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Dr. Boyce: Sorry Newsweek, but Barack is NOT The First Gay President
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, YourBlackBloggers.net
I’ve spent a week thinking about the Newsweek cover in which President Obama is proclaimed to be “The First Gay President.”
As a proponent of gay marriage, I was admittedly taken aback by seeing a successful black man “turned out” in front of the American public. In fact, I was actually insulted, not because there’s something wrong with being gay, but because Newsweek had the audacity to think that everyone would be happy to be called gay. So, I thought I would send a memo to anyone who somehow feels compelled to consider Barack Obama to be the first gay president of the United States:
The man isn’t gay.
Barack Obama is not, to my knowledge, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, a cross-dresser or anything else that might imply that he wants to sleep with other men. He is married to a woman and has dated women for his entire life. While there is room for empathy in the battle for gay rights in America, the idea of letting an openly gay blogger (Andrew Sullivan) label the president in an inaccurate way is highly problematic.
Yes, I know that some people referred to Bill Clinton as “the first Black President,” but most of us never signed off on such a ridiculous and inaccurate description – eating ribs and playing the saxophone hardly qualifies anyone to be black. Similar to the Clinton scenario, referring to President Obama as the first gay president is a disappointment to legitimately gay Americans who’d like to see one of their own in the White House. Take it from us: The substitute is rarely as fulfilling as the real thing, so it’s probably best to be patient.
By taking one of the most powerful and successful black men in history and emasculating him in front of the world, Newsweek editors have succeeded in further fueling the hostilities of those who already believe (perhaps falsely) that the gay community is attempting to project its lifestyle onto those who are not comfortable with it. For every black woman who has seen good, eligible black men sucked up by white women, a gay lifestyle or the prison industrial complex, this headline is an absolute and justifiable outrage. There are ways one can pursue equality and earn respect for his/her lifestyle without forcing others to live with and accept it as their own.
Perhaps some are thinking that gay is the new black, so Obama shouldn’t waste his time being a black man anyway. Being gay is now politically fashionable and will help secure admission into a lot of Ivy League universities and social circles that now see little value in African American people (I’m sure I’ll be called homophobic for even writing this article). Liberals, in their paternalistic disrespect for the African American male, often see us as brutes who need to be tamed, educated or civilized, leading to conflicts between white women and black men in thousands of workplaces across the country.
Even more interesting is the manner by which a black man has to bend and twist himself into something that makes liberal whites comfortable in order for him to be appreciated or respected. For Obama to gain the adoration of liberal white women, the gay community and other groups, he has to become what they would like for him to be: the smiling, happy black man without a problem in the world, who speaks to liberal issues without saying a word about mass incarceration, racial inequality, all the black men dying in his hometown or the depleted and unequal schools in black communities across America. He can talk about gay rights and women’s rights all day long, but if he says one word about the discomfort of other people of color, he is sent straight to the N*gger house.
I’m sorry Newsweek, but President Obama is NOT the first gay president. Similarly, Bill Clinton was never the first black president. Perhaps Bill wanted to be black, but I’ve never heard President Obama say that he wants to be gay. For you to put that label on him unfairly is insulting to us all, and lends credence to those who think that anyone who is uncomfortable with homosexuality is now going to be persecuted. We must all learn to respect boundaries.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Syracuse University Professor and author of the forthcoming book, “The RAPP Sheet: Rising Above Psychological Poison.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
Dr. Boyce Watkins
Marcinho Savant
May 23, 2012 at 4:02 am
With great respect Dr. Watkins, while i get the gist of your piece, I must caution that it is equally improper to concatenate being called “gay” with “emasculation”. The concept of emasculation literal or prosaic, is folly.
Remember what Eddie Murphy said. “*****TS can FIGHT!”
Manu Salah Mateus
May 23, 2012 at 5:41 pm
News week,is about selling magazine and making money out of the absurd and asinine. Free speech is allowed even from an idiot.From a sick mind or a racist.even from some one being facetious. Some folk will say anything to get attention.We could say they just don’t like the idea of a colored man being in The White House and African American or what they think about Blackness in the House of what they thought was only for Whiteness. LOL You know what they say once you go Black you never go back,and the Blacker the berry the sweeter the juice. Ha Ha. Sorry Dr. Boyce the devil made me do it. LOL.
GemGirl
May 23, 2012 at 4:11 am
Dr. Boyce — You are so on target! I agree that Newsweek went too far, taking liberty to label Obama based on him supporting marriage equality for gays. I am a black heterosexual woman who supports gay marriage, but I would not take pride in having friends or colleagues mislabel me as gay person just because I have empathy for a particular group.I can be me and still support others in being who they are.
