The injection of
race into the analysis of Proposition 8's
passage is extremely disappointing. A battle for equal
rights has now turned into an issue of whites versus
blacks. But while some black gays think marriage
shouldn't be a priority and that outreach to
African-Americans should have been stronger, journalist Clay
Cane says he has a vested interest in inequalities
related to both race and sexual orientation ...
and he doesn't need someone to hold his hand to
believe that marriage equality is important.
The injection of
race into the analysis of Proposition 8's
passage is extremely disappointing. A battle for equal
rights has now turned into an issue of whites versus
blacks. It's sad to see the smoke screen of racism
when rights are being denied from Americans who pay
taxes and have served their country.
In the beginning,
I wanted to stay out of this racialized debate on
Proposition 8. However, after I read Jasmyne Cannick's
opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, "No-on-8's
White Bias," I felt compelled to speak up.
Cannick is someone I deeply admire and highly respect, and
she is black and gay like me; however, there is
another side of this debate from the black gay
community.
In her piece she
states, "I don't see why the right to marry should be
a priority for me or other black people. Gay marriage?
Please." Cannick adds, "Some people seem to think that
homophobia trumps racism." She explains, "There are
still too many inequalities that exist as it relates
to my race." Cannick lists important issues in the
black community such as dropout rates, poverty, and
incarceration.
As a black gay
man, incarceration rates are as important to me as gay
marriage. Dropout rates are as important to me as the fact
that, according to the CDC, 46% of black men who have
sex with men are HIV-positive. Poverty is as important
to me as the fact that there are 30 states where gays
and lesbians can be fired from their job with no
protection from their government. As a black gay man who has
endured the words "n****r" and "f****t", who lives in
this duality of gayness and blackness, I have a vested
interest in both inequalities.
Cannick argues
that the white gay community "never successfully
communicated" to blacks why gay marriage is an important
issue. I agree there was a poor strategy on
Proposition 8; however, I don't need white people to
hold my hand into believing gay marriage is important.
Black people are not docile bystanders who require whites to
communicate that discrimination is wrong. Just like I
don't need outreach from black heterosexuals to know
that poverty is important.
Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.
Page 1 of 3
Clay Cane is a
New York City-based writer who is recognized for
contributions in journalism and activism. Read more of his
work at www.claycane.net.