It’s been a crazy week of being faced with homophobia on multiple fronts. That’s the reason for this post and that’s the main reason why I decided to repost the Bow Wow video titled “Bow Wow on Misquoted BET Blog.”
Earlier today, I slowed down to have a conversation with an inebriated homeless man in Piedmont Park (Michael) after sharing with him some food given to him by my co-worker. After he accepted the food, he asked for money explaining he’s been living in Piedmont Park for 20 years. As I often do, I gave him a few dollars and carried conversation with Michael in hopes that he’d feel someone really cared about him – at least today. After a ten minute conversation with him about a supposed murder of a female in Piedmont Park, a murder he helped to uncover, he explained to me how the murder “must have occurred this way I’ll tell you,” he explained coming in close to me. “You know what it is. I’ll tell you what it is. It’s the gays. They walk this park 24/7. They must have done it.”
You’re not serious. So even Michael, the homeless man is homophobic. WOW! But it doesn’t take you to be drunk for you to still be intoxicated with homophobia.
Last Thursday, on Morehouse campus, I found myself caught off guard by an explicit line of thought that floored me. It’s not often that I am speechless but for ten minutes, I couldn’t find my words. I’ve been doing HIV/STI testing on campuses for over ten years. A favorite part of my job is being especially on Morehouse campus where I feel and see the impact I have on young black men often. My being speechless was mostly about concern for the relationship the organization I work for has with Morehouse, less about myself and my own feelings. I’ve been dealing with homophobia for most of my life so this is not news nor new for my spirit to handle.
“Yes, the administration is going to have a meeting about it because it is getting ridiculous. It’s causing a drop in our enrollment. And now, they are so vocal with it and out with it. There are gangs of them, some of them showing up in heels and nails painted. It’s ridiculous. And now I think they migrate here. It’s gangs of gays calling other gays to come to Morehouse as if it’s a safe haven for them.” IF I’M LYING – I’M FLYING! This is what the Morehouse coordinator of the panel I was invited to speak on said to me and three others as we discussed how to handle future events with an HIV awareness focus.
Enough is enough! This is the last straw in the long list of moments this week alone that explicitly communicated to me that this conversation I thought we were well beyond, is still in need of dialogue so that we arrive at a better destination. Homophobia has to be exposed. We need a revolution addressing homophobia like the sweep of Obama’s campaign across America. That’s what I’m calling for, a REVOLUTION against homophobia.
That’s why the video must be reposted. It is what Bow Wow said. It’s not hearsay or rumor or the “telephone game” at play here. No publicist or press agent can put a spin on Bow Wow’s words. This is what Bow Wow said out of his own mouth. Bow Wow was aware that he was being recorded and felt comfortable to say what he said to his fans, and it was posted to YouTube viewers for the world to see.
In my humble opinion, I truly believe one measure of a man is that he stands by his word. A man’s word is his bond. I too believe that a man, once he knows better he does better. I’m hoping that this is an opportunity for Bow Wow and so many others to do better, especially so many in hip-hop, especially so many in the black and larger community. Hating on gay people will no longer be tolerated by anyone in 2009. Not knowing how to respond to homophobia in 2009 will not be tolerated. Let’s continue this dialogue with a sadly mistaken Bow Wow in the mix. But truly, the conversation ends with you, each individual.
If you are not a part of the solution of homophobia, you are part of the problem. The time is now for homophobia to end! Now, what are you going to do?
Earlier today, I slowed down to have a conversation with an inebriated homeless man in Piedmont Park (Michael) after sharing with him some food given to him by my co-worker. After he accepted the food, he asked for money explaining he’s been living in Piedmont Park for 20 years. As I often do, I gave him a few dollars and carried conversation with Michael in hopes that he’d feel someone really cared about him – at least today. After a ten minute conversation with him about a supposed murder of a female in Piedmont Park, a murder he helped to uncover, he explained to me how the murder “must have occurred this way I’ll tell you,” he explained coming in close to me. “You know what it is. I’ll tell you what it is. It’s the gays. They walk this park 24/7. They must have done it.”
You’re not serious. So even Michael, the homeless man is homophobic. WOW! But it doesn’t take you to be drunk for you to still be intoxicated with homophobia.
Last Thursday, on Morehouse campus, I found myself caught off guard by an explicit line of thought that floored me. It’s not often that I am speechless but for ten minutes, I couldn’t find my words. I’ve been doing HIV/STI testing on campuses for over ten years. A favorite part of my job is being especially on Morehouse campus where I feel and see the impact I have on young black men often. My being speechless was mostly about concern for the relationship the organization I work for has with Morehouse, less about myself and my own feelings. I’ve been dealing with homophobia for most of my life so this is not news nor new for my spirit to handle.
“Yes, the administration is going to have a meeting about it because it is getting ridiculous. It’s causing a drop in our enrollment. And now, they are so vocal with it and out with it. There are gangs of them, some of them showing up in heels and nails painted. It’s ridiculous. And now I think they migrate here. It’s gangs of gays calling other gays to come to Morehouse as if it’s a safe haven for them.” IF I’M LYING – I’M FLYING! This is what the Morehouse coordinator of the panel I was invited to speak on said to me and three others as we discussed how to handle future events with an HIV awareness focus.
Enough is enough! This is the last straw in the long list of moments this week alone that explicitly communicated to me that this conversation I thought we were well beyond, is still in need of dialogue so that we arrive at a better destination. Homophobia has to be exposed. We need a revolution addressing homophobia like the sweep of Obama’s campaign across America. That’s what I’m calling for, a REVOLUTION against homophobia.
That’s why the video must be reposted. It is what Bow Wow said. It’s not hearsay or rumor or the “telephone game” at play here. No publicist or press agent can put a spin on Bow Wow’s words. This is what Bow Wow said out of his own mouth. Bow Wow was aware that he was being recorded and felt comfortable to say what he said to his fans, and it was posted to YouTube viewers for the world to see.
In my humble opinion, I truly believe one measure of a man is that he stands by his word. A man’s word is his bond. I too believe that a man, once he knows better he does better. I’m hoping that this is an opportunity for Bow Wow and so many others to do better, especially so many in hip-hop, especially so many in the black and larger community. Hating on gay people will no longer be tolerated by anyone in 2009. Not knowing how to respond to homophobia in 2009 will not be tolerated. Let’s continue this dialogue with a sadly mistaken Bow Wow in the mix. But truly, the conversation ends with you, each individual.
If you are not a part of the solution of homophobia, you are part of the problem. The time is now for homophobia to end! Now, what are you going to do?
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