To me, Newsweek crossed a line in journalism. Hypothetically, even if Obama is a “closeted” gay man, this knowledge is not public. The headline is misleading without context. A former New Jersey governor held a press conference to announce that he was/is a gay American, but Obama has not done this….so no implication should be made otherwise.
As you say, we must all learn to respect boundaries.
ilovenaturalhair
May 23, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Nail hit on head. This cover is more than shock value, it’s emasculating and far beyond over the top. And something like this is one of the reasons why I do not respect the gay community. Truly inflammatory, offensive, demeaning, all on the name of ” fun”.. I’m do glad I ended my subscription with this magazine.
shelley Laysi
May 23, 2012 at 4:19 am
Well said and I 2nd that!
quientin stenson
May 23, 2012 at 4:38 am
U hit the nail on the head, they wanna feminize the black male & make him mum when it comes to speaking out against the discrimination & injustices the masses of black people deal with daily…….
Keith A Bond
May 23, 2012 at 4:44 am
Finally Dr Boyce you wrote an article that I can relate to. Your right President Obama is not the first gay President. Although we as black people need to address the problems of mass incarceration, racial inequality, all the black men dying in his hometown or the depleted and unequal schools in black communities across America. A lot of our problems are self inflicted. Remember we are on uncharted ground with respect to how black folks relate to him. The President is in a tough re-election fight. I am going to do everything humanly possible to re-elect the President.
jazzy
May 23, 2012 at 5:17 am
Very Well Put.
Edward A. Smikle
May 23, 2012 at 5:32 am
Well said Mr. Watkins, I only wished he would go out on a limb for black people. I have my issues with Mr. Obama, for even wanted to be president of the United States. For him to become presiden mean he had to sell his soul to the system of skull and bones. And to sell himself to become the oppressor of people all over the world who never did anything to him, to maintain this system is very strange to me. But after giving himself and all sense of decency and to be mistreated the way he have been mistreated make my so angry. But since this is choice and he made this decision of his free will, who am I to tell him what to do.
I just resent the fact that he is going around the world killin innocent people.
Wayne Hazzard
May 23, 2012 at 6:21 am
Sir Ed. All due respect, but how do we know he really sold his soul? Can you see his heart? I cannot see your heart. Wisdom demands that sometimes you have to appear to be all things to all men. If we constantly walked down your street of black and white, what would we get done? St Paul a converted Christian performed a Jewish rite to be heard and accepted into that particular circle. Was he being heretical? His heart wasn’t in the rite. He gained an audience. He performed the rite as a pass to gain entrance and accomplish a great purpose. Isn’t this warfare? We are only to fight one way?
Darwin Maull
May 23, 2012 at 7:41 pm
I would like to respond to the comments made by Mr. Edward A. Smikle. As a proud black man who is currently serving his country in Afghanistan and has served in our military for 10 years now, I am insulted by your comments. I do not agree with everything that our President says or does, but I do support his policies concerning our military because that is what I raised my right hand back in 2002 and swore to do.
The last time I checked, President Obama has not forced women to cover themselves from head to toe in a burqa because that is what his version of Islam says is right. President Obama has not told young girls that they cannot attend schools. He has not massacred tens of thousands of people because of their ethnicity. If I’m wrong, please stop me now.
Since you didn’t stop me, let’s continue…
As you sit at your desk or in a coffee shop typing away at your computer enjoying your latte and all of the freedoms that YOUR military provides, I ask that you first take a look at your life in America and thank God that you live in a country where you can make ignorant comments freely and without reprecussions from the government or anyone else (other than a snide remark or two from guys like me, but no harm done).
Second, you need to realize that America is currently in a war. Are you surprised? Did you know? IT’S A WAR!!! In war, there are good guys and bad guys depending on which side of the line you stand on. There are also civilian casualties, which is one of the most unfortunate parts of war, but is one of the realities of war. Let’s have a little fun with numbers: 6.6 million, 4.2 million, 1.5 million, 2 million. Do you know what those numbers are? The number of civilian casualties in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam. In the first three wars, the combatants did not hide among the populace like they did in Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan.
