43% of Black Gay Teens have Contemplated or Attempted Suicide

In staggering news, a new report reveals that many Black gay youth have attempted or thought about suicide.

Here's more

 Preliminary results from a blockbuster survey of black gay youth, conducted by the National Strategy for Black Gay Youth in America, reveals that 43 percent of black gay youth have thought about or attempted suicide as a result of issues related to their sexual orientation.

Released by Youth Pride Services, the report is the first of three to be released this year.
According to the results, over half of those surveyed fear or have experienced family disownment as a result of coming out of the closet.

Other statistics:

• 22 percent experienced mental abuse related to their sexual orientation
• 26 percent experienced anti-gay bullying
• 11 percent are HIV positive; 7 percent do not know their status
• 8 percent have been homeless due to their sexual orientation
• 9 percent have been sexually abused as a result of their sexual orientation
• 10 percent have been physically abused as a result of their sexual orientation

The survey respondents were asked to list items that would make life as a black gay youth more bearable; 90 percent listed “family acceptance,” making it the most popular item in the survey.

Hopefully, seeing more Black leaders come out in support of gay marriage will help in creating a different climate for our youth. 

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Please Take the NoWedge 2012 Pledge

Black pastor and leaders have created a pledge that encourages Black people to not be a victim of NOM or any hate groups' tactics.

It's called NoWedge 2012... check it out after the jump

Thanks to  Kandake CimCiptivan for pointing this out to me.

As Black voters begin to consider the upcoming election, it is paramount that all citizens be intentional, deliberate and unwavering in our commitment to democratic principles. The current election cycle is perilous because the Black vote has not been under as great assault in generations.

Organizers are using “divide and conquer” strategies that manipulate religious sensibilities, and Black and Hispanic cultural identities to make marriage equality a defining wedge issue. The strategy of mobilizing Black voters based on the single issue of marriage equality is designed to divert attention from the real needs of Black America.

Religion and Faith: There is a great diversity in Black America on the cultural and theological understanding of sexual orientation than the media or popular culture give credence (recent polls show that African Americans are equally divided on marriage equality). We acknowledge that it was President Obama’s faith, which guided his shift in embracing marriage equality. Our community has the ability to hold different positions and not demonize what is perceived to be the “other.” In light of this complexity Black America is compelled to embrace candidates with policy positions that are holistically beneficial for our community as a family.

Marriage in Black America: The real threat to marriage in Black America is not marriage equality. The real answer to promote and sustain Black families is educational opportunities, economic development, eliminating race-based profiling, and eliminating the disproportionate rate of incarceration among Black men.

Human Rights: Interlopers are counting on provoking African Americans and gay Americans battling to determine which group has suffered and or has been marginalized more. Importantly, this discourse has its place, however not to the point of distracting us from the realities that unify us.

Organizations such as the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) are using their political and financial resources to influence the Black community by staging Black faith leaders and spokespersons in a campaign to manipulate Black voters with little accountability to our community on the issues, which matter most to the life of Black America:

• The economy/unemployment (particularly among black men 18-24)
• Education and childcare
• Black men and the penal system
• Healthcare access and racial disparities
• The social disenfranchisement of black people
• Social security being maintained
• Voting rights

State legislators have passed voting ID laws in swing states that are clearly targeted at minority and elderly voters; while other legislators are attempting to remap districts based on race to dilute minority voting power. Although the Department of Justice is conducting extensive investigations on the new anti-voting laws and practices across the country, these efforts face protracted legal battles. We must proactively register, mobilize and turn out the Black vote. 

We stand together and say no to the wedge strategy, which seeks to both dismiss and divide us. 

We acknowledge that we have more in common than that which divides us.NoWedge2012.com

