misinterpretation of Romans 1. Why is this woman using a medical term "condition"? I do NOT have a condition, or any other gay person have a "condition"! What's so special about having your relationship recognize? Job protection? Protected in hate crime laws on federal level? There is nothing special about that. It's what's guranteed in the U.S Consitution. The bible has no say in this, or any other civil-affairs/matters. I guess when the former oppress has what's rightfully there's, then when someone else comes along, the former oppress acts out on who deserves what. Again, black people are influenced by the hypocritical black church. Yeah, i said it, and I'm black. This woman carries a bible around like it's a body organ implanted by God. I agree with fellow blogger Jerry Maneker of http://christianlgbtrights.org the bible is NOT God. God is perfect and free of errors. The bible is the opposite! Why do black people insist on using that fallible, racist, sexist, and imperfect book on others? I call the bible fallible because the errors in the bible make it fallible, that makes it not infallible or inerrant. The contradictions and inconsistencies of the bible is NOT being ignored by biblical scholars or theologians. The bible isn't alone, the Koran is the same, and other holy books. The issue here is that blacks should be speaking out against people like Mayor Naugle, not standing with him because he hates those who you hate or doesn't measure to your standards, and speaks how you interpretate the bible. Like Coretta Scott King would say: Hate and bigotry should be oppose by right thinking Americans". She would say something like, it's not accurate. However, I don't see right-thinking Americans or even true Christians. It's that us vs. them mentality! Blacks are suppose to keep the dream alive, but instead we're turning it into a nightmare! After the gays, what group is next to be the target of intolerance, discrimination, hate, and bigotry?

Ja Rule: MTV's Promotion of homosexuality is ruining America

Hip-Hop Rapper Ja Rule gives us the latest on what's ruining America: homosexuality[NOT]! Instead of the Iraq war, racism, or sexism ruining America, Ja Rule criticizes the group who most likely to get criticize for illogical reasons. In Ja Rule's mind it's depictions of gay and lesbian couples on MTV's reality tv shows.

Ja Rule recently did a interview with Complex,the formerly popular rapper blasted upcoming congressional hearings that "will probe 'stereotypes and degradation' of black women in hip-hop and the entertainment industry and he says "calling a woman a bitch or a hoe on my rap songs" is not problematic.

Ok, so calling a woman especially a black woman a hoe or bitch is NOT problematic? Damn, I'm thankful i don't have his logic thinking. Ja, if it wasn't for a woman, you wouldn't be talking this bullsh*t right here:

they got my man Doug Morris under fire and shit, they got him going down to go speak to Congress about hip-hop lyrics, are you fucking serious? There's a fucking black kid right now about to get 25 years for having a fight with some white kids over hanging the nooses over the white tree, lets get to that. Let's get into shit like that, because that's what's tearing up America, not me calling a woman a bitch or a hoe on my rap songs. And if it is, then we need to go step to Paramount, and fucking MGM, and all of these other motherfuckers that's making all of these movies and we need to go step to MTV and Viacom, and lets talk about all these fucking shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this shit. Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid afternoon. Let's talk about shit like that! If that's not fucking up America, I don't know what is. There's a lot of issues we can address besides hip-hop, but they want to put everything on us like we're the problem. But see, and this is going to be a shameless fucking plug, but I said, "when everyone wants to point the finger, and ask why there's so much corruption, they only need to look in the mirror." It starts with themselves."

Justice MH: You want to know what's ruining America? It's people like this. Ja Rule doesn't respect women who was the cause of him being carried safely for 9 months, and being born healthy. Bashing MTV for expanding it's tv shows for other viewers like gay people who want to be represented on tv too, will not help Ja out the mess he put himself in. Blaming the gays won't get the attention off of Ja Rule's offensive lyrics towards women. Note to Ja Rule: Make sure your own back yard is clean before you start telling others to clean their own back yard up! Ja Rule's sexist lyrics is NOT being tolerated, it's unacceptable, and offensive. Women deserve much better, this lack of respect goes back to the depictions/interpretation of the story of Adam and Eve. Women are our mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, and nieces. They deserve our appreciation and respect!