You should really stop listening to the media (you’re a FOX news fan, aren’t you), who gets paid for sensationalizing stories and blowing things out of proportion, and do a little research instead of saying rediculous things like, “I just resent the fact that he [Obama] is going around the world killin innocent people.” Our President has not pulled a single trigger in Iraq or Afghanistan. This being my second tour in Afghanistan (one in Iraq), I can tell you that we have killed innocent civilians. It is unfortunate. But, we have also killed thousands of insurgents and terrorists, who are then reported as “civilians” because they live in a terrorist safe haven. Of course they are going to say the U.S. killed a “innocent civilian.” What are they supposed to say, “I am angry because the Coalition Forces killed my brother yesterday before he could finish planting all of the IEDs we made?”
If you’re going to make accusatory and inflamatory remarks against our President and our military, please have the facts and the intestinal fortitude to back it up.
I’d write more, but I need to go to bed so I can get up in the morning and continue to protect your freedom. God bless you. God bless our Soldiers. God bless our President. And God bless America.
RNM
May 23, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Thank You, Darwin Maull for your comment! Thank You for protecting us, by serving our country! We need to pray for ignorant people and for our country. There is so much hate in this world. Boils down to…..the color of our skin, sad but oh so very true. We are all GOD’s children, and one day it will be revealed.
TERRY TAALIB-DIN
May 24, 2012 at 9:37 am
let’s flip the scenerio a second, let’s suppose that some group calling themselfs taliblotoffun, was requiring or requesting women to wear mini dresses and thong bikinis in public i wander what your response would be?? Yea i can hear it now-IT’S ALL ABOUT FREEDOM AND CHOICE-really? We stood by let over 900.000 Rawadans massacre one other because it wasn’t in our interest. But i suppose this adventure is, half the country don’t have hot and cold running water and l’m suppose to loose sleep over some harm coming from eight or nine thousand away when it’s (danger and harm) just
around the corner and at door step, at any moment. Yes we have to rationize up a reason for the actions we defend, and i am willing to bet you the other guy will too, especially if you’re in his
my homeland.
D. Bowie
May 24, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROSALIND
May 25, 2012 at 2:08 am
Well said my son, not even I could of said it better, I am so glad, that we have people like you to defend our president and our country, too many of us forget the simple truth even to say thank you when they wake up in the morning. I truely give you thanks for your intellegent remarks.
MM
May 23, 2012 at 5:49 am
Dr. Watkins, It was a metaphor that has to do with the president (the most powerful man in the world)supporting human rights for all. What in the world is wrong with such a sentiment exactly? Nothing. As an African Americans I believe that we should be particularly sensitive to other groups of people who are seeking equal protection and their civil rights under the 14th Amendment. The notion that Bill Clinton would be considered the first black president has to do with the idea that he was on the side of black people, so let’s try to use that same logic in this case, shall we? Did anyone literally think that Bill Clinton was black? No. Does anyone literally think that President Obama is gay? No. So let’s get off of our soap box por favor and take the cover as it was meant, which was in support of an important expansion of civil rights for all Americans.
Wayne Hazzard
May 23, 2012 at 6:05 am
What a voice. What a word. Thank you Dr.Boyce. What more could we expect from Newsweek who again proves there’s not in the pure journalism vocation? – Typical behavior of the 1%.Next?
Lordmo
May 23, 2012 at 6:23 am
Fantastic! Your comment says a thousand word and I shall rest in repect.
Dr. Watkins, you have proved to be the voice of the voiceless in literaly black African communities.
As an African living overseas in the Western world I found the word “gay marrage”, misleading, deceptive, and insulting indeed!”
Is not what we say or do but the words we use.
Could it be said then the old say hold truth? That is, “one man food is another mans poison?”
Could it be also said that one man culture is diffrent to others?
Could it be said also that the absent of publc dsicourse and debate over gay marrage as misleading in the sense that anyone who dear to object to it is label homophobic? Is this issue be compared to the “anti-semetic”, prophets that criticise anyone that even mention the word Jew?
Is or are the agenda drivers (gay community, right wind, left wings, rights groups) and lobbiest now become the policy drivers of the United Staes and the Western world?
Should the whole world standby and wait until a third world engulf us before they speak/
I rest my case. I am not homophobic but true African and blackman. I quest the day when the O.K. Men of America and the West shall stand up and say stop saying anti-black sentiment, against Africa Americans, Africans, Afro-phobic statement against people of African origin!
Barak Obama call it upon himself and I shall not defend him. In politics you don’t satify everyone.
“Good intentions are a gateway to hell!”
Peace be unto you and please keep on the good work.
God bless!