Signatories

• Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Rev. Elder Darlene Garner - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Pastor Joseph W. Tolton - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Rev. Candy Holmes - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Sharon Lettman-Hicks - National Black Justice Coalition
• Rev. Cedric Harmon - Many Voices
• Rev. Dr. Geoffrey A. Black - President, United Church of Christ
• Rev. Nigel Pearce - Grace Congregational UCC
• Rev. Pat Bumgardner - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Pastor Vanessa M. Brown - Rivers At Rehoboth Church
• Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey - Boston University School of Theology
• Bishop James Mills
• Rev. Dr. Alton B. Pollard, III - Howard Theological Seminary
• Joseph Ward III Director, Believe Out Loud
• Rev. John H. Vaughn - Auburn Theological Seminary
• Bishop Tonyia Rawls - Unity Fellowship Church
• Rev. Jacqui Lewis - Middle Collegiate Church
• Rev. Patrick Alford - Rivers at Rehoboth Church
• Rev. Andrea Vassell - Rivers at Rehoboth Church
• Rev. Damal Edmund - Rivers at Rehoboth Church
• Bishop Rafael De Jesus - The Affirming Pentecostal Church International
• ArchBishop Carl Beam - Unity Fellowship of Christ Church
• Bishop Zachary Jones - Unity Fellowship of Christ Church
• Bishop Jacqueline Holland - Unity Fellowship of Christ Church
• Bishop Melvin G. Talbert - United Methodist Church
• Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, Director - Center of Spiritual Light
• Fabian Burrell - LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent
• Rev. Rev. William "Bill" Fourney-Mills - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Rev. Melvin Poindexter-Miller - The Fort Washington Collegiate Church
• Rev. Lorena M. Parrish - The Fort Washington Collegiate Church
• Rev. Sofia Betancourt - Unitarian Universalist Association
• Deacon Len Richardson - MCC/NY
• Pastor Richard Boggs - Cathedral of the holy spirit
• Pastor Alex Byrd - Living Faith Covenant
• Minister Joshua Holiday
• Rev. Dr. Rainey Cheeks - Inner Light Ministries Washington DC
• Rev. Irene Monroe Faith in America
• Rev. Darrick Jackson - Unitarian Universalist Association
• Rev. Janice Steele, M.Div - Imani Community United Church of Christ
• Waltrina Middleton - United Church of Christ
• Bishop John Selders - Amistad United Church of Christ
• Pastor Anthony W. Sullivan, Jr. - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Rev. Derrick Spiva - Glide Memorial UMC
• Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell, Retired United Methodist Minister
• Dr. Traci West - Drew Theological Seminary
• Rev. Steve Andrews - The Connection Church
• Rev. Darryl Thompson Powell - Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Pastor Troy Saunders - Victory Church
• Rev. Dr. Sharon Ellis Davis- God Can Ministries, UCC
• Rev. Dr. Dennis W. Wiley, Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
• Rev. Dr. Christine Y. Wiley - Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
• Rev. Alicia R. Forde - Unitarian Universalist Association
• Mykal O. Slack - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Rev. Gerald Palmer - Word 4 The Soul Ministries
• Oliver W. Martin III - Conscious Contact of New York, Inc.
• Pastor Alex D. Byrd - Living Faith Covenant Church
• Rev Jeffrey H Jordan - Metropolitan Community Church
• Rev. Roland Stringfellow - Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, Pacific School of Religion
• Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. - Union Theological Seminary
• Pastor James R. Darby Jr - City of Refuge
• Daketta Marshburn - Glory to Glory Christian Church
• Bishop Wyatt I. Greenlee Jr - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• James R Darby Jr. - City of Refuge Cleveland
• Rev. Steve Andrews - The Connection Church
• Pastor Troy Saunders - Victory Church
• Rev. DR. L Rita Dixon - Presbyterian Church
• Dominique P. Denman - Rivers at Rehoboth
• DeWayne Davis - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Rev. Dr. Leslie Carole Taylor - Methodist Theological School
• Keba Green - DreamGirlz Unlimited,LLC
• Khadijah Brown - Unified Action Coalition
• Rev. Tara Wilkins - Community of Welcoming Congregations
• J. Alfred Smith - Emeritus Allen Temple Baptist Church
• Rev. Carolyn J. Mobley - First Metropolitan Community Church
• Elder Rev. Kevin E. Taylor - Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
• C. Alicia Heath-Toby - Unity Fellowship Church Rochester
• Emilie Townes - Yale Divinity School
• Bishop Terry Angel Mason - Fountain of Life Word Center
• Rev. DR. L Rita Dixon - Presbyterian Church
• Dominique P. Denman - Rivers at Rehoboth

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New Poll: Most Blacks supports Gay Marriage

 Moving forward

A new ABC News-Washington Post poll on Americans' attitudes toward marriage equality is out today, and according to the results, support for marriage equality among Americans has remained consistent at 53 percent.

But the number of African Americans who want to legalize same-sex marriage is even higher, and it seems to be on the rise. Fifty-nine percent of black respondents said that they want to legalize same-sex marriage, and 65 percent favor President Obama’s position on the issue. For the first time, the number of Americans who "strongly" support same-sex marriage (39 percent) also outweighs the number who "strongly" oppose it (32 percent).

This is getting good.

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Why some Black Pastors & Leaders are on the Wrong Side of Equality

After President Obama made his gay marriage announcement, it seemed that everyone looked to the black churches for their reaction. As some pastors shrugged it off and went about their business, several pastors and church leaders fell into the classic stereotypical trap.