BET Poll: Black Church and Homosexuality

BET's Meet the Faith is hosted by the hot Ian Smith. The guests were
Keith Boykin and Sheryl Lee Ralph who really spoke out with passion and reason about the black church and homosexuality.

Meet the Faith ran a poll to ask viewers to express their personal opinions on the subject. The results are as follow:

The Poll

We asked you, "Should the Black church stop condemning and start accepting Black gays and lesbians?" And here's how you voted:

About 64 percent of you said, "No. Most Christians believe it's wrong, and if you see people going down the wrong path, you should try to save them."

About 29 percent of you said, "Yes. Religion should be about love and tolerance."

About 7 percent of you said, "I don't know."

We also asked you, "Is homosexuality a choice or natural preference?"

About 61 percent of you said, "It's a choice."

About 24 percent of you said, "It's a natural preference. You're born that way."

Justice MH: Should I be surprise that 61% believe homosexuality is choice? No. There is still alot of work to be done on this important issue. The ones in the 64% group say that we need saving. From what? From being who we are, and living in truth! It's amazing how some people will tell others that their path, who they are, and who they love is wrong. You can't get much hypocritical than that. I wonder how the poll would have turn out if heterosexuality was being question? I bet there would be some sort of difference. Over 20% said religion should be about peace and tolerance. The black church continues to do the opposite. Some zealot black preacher take couple of bible verses out context, and hammer their gay church members into low-self esteem, and closet case mode. We have cross the river on race, but there is still one more river to cross on sexual orientation!

BET's Meet the Faith: Black Homosexuality and Homophobia Debate!!!

BET's Meet the Faith is hosted by the hot Ian Smith. I was really happy to see Keith Boykin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and former NBA player John Amaech. Keith was very vocal in challenging Bishop E. Bernard Jordon on how homosexuality is somehow NOT a "sin". Bishop Jordon say it's a sin if it's outside of marriage. All this with a belief that sex is exclusive to marriage is just silly, but like fellow blogger Larry Lyons, I'm kindy sex-positive myself. But you gotta love religion, if it can control some things, how about sexual issues/morality as well! Anyway, let's use that logic, so when gays get married, then people like the Bishop won't label it a so-called "sin". My girl Sheryl was passionate about this subject, and was telling it. The debate was a good start, and it has made quite a stir on BET's message Boards, community, blogs, and possibly many people now.


I will discuss more on this in another post! Time for the BET AWARDS 2007 Tonight!

[Updates resume morning AM-Justice MH]

Are Women the blame for fatherless homes???

Well that's what Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is saying, and of course it's from a minister and straight man's perspective. He says that it's time to look at how women are driving men out of the home (and with it, separating them from their children).He gives a lame a** excuse that men bear some of the responsibility, but that it's due to their inherent weakness for sex.



Most women themselves don't understand why they provoke and agitate their spouse to lash out or run away. They don't understand the subtle control they have over weak men.
-- Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny

In other words, these all-powerful women must be controlled, and tamed!
He goes by showing his love, he declares that a man has to realize how he has to deal with women and assert his dominance, also with patience of course. This he says, is all about love and order:

He says:There's an order to life: God in Christ, Christ in man, man over woman, and woman over children. When this order is broken or violated you have "hell" on earth.
In a relationship the man often has an unnatural need for his wife or girlfriend. He's addicted to her approval and to her sex. The woman senses this wrong need the man has and she begins to test him. Often times, men find themselves giving in more and more in order to a receive her favor. Sometimes the demands of the woman become unbearable to the point that the man may lash out -- I'm not saying this is right, but this is the reality. There's been a deliberate plan to wipe out masculinity in society. When you wipe out the man you wipe out God, because the man represents God on earth. Then there?s no truth -- no light -- and no hope for the family.