Lordm
Russell A. Mebane
May 24, 2012 at 1:02 am
I applaud you, free-thinking Black man. Obama’s a nice person, but supporting gay marriage is not a good idea and any flack he catches in the Black community for dealing with such a volatile issue he brought on himself. When Americans and Blacks in particular have so many more pressing issues to face, focusing on an issue that only affects a particular group of fetishists is silly and infuriating. If Obama wants to tackle a controversial issue, there’s always immigration. Hey? Isn’t that the issue he promised he’d deal with back in 2010 or so? The current system allows for humans beings to be trafficked like cattle and many die on the voyage to come to this country. Yet it’s more important that gays get tax breaks and adoption rights?
Lordmo
May 23, 2012 at 6:26 am
“Good intention are the gateway to hell!”
Karl Max
Obama must learn in politics you cant satisfy everybody like anything else in life.
This so, because circumstances change everyday!
Keep on the good job Doc and peace be unto you!
God bless,
Lormo
HASSAN HARTLEY
May 23, 2012 at 6:37 am
I cannot believe you would be so “outraged” by this cover. Were you “outraged” by Obama being called the first Jewish President back in 2008 and 2009? Why not? I wonder if any Jewish financial sponsorship or advertising dollars made you “hunky dorey” with the notion of Obama being declared the first Jewish President. The whole moniker is representative of the fact that a person is perceived to be a valuable ally for the progress of that particular group to which he is assigned it. So when Clinton was dubbed, “The first Black President”, it was because he styled himself as a friend of the black community( we can argue why he wasnt later. Perception is the issue here.) You sound hypocritical saying, “In fact, I was actually insulted, not because there’s something wrong with being gay, but because Newsweek had the audacity to think that everyone would be happy to be called gay”
Excuse me?
I AM gay, and I am proud to be called gay. Many millions of us around the world are HAPPY to be called gay, so what on EARTH are you talking about, that no one would be “happy” to be called gay? Is “gay” an insult to you? Are you one of those homophobes that say, ” I have no problem with faggots” when he is around his homeboys, but in public, pretends to be progressive on the issue of gay rights? Clearly, your latent subliminal bigotry is rearing its head here. Perhaps you are playing to the bigots that read your blog who might have been a tad critical of your recent positions regarding Roland Martin’s brainfarts and the whole notion of gay marriage endorsed by Pres. Obama. Since you insinuate that being called “gay” is SUCH an insult, that NO ONE would be happy to be referred to as such, perhaps you should look in the mirror of your own bullshit. You might see a reflection more reminiscent of Roland Martin’s fat lopsided ass than that of President Obama.
HASSAN HARTLEY
May 23, 2012 at 7:22 am
http://brotherhassans.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-open-letter-in-response-to-dr-boyce.html
Perhaps a read of the final product will spark discussion.
Isoul H. Harris
May 23, 2012 at 6:52 am
Dr. Boyce,
I typically agree with many of your opinions. But, in reading this post, I am tempted to assume you did not read the Newsweek cover story. Because if you did and being that you are a professor at an esteemed university, you MUST know the difference between figurative and literal language. The headline, meant to arrest attention, sell magazines and ignite conversation, is figurative.
Newsweek, and Andrew Sullivan more specifically, are not claiming that President Obama is actually gay; they are applauding him for being the FIRST president in US History to stand on the side of marriage equality for gays.
Furthermore, you write that the magazine “emasculated” the president in front of the world. Well, with that, you are basically declaring that gay men are not actually masculine or don’t possess the ability to be regarded as “real men”.
The president has talked about his friends and colleagues who are in gay marriages and partnerships and the wonderful families and lives they possess.
While I don’t think you are homophobic, I do think you are slightly short sighted.
Isoul H. Harris
Francis Ushie
May 23, 2012 at 7:55 am
Newsweek’s Andrew Sullivan needed to give his organisation quick publicity, and that is what gives life to so many papers.
However, for president Barack Obama to have identified with the gay group in the country is not a bad thing, but the writer has exploited a loophole to make his own name.
I continue to believe that the president is a sacrificial leader, who’ll do everything to fulfill the yearnings of his people…but, Andrew Sullivan should’ve reserve some respect for the president, and not take this forceful honor at this time, or at best, he should have arrange for an interview with the president on the issue, rather than making this hasty publication, which ofcourse would only make the president a winner.
America has always propagated human rights, and me think the president was only being tempted.
Even as there are many broken relationships and homes, the first family have led an examplery family life of complete humility– a model for many who aspire to a good and happy home.