 According to CNN, Obama's gay marriage support was the topic of many sermons in black churches across the country. Many of them have stated they love the president but they can't support gays or gay marriage. Then some like Rev. Dr. Emmett Burns claim they are going to stay home and not vote all. In fact, he is encouraging his church to not vote for Obama because of his stance on gay marriage. While they think they are taking a stand in the name of the Lord, they are actually take the same position as the slave masters did over 400 hundred years ago.

They used the Bible to keep slavery going and even convinced slaves that being owned was God's plan. These church leaders really need to think about this attitude they have grown so comfortable having.

I feel like they have no idea about what's in the Bible or what Jesus was truly about. Their statements and brashness show nothing of peace or love. It presents nothing but discrimination and hate. Perhaps these pastors should read James 2:1 where it talks about discrimination or Proverbs 10:12 which states how hatred stirs up nothing but strife.
But this is not just from the pastors; this is also coming from many black people. Some of them are using statements like, "My faith doesn't agree with gay marriage," or "My faith thinks it's wrong." Then, when you confront them on it, they just simply say it's in the Bible; like that's some legal law.
Well, if they're going to quote the Bible, I would love for them to visit Deuteronomy for a while and tell me if they would still follow the Bible word for word. Because if they do, they also support being put to death for having dreams that are not Godly, stoning their smart-mouth kids or being damned for having one testicle.
Yes, this is their faith, from the good ole Bible.

Black pastors and leaders, you cannot continue to be on the wrong side of history about this, and you cannot mislead our people down a discriminatory path. The freedom to marry is not a threat to marriage or your faith. If that was the case, then you should question the validity of your faith.

While you all are holding on to these archaic views, black Americans are evolving. Within the past couple of years, black Americans have changed their views on gay marriage. ABC News/Washington Post poll shows 54 percent of African-Americans support President Obama's marriage equality stance.

We are also seeing several black leaders and celebrities come out in support for marriage equality as well. So what is your hold-up? Your faith? If you are a true believer, you know that Jesus wouldn't allow anyone to discriminate and exclude a group of people in his name.

So please, get it together and evolve from these outdated mythologies you've trapped yourself into.

The Coalition of African American Pastors wants President Obama to Drop his Gay Marriage Support

These fools just can't get it together. A group of Black pastors are asking President Obama to drop his support of gay marriage.

It's not a lot of them, but supposedly they are very influential in the Black community. They got together in Memphis to talk about this big danger of marriage equality.

"The group of black clergy and civil rights leaders say it is time to turn the tide against the 'hijacking' of the civil rights movement," said the Rev. Bill Owens, the coalition's elder statesman and organizer and a veteran of the civil rights movement who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King. "A 50-year-old can only read about the struggles and protests of the civil rights era, but some of us who are older have the battle scars to prove it. And the rights we fought so hard to acquire did not include same-sex marriage."

The coalition argues that there is "no legitimate comparison between skin color and sexual behavior."

The black ministers who came together represent a wide spectrum of religious and political beliefs and many of the pastors have been ardent supporters of President Obama and Democratic causes. But same-sex marriage is where they draw the line.

Owens told The Christian Post that they are "very disappointed" in Obama's newly pronounced support for gay marriage.

"We ask President Obama to stand with the black church, on the Word of God and evolve again back to the common sense biblical view that marriage is the union of husband and wife," he said.
Nonetheless, Owens said the group's goal is to stay away from the issue of whether or not the president will win a second term. "We want to stay away from the political part and stay in the realm of our area which is ministry."

I guess Rev. Bill Owens forgot that it was a gay man who organized the civil rights march and played a huge role in the overall movement.

I guess he also forgot that God's message was for all and not a chosen few.

And he should remember that slave masters used this same Godly rhetoric to keep Blacks in submission. So please, Rev. Bill Owens and the others get on the right side of this.

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READ NAACP's statement for endorsing Marriage Equality

“The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure the political, social and economic equality of all people,” said Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NAACP. “We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law.”

“Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people” said Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP.

The NAACP has addressed civil rights with regard to marriage since Loving v. Virginia declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional in 1967. In recent years the NAACP has taken public positions against state and federal efforts to ban the rights and privileges for LGBT citizens, including strong opposition to Proposition 8 in California, the Defense of Marriage Act, and most recently, North Carolina’s Amendment 1, which changed the state constitution’s to prohibit same sex marriage.

Below is the text of the resolution passed by the NAACP board of directors:
 
The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the “political, educational, social and economic equality” of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.  Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment.