In other words, these men who leave just can't help themselves; their testorone can't handle it, and they have fragile egos. It also seems that can't stand up to the power of the pu**y! Please, maybe this man needs a vagina to understand a woman!
Who's trying to wipe out masculinity? I wish there was a balance between masculinity, and feminism. He says when you wipe out man, you wipe out God? HUh? If man represents God, then who do women represent? I believe both do, but this reverand feels that an perfect God shares his sexism, but God simply doesn't. His radical views about women is disturbing, ignorant, and arrogant! Typical straight man.

He screams anti-gay ignorance:"

"Homosexuality is not about love, it's not about family, and it's not about civil rights. It's about sex ? and selfishness. It's about pleasure at the price of morality and dignity, with reckless disregard for the raising of the young and for the traditional family unit. In many cases, it's about imposing a perverse lifestyle on a society based on close adherence to traditional Judeo-Christian values.
...The claim that homosexual conduct is legitimate since it is the consequence of an attribute (orientation) beyond one's control is also extremely dangerous. Underlying this claim is the notion that anything someone may have an orientation or a predilection towards, no matter how wicked (rape, torturing children) is by definition legitimate, simply by virtue of his having a predilection toward it.

He is so ignorant about gays it's sad, and pathetic! It seems he thinks gays are souless, and non-feeling creatures. When you don't understand a issue, all kinds of sh*t run out peoples' mouth. Please reverand go to the bathroom, empty your mouth, and come back with intelligence, logic, and reason!
Aside from his stupidity about homosexuality[gays]. His take on women is typical straight men wanting the good ol' times with domniating and controlling women. But can you blame the reverand? No it's what he was taught, and the bible was written by men, and is very anti-female. God isn't anti-female, but the book is, and fallible. In the bible,if she is not a virgin on wedding night, take her to her fathers door and stone her to death. Something extreme like this is NOT from an all-loving God, but a fallible man/writer. All are responsible in a relationship, but no one should have control over anyone!


[More Updates before or no later than 12 Noon-JusticeMH!]

Sending a Message:New Boston Campaign Targets Homophobia in Black Communities!!!

After a major victory for marriage equality in Massachusetts, more good news come out: A new awareness campaign targeting homophobia in Boston's historic black community has been well-received, and will start a visibility.

We Are Part of You" is a series of three related ads, each using the phrase "I Am Gay", that was originally developed for black communities in New York City.The goal of the campaign, which will run on billboards and in MBTA stations in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan, is to drive home the point in Boston’s black communities that "gay men have always been and will always be a part of those communities," says Douglas Brooks, the executive director of JRI Health.Brooks took the # 22 bus up Columbus Avenue to gauge the reaction to the above billboard in Egleston Square:

"I was on a bus full of black people, and wondering what the reactions would be…. I saw people looking at it. I saw people reading it. You can’t help it, it draws your attention because it’s so bold. And I think more than anything the fact that there were no comments made me feel good. I thought, ‘Okay, maybe people are just sort of taking it in,’ or at least they’re not making loud homophobic remarks on the bus. But I was very proud of it, too. I hope it makes a difference.”



Another ad is three black gay men showing they play basketball on the same courts as others. Yes, there are gay athletes, who are black! The ad breaks some stereotypes about gay men that people are know to have. This ad is refreshing, and show black gay men who are masculine.








The Last billboard, showing a black gay man with a pastor, was placed in Dorchester on Blue Hill Avenue.“I placed that one there in particular because it’s an area where there are several large black churches, and I thought the power of having that image of a gay black man and his minister standing there, reminding people that they’re part of their congregations as well, was an important [message],” said State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston). The location Just happens to be near the church of the Rev. Eugene Rivers, one of Boston's loudest ant-gay black pastors. So the billboards can't be miss, and will send a clear message of what is already known!

Black preacher's inclusive approach draws gays!!!

This article is very inspirational for a preacher to see how diverse God's creation is, and loves his/her's creation! This article also shows how we can learn about our differences, love one another, and have greater understanding!

By: Deb Price

Wanting to be like his great-grandfather, grandfather and father, Carlton Pearson set his young heart on becoming a Pentecostal preacher.