Gloria Marie Thompson
May 23, 2012 at 8:45 am
Dr. Boyce, thanks for all information that we receive. In regard to our President, we need to rally behind him and support him in all of his efforts to continue to assure that we are treated equally; (“if that could ever happen”). But, we need to do this. All black organizations, NAACP, Black legislature, Black representatives, Black Congressmen and others if they would just admit that Our President will never be accepted by some and we must move on. We must continue to fight with him; that’s what others do……….. I stand with the President. He needs us and there is not of us standing with him; I am quite troubled about what we are focuing on; we need to help him get elected again. We do not need to lose our focus; that’s the plan. WE NEED TO VOTE. LET ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING AND CONCENTRATE ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET ALL DEMOCRATS OUT TO VOTE FOR OUR PRESIDENT. I have not seen so much disrespect, angry, and poor treatment to a Black Man since slavery. THEY HAVE TOLD US WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE; MAKE PRESIDENT OBAMA A ONE TERM PRESIDENT. WE NEED TO ORGANIZE AND HELP HIM COMPLETE HIS MISSION; NOT HELP THEM COMPLETE THEIR MISSION; WHOEVER THEY ARE……AGAIN LET’S SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT. THANKS
Latarsha Statham
May 23, 2012 at 12:14 pm
I am quite appalled at the accusation about Barak Obama. That was a personal attack and no one should be of accused of being something w/o significant evidence. Being that I voted for Obama… not because I believed he would execute an outstanding representation of this country nor because they say he is black (African American) but because I believe that GOD ordained him for this season to fulfill some prophecies. With Obama tending to the homosexual (gay) society in allowing same sex marriages…says he is right on track for the fulfillment and that he is attempting to regain the Presidential office. Everyone that puts there trust in man will ultimately get disappointed. This system is about greed not really assisting the human race in the areas that are honestly and desperately needed. Even though I believe Obama is not gay…He is definitely not the first gay President. People will be shocked, taken aback and a lil more educated if they would delve deeper into history to find the truth.
paul young
May 23, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Obama attended the Bohemian Grove twice thats on record and if thats the case we know what Nixion said about the Grove which whould explain why Obama identifies with the Gay community it’s not rocket science why theirs a push in this country for a Gay agenda as it relates to life style and Eugenics and genocide of the orginal communities world wide.
Lil One
May 23, 2012 at 12:27 pm
He wasn’t saying that President Obama was gay. It was a play on words and wording. What I believe he was saying was that P.O. was the first president to support gay ppl.
ICDATRUTH
May 23, 2012 at 12:34 pm
This was a well written article and I too as black man living in America feel that we as blackmen have always had to make ourselves less threatening to white America. This has got to stop! We have been protrayed more as thugs, drug dealers/users, violent and immoral and this is just referring to the trayvon Martin case. Now some gay writer wants to add fuel to the fears of the conservative base by demasculating the most powerful man in the world. Being gay is not a badge of courage in this country not even within the gay community if you are a man.
DR Rizmore
May 23, 2012 at 1:59 pm
If you CDATRUTH then you will know that equality for so called African Americans is and always was a delusion perpetuated by the desperation, and oppression. Read your bible (books and similar books of Deuteronomy)and you will KNOWDATRUTH. This is NOT our kingdom. Moreover, we have become a people obsolete globally; more distinctly in America. Why is it that the children of Israel and Judah do not who they are, yet every other nationality does? Read the the books. I have been identified as a Hebrew (at the time unbeknownst to me) by Hasidim, Pakistani, Eastern Europeans and a myriad of other nationalities. I decided to do the research as so many of us should.
Wake up Israel! Time is running out.
ojack
May 23, 2012 at 12:36 pm
This is Newsweek attention whoring because of the Time magazine cover of the old kid being breastfed. Newsweek was being ignored so they had to come up with something ridiculous to create controversy.
Mo
May 23, 2012 at 12:44 pm
As a black man, I get so tired of hearing people who defend the President or comment on something concerning the President as a black man first. It’s like the only way that people think they can identify with him is because he’s half African American. Who cares that some gay man wants to grab some headlines and draw readers into his column by saying that the President is the first gay President. Any with common sense knows that he’s only referring to the fact that he’s the first President to support same sex equality. It’s like it’s gotten to the point where no one outside of the African American community can say anything that isn’t complimentary about the President without having everyone in an uproar saying how he’s the most disrespected President in history. We get it. People don’t like him because he’s African American. How many different variations of the topic do we really have to read? And how can you be a proponet of something, but find it offensive when someone identifies someone as that? Would you have been insulted if they decided to label him as white? The man was raised by a white mother and grandparents, yet no one stops to think if it bothers him that we only refer to him as African American.
