I thought Christianity was supposed to be about love and acceptance, you know — like Jesus, the person they hang their faith on, was.
According to Keith Boykin, an author and recent speaker at UNC Charlotte, black churches are hot beds of homophobia.
Now, is that how Jesus would be?
No, probably not.
Author and activist Keith Boykin on Wednesday blamed the black church for what he described as high levels of homophobia in the African American community.
Speaking to a packed crowd UNC Charlotte, Boykin said gays in the black community often fear speaking out because they risk social and religious isolation.
“It’s taboo in the black community to be gay because of the church and religion,” he said. “Even though there are churches who are both homophobic and homotolerant, it’s still difficult for people.”
Boykin said the black church has a large influence over the African American community, and that people often feel they need acceptance by the mainstream — in this case, the church.
“Anything that makes them fall from grace of the mainstream society is looked down upon,” Boykin said. “Most people don’t want to take on that extra burden.”
Read the entire article at Qcitymetro.com.
This article appears in Oct 6-13, 2009.
It’s common knowledge that “black” churches are much more conservative than their “white” counterparts.
Just pull up youtube, you’ll see scores of black preachers preaching against homosexuality.
IT’s in the bible! IT’s a sin!
Duh!!!
Luke2008 — I grew up in a “black” church (my father’s a deacon and the Sunday school superintendent; two of my brothers are ministers; I sang in the choir; etc.) and it’s also common knowledge that gay people are prevalent in many aspects of the church.
A lot of times, some of the most active members and staff are openly gay men. And I’ve been to black churches around the country.
It’s ironic that it’s preached against but tolerated at the same time. It’s a complex issue … as complex as sexuality … so it can’t be just washed with a brush of generalization.
I don’t think its a complicated issue. Homosexuality is wrong. I never have thought otherwise, and never will. I compare it to heterosexual guys having sex outside of marriage. Every married man has been tempted. It’s in them to want to cheat BUT they cant do it.
I also grew up in a black church, that pastor was very conservative.
I go to a fairly diverse church now but the pastor is white. He is an ol school fire n brimstone type preacher.
I was too young to know what was REALLY going on at the black church back then.
Now at my current church we have MAJOR problems with folks cheating on their wives and husbands all the time, gay stuff, I mean its crazy. Our pastor preaches against it but people still do it.