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Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2012/05/read-the-naacp-news-release-naacp-passes-resolution-in-support-of-marriage-equality.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2012/05/read-the-naacp-news-release-naacp-passes-resolution-in-support-of-marriage-equality.html#storylink=cpy
Below is the text of the resolution passed by the NAACP board of directors:

The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the “political, educational, social and economic equality” of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.  Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment.

Bishop Harry Jackson talks foolishness about Gay Marriage on Hardball

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Don Lemon tells the Black Church to get it together on Gay Marriage - WATCH

The Rev. Carlton Pearson says Gays have a Place in Heaven - WATCH

This is a great interview with Rev. Carlton Pearson about the Black and Gay relationship, gay marriage and Eddie Long

Brian Brown claims that Blacks and Latinos always hated Gay Marriage

In a sad attempt to raise money, NOM hate leader states that Blacks and Latinos always opposed gay marriage.

See here in their letter:

NOM didn't create this issue. The African American and Hispanic communities have always opposed same-sex marriage. It is the gay marriage activists and Democratic party elites who have forced the issue, ignoring the voices of Black and Hispanic voters.

I just spoke with two of my heroes in the fight to defend marriage, Rev. Sen. Ruben Diaz and Bishop Harry Jackson. They are outraged by these latest attacks, and Senator Diaz has already posted a powerful response on his official senate website.

NOM has marched arm-in-arm with countless African American and Hispanic pastors, community leaders and grassroots supporters. They know us. They know our hearts. There is no way the other side can divide us.

If anything, this unprecedented attack has encouraged our Hispanic and African American colleagues to do even more on behalf of marriage.

My friend, we are building an unprecedented coalition of marriage supporters across all racial, ethnic, political and religious lines.

Blacks, whites and Hispanics...Republicans, Democrats and Independents...Catholics and Protestants, Mormons, Jews and atheists...All standing together for the good of marriage!

Brian, first you mock us and now, you claim to know what's in our hearts? Bitch, have a seat! The jig is up.

Interesting Quote: Wade Henderson

With the 2012 session of the Maryland General Assembly now under way, African-Americans in Maryland will soon play a pivotal role in the effort to advance equality for gays and lesbians as the legislature considers granting marriage rights to thousands of families and couples in the state.

In Maryland, gays and lesbians are engaging in a fight for their civil rights -- for marriage equality. And we must not let rhetoric that seeks to appropriate our experience blind us to a simple fact: that while the journeys of our two communities may be different, our ultimate goals are the same.

Marriage equality is not only a matter of civil rights; it's one of human rights and basic dignity. To deny familial and spousal benefits to millions of gay and lesbian Americans -- benefits that are taken as a given for straight Americans -- is to undermine the basic family unit that we in the black community have worked so hard to preserve and advance.

 Wade Henderson is president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. His piece is a great read.

VIDEO: NoMoreDownLow TV's Gay Black History Month Episode

The folks over at NoMoreDownLow TV, just sent me a new episode covering some LGBT highlights and events during Black History Month. Please take a look and enjoy

Spelman student JeShawna Wholley wins the 2011 Campus Pride Voice & Action National Leadership Award

 I found this story to be wonderful and inspiring. Here's the scoop from Darian's Blog

The city of Atlanta along with Spelman College and Atlanta's LGBT community has reason to be proud of JeShawna Wholley. Wholley was recently awarded the 2011 Campus Pride Voice & Action National Leadership Award for her tireless efforts to make Spelman College and neighboring institutions Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University a more inclusive environment for SGL students.

Her efforts earned her an invitation to The White House to meet President Obama during a reception commemorating the 40th anniversary of Stonewall.

Wholley recently completed her tenure as president of Afrekete, Spelman College's on-campus LGBT organization and was instrumental in creating Spelman and Morehouse's first PRIDE Week. The week’s culminating event themed, WERK: The Appropriate Dress Drag Show, aimed to create an awareness pertaining to the discriminatory nature of the Appropriate Attire Policy imposed by Morehouse College in 2009 as reported frequently on loldarian.com.

Wholley's most extraordinary act resulted from a mix-up during “National Coming Out Day” in which campus officials at Spelman removed decorative items in recognition of the day. JeShawna immediately contacted the college’s President, Provost and Director of Student Activities which in turn created a new student advisory position for LGBT inclusion, a forum for faculty, staff, and students to discuss cultural sensitivity and an honorary “National Coming Out Day” celebration funded by the school due to the campus oversight on the official date.

Congrats, JeShawna! We hope to see more from you.

WATCH the Latest 'No More Down Low' episode

Watch an interesting look into the Black Gay Culture