Bernice
May 23, 2012 at 1:02 pm
How sad. America it’s tme to grow up. So far President Obama is concerned, he is the best thing that happened to this country in a long time. Or maybe as far I can see. As far as the world is concerned, and I do not speaking for the world. Most countrys love him. You can see that young people of this country love him. They can see people better than their parents or grandparents ever did. I was hoping that black people would see that Pres. Oboma is the president of the country, not just the ghetto only. Remember Dinkins? what he did showed up after he got out of office. And the churches, must understand that Pres. Obama does have the right to voice his opinion just like you. He must protect all rights of the people. Gay people pay taxes the same as you and I, and deserve to get the same treatment as you and I. They do fight for their rights as a group. Ofcause not those who want to remain in the closet. We as black people must learn as others do to stick together. As long as we think individually, not as one body, we will alway be a victoms to the world. By the way I am not gay. My friend who hated gay people nevr knew that her last child would turn out to be gay. Guess what, he was born that way. she might have been hurt but she still loves her baby.
charles
May 23, 2012 at 1:08 pm
The mis-characterizations abound. To suggest that Barack Obama is America’s first Black president is a mis-characterization. He is not part of the community I was born in and grew up in. I attended a segregated school in 1941 when I began my formal education. That is not the Barack Obama journey so he is to be no different than Mitt Romney. He has never walked in my shoes. I know absolutely nothing about the culture of Indonesian Islam. It is as distant from me as the KU KLUX KLAN.
Habeeb Rasheed
May 23, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Dear Dr Boyce
As a Black Gay man I will join with you in saying that it is not right to label someone gay. I understand the example that Obama can be for our community good example of manhood and to most, good examples of manhood are straight. Here is the issue that I have with what you wrote. The assumption that gay folks “Newsweek editors have succeeded in further fueling the hostilities of those who already believe (perhaps falsely) that the gay community is attempting to project its lifestyle onto those who are not comfortable with it.”
It is the perhaps falsely part that I feel you as a “Dr” should be beyond.
As a gay person if I am honest about my life, my hopes my dreams I would have to describe them as a gay person would. Otherwise I have to do the extra work of changing pronouns, and adjectives so as to not offend who I am speaking with. This honest conversation is what is called pushing our life styles on others.
Try this to see how difficult it is for the gay folk
Describe a vacation that you are looking forward too or that you have taken. This works great if you are in a long term relationship. Now imagine describing the very same vacation but now talk about it hiding the gender of the person that you went with.
Try describing a home that you hope to buy, or weekend plans with people that you care about. Try describing any part of your life and how you interact with others. I feel you will find it difficult to even talk about life if speaking honestly and freely about your life is seen as pushing a life style one someone. It’s not pushing a life style, it’s having an honest conversation.
So let’s have an honest conversation starting with the honesty that gay people do not recruit gay folks. We are born in my case in the communities we come from. so lets move towards not saying that we are pushing something like a drug dealer.
The “gay lifestyle” is a bit of a strange term as far as I am concerned and should be removed from the conversation. It creates many untrue assumptions about how we live. My partner just left work he is a graphic designer. I am promoting solar rentals and political T shirts. We combine our money pay our bills. We attend church services and volunteer at least 3 times a month. Tonight he will be at a church meeting.
Let’s stop Willie Lynching our conversations!
We are better than this.
Playrighter
May 23, 2012 at 2:35 pm
There are likely several million who would disagree that Newsweek’s label is insulting to them, and it’s fascinating that Dr. Watkins blames Liberals who devalue blacks, when this attack traditionally skewers conservatives (wrongly, I might offer).
Finally, kudos for Watkins’ “inspiring” choice of words, in saying that “…every black woman who has seen good, eligible black men sucked up by white women, a gay lifestyle or the prison industrial complex…” I’m sure the Hoover, Oreck and Dyson companies are grateful for the plug…
MARY
May 23, 2012 at 3:24 pm
I totally agree with MO–well stated. I have a question. Why do Black people always refer to Obama as Black? The man is far more White than Black! Read MO’s post again. Also read his book,”Dreams from My Father”. It in he describes being embarrassed of Black people in his treatment of a young clasmate who was Black. If you or I had been one of his classmates, would he have accepted us? No! He came to the Black community only when he was not fully embraced by the White community. That was when he sent out to diligently search out his African roots. I know, yes I know about the drop of Black blood making one White philosophy in the eyes of White America. But as Black Americans, why do we have to accept their outcasts as our own?