By 5, the African-American boy was preaching to other kids in his poor southern California neighborhood. He grew into an unusually gifted preacher and gospel singer at storefront churches, the kind with colored plastic lining on their windows because they can't afford stained glass.

Pearson's talent widened his world: He went on to study at Oral Roberts University, serve on the evangelical school's board of regents, move in the most elite white evangelical circles, chat with Republican presidents and host his own gospel TV show.

He preached that AIDS was God's punishment for homosexuality, spoke in tongues and laid hands on homosexuals to -- as he saw it -- cast out their demons.

But a few years ago, Pearson lost the trappings of success -- including his mega church, where collection plates overflowed with $60,000 a week. He found a more emotionally rewarding way of relating to God and people.

How?

He stopped believing in Hell. He was no longer willing to preach that a loving God would doom most of humanity to a "customized torture chamber." Deciding that "if Jesus is the savior of the world, then the world is saved," Pearson started spreading "a Gospel of inclusion" -- proclaiming that everyone is saved, not just Christians.

Branded a heretic, shunned by other mega-church evangelists, Pearson felt shattered. But Jews reached out to him and so did gay students at Oral Roberts University, who asked if his inclusive gospel included them. Yes, he replied. Soon, he was invited to preach at a gay San Francisco church. Afterward, everyone hugged him.

"I hadn't been loved like that in months by anybody, especially Christians," Pearson recalls.

And then the lesbian pastor washed his feet. "Oh my God, it was one of the holiest moments in my whole Christian life. That female gay woman with all these gay people weeping and singing and loving this (so-called) heretic and washing his feet. The people I had once denied and denounced were now my only friends," he recalls.

Pearson committed himself to being a loving brother to those of us who're gay. This spring, he led several hundred religious leaders in lobbying Congress to protect gay and transgender people from hate crimes and job discrimination.

"I am not telling people they have to love gays. I am telling people they get to love gays. All people want is permission," Pearson says.

He's helping the National Black Justice Coalition launch its "Faithful Call to Justice." Black and racially mixed churches are being asked to have gay-friendly sermons or messages in their bulletins on the first weekend in June.

Pearson says, "We have always had gays in the church, and some of the best music in the African-American church was written by gays. We've sung their songs and cursed their souls."

Pearson's faith in a God too loving to shun anyone opened new doors in his heart. And now he's working to help the black church and the rest of the nation walk through them.

Reach Deb Price at dprice@detnews.com

Justice MH's Thoughts: I agree with much of what the article talked about. It seems that black pastors are slowly, but surely starting to see that gay men and women have always been part of every part of society. They're starting to see gay men and women love God just has much as them, or more! With experiences like these help people to see that differences are good thing, not a bad thing. I hope more black pastors gain understanding and experience to know that we're all are made of God's image, and that our sexual orientation is part of us!

Not in my Family: Aids in the African-American Community

This book is a collection of essays by african-americans to break the silence on Hiv and Aids in the community. I hope many african americans have gotten the chance to read the book it's really good to hear everyone's perspective on this disease, and how it affect us as african-americans.

My favorite essay was done by Mo'Nique, it was real, and believe me she didn't hold back. I have a favorite quote from her essay " You better ask Somebody", and she right on this one.

"Our society says if you a girl, you gotta like a boy,and if you're a boy you gotta like a girl. And then it says that God said so. God ain't said that shit. Please show me in the bible where God said that. His name ain't signed nowhere. You can't show me that, I promise you can't. Some other niggas wrote it, and you're trying to convince me"_Mo'Nique.

I agree with Mo'Nique, God ain't said that shit. And don't even try to use the book of Genesis or etc. You know who i'm talking to lol. Most scholars already agree it's a weak and poor agrument.

This is a quote from Mo'Nique's You better ask Somebody essay. You'll have to buy the book to read the rest of it, and the other essays.

I always say we are made to be with somebody. We are made with hands to hold, eyes to look throught, mouths to kiss, and a body that fits into another. Relationships are relationships with gay or straight.

Like i said, she told it like it is, and i knew i like her for some reason.