As Black people or people of color, we like to put on blinders when it comes to certain issues, but I’m going to say, “look, the Empreror has on no clothes”.
Thanks Dr. Boyce for this statement,”There are ways one can pursue equality and earn respect—without forcing others to live with and accept it as their own”.
I believe that a lot of people are totally against “Gay Rights”, but are afraid of the outspokeness and backlashes from the gay community. And if you don’t believe me, look at some of the comments from the people on here who clain to be gay. If you truly believe that what you are doing is right, you don’t have to stoop so low with the namecalling and all of the negative defenses. That lets me know too, that you know that what you are doing isn’t right. When I speak to a lot of people in private, they are totally against gay rights, but they are afraid to come out against it due to intimidation. Therefore, we’re the ones who need to “come out of the closet”.
Shelley
May 23, 2012 at 3:38 pm
I have never been so offended or insulted by a progressive thinker in my life. As a white woman who married a Black man in 1979 before it was safe to do so, the statement that Black men are being “sucked up by white women…” disimpowers Black men and women, making them victims. Black men have no say? And when CAN we quit considering race in our relationship pairings? When Black women also look outside their race for partners? Are we waiting on them? I thought the goal, the ultimate ideal is that we live in a world where race is not ignored, but is also not a serious criteria in employment, housing, and (dare I say) personal relationships. That’s the world I want to live in. One of the reasons I chose to marry a Black man was because I was so concerned that any children I might bring into this world were doomed to be racist to some degree, due to it’s institutionalization. So my daughter, half Black and half white….would she also be in the category of “sucking up” the “good” black men? Or
is she “allowed” to date Black men without “sucking them up”? What percentage of Black blood would qualify a woman to date a “good” Black man? And btw, my husband wasn’t one of the “good” ones as he was an ex-con….but he was the best father I ever saw and I loved him dearly.
While I agree with the original premise of the article, as I too was angered by the mislabeling of the President, your attacks on gays (your parenthetical statement that “maybe” gays aren’t trying to impose their “life-style” on others) and white women were immature and factually incorrect. Your article is ranting at the wrong people.
DR P
May 23, 2012 at 3:49 pm
“Emmasculating him in front of the world?”…”Newsweek..succedding in further fueling the hostilities and beliefs that the gay community is attempting to project its lifestyle onto those who are not comfortable with it” and black women seeing good, eligible black men sucked up by white women, a gay lifestyle or the prison industrial complex, this headline is an absolute and justifiable outrage?” WTF.. WTH? COME ON Dr. Boyce. You are just too all ova the place and giving mix messages that ultimately dont make sense.
I so DISAGREE with your expressed viewpoint above. It perpetuates further ignorance, irrational fears and gross misinformation with regard to sexual orientation and Newsweek’s intent on its spin title headline. While I recognize and commend you in the past as having the courage to speak out against homophobia or those who have been homophobic, your words now contradict your past astute stance. Its like your struggling to reconcile yourself with possibly an inner conflict you are having with this topic and/or how your being percieved by some within the black community who oppose gay marriage, rights and orientation. Any person with common sense and good reading comprehension skills recognizes that PRESIDENT OBAMA is not GAY (or Bisexual as far as we know NOW- Despite that LARRY SINCLAIR claim against Obama). The Mag title was creatively formulated to build upon and highlight Obama’s support for Gay rights and marriage, just as many within the african american commmunity labeled Bill Clinton the first Black President, due to him having an increased majority of Black people on his cabinet. It was not to attack his masculinity, orientation and integrity. Some things such as Obama being a hererosexual married black man are too obvious to take insult or literally, just like Clinton being a Caucasian white man. I also think that title (of him being the THE FIRST GAY PRESIDENT) was expected to further instigate some degree of backlash from those in the black community who are are anti gay marriage. Newsweek succeeded. I think it was a great title.
Personally, Dr Boyce I think you may want to reexamine where you truly stand and what you really believe with regard to people being gay, gay rights, gay marriage and your recieving or not recieving overwhelming validation from some within our community. Your words simply lost credibility when you attempted to associate being labeled GAY with EMASCULATING. Please validate this point. Being gay is an orientation and one being possibly emasculated has nothing to do with the fact or their orientation. Are you saying gay men are not real men or masculine men? Hmmm. I think this was a Freudian slip on your part- showing your own unconscious sexism (gays to be inferior due to their orientation). You further perpetuated your discomfort and misunderstanding by mentioning that the frustration of black women not being able to find a “MAN or GOOD BLACK MAN” due to many being “SUCKED UP by white women, gay life style and prisons”…. Are each to be considered negative? Are there not other reasons why black women are not able to find a suitable and available life partner? Aren’t black men capable and able to date and marry outside their race, live in integrity to their sexual orientation and be held accountable to some form of rehabilitation when they have gone astray in commiting a crime?
Overall, the lesson I got from your article is that Dr. Boyce, needs to THINK BEFORE HE WRITES HIS ARTICLES. You still got love from me, but the man who typically gives others TRUTH SPANKINGS, may indeed need one himself.
ANA
May 23, 2012 at 4:51 pm
MY MOMMA ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT PEOPLE CALL YOU, IT’S WHAT YOU ANSWER TO THAT COUNTS. HOWEVER HAVING SAID THAT, AFTER ALL OF THE NAMES THIS PRESIDENT HAS BEEN CALLED, AND THE LIES THAT ARE BELIEVED ABOUT HIM TO ACCEPT ANY LABEL THAT IS UNTRUE IS TO PLAY INTO THEIR GAME. EVEN IF HE WERE GAY, WOULD IT BE SULLIVAN’S PLACE TO OUT HIM, IS MY QUESTION.
MM
May 23, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Here here to the posts by @Hassan Hartley, @Isoul H. Harris and @DrP. If you readers are so outraged that Newsweek called Obama “the first gay president”, where was the outrage when he was called “the first Jewish president”? Again, the cover was not literal but figurative, damn people. Your bigotry is showing and it aint a cute look!
Suga
May 23, 2012 at 8:44 pm
This is just another way of Suillivan using this paper /magazine to sprew his views on others.Which people has been saying all alone….Everyone knows that gay people exisit..But using this to be disrespectful to the President, is tipical for these ignorant challenge person. this just provide the points thats been made for years…
Willa
May 23, 2012 at 9:51 pm
I am outraged that President Obama was bullied into getting involved in such a mess.
makheru bradley
May 24, 2012 at 4:01 am
Our Esteemed Ancestor, Malcolm X said in 1964:
“We are living in a time when image-making has become a science. Someone can create a certain image and then use that image to twist your mind and lead you right up a blind path. So I just take time to mention that because it is very dangerous for you and me to form the habit of believing completely everything about anyone or any situation when we only have the press as our source of information. It is always better, if you don’t want to be completely in the dark, to read about it. But don’t come to a conclusion until you have an opportunity to do some personal, firsthand investigation for yourself.
The American press, in fact the FBI, can use the American press to create almost any kind of image they want of anyone on the local scene. And then you have other police agencies of an international stature that are able to use the world press in the same manner…” (“Communication and Reality” Complete speech is found in the book, “Malcolm X: The Man and His Times,” edited by Dr. John Henrik Clarke)
One of the most critical areas of power is influence. What the magazine cover demonstrates is how people who’ve identified themselves as homosexuals have positioned themselves in the media, which of course influences politics. This is extraordinary power—the ability to project images and shape consciousness–for a supposedly oppressed group
Power is the ability to define your reality and have others accept your definition.
Robynn H
May 24, 2012 at 5:59 am
I’m not sure if President Obama WAS bullied to say he is for homosexual marriages, yet in the beginning of his campaign 2008 he said differently.
He doesn’t hear nor listen to us Black Americans of African Descent.
I believe his hands are tied more then we know, BUT at what point will he say, F–k it! and fight for us?
EVERYONE else has President Obama’s ear, tongue and hands. What do we Black folk have of him?
NaNa
May 24, 2012 at 7:36 pm
I have never seen a President being disrespected as much as President Obama. We have had Presidents over the years, that no one cared for and didn’t like – but they were not disrespected in this manner. They disrespect our First Lady (Michelle Obama). America, wake up and face the fact that we have a black president; and will have a black president when the next election is over.
MM
May 25, 2012 at 5:49 am
We talk about the importance of President Obama breaking barriers and stereotypes by becoming the country’s first black president and those are important but we must keep breaking those barriers, not only for African Americans but for women, gays and everybody. Every barrier we breakdown we make the country bigger, better.
Obama understands that these types of decisions are about making every child no matter who they are, no matter what their background know that they can reach the top, the most powerful position in the world because someone just like them can achieve that.
Obama is a transformative figure. Don’t be on the wrong side of history people!