Some Pleasant and Vicious Region

gaywrites:

From CNN columnist LZ Granderson’s point of view, lots of media and political talks try to pin gay and black communities against each other. Recently, it was revealed that NOM was intentionally trying to drive a wedge between the two groups to benefit their anti-gay cause.

For LZ, you can’t separate the categories of “black” and “gay.” As an openly gay black man - and a Christian one at that - LZ talks about how these two aspects of his identity can’t possibly be at war with one another. Some compelling moments:

And despite the efforts of black religious conservatives to ignore that intersection, the truth is that intersection is a major part of black culture. It’s in our literature (James Baldwin), our films (Lee Daniels), in politics, baseball fields (Glenn Burke), the Black Panthers (Angela Davis) and the civil rights movement (Bayard Rustin).

That intersection exists in our hair salons, barbershops and, yes, even our churches.

Before becoming a journalist, I worked in youth ministry in two churches in my early 20s. I lived with one of my pastors and his family and would study the Bible for hours on end under his tutelage. I fasted and tithed. I poured my heart out to the kids in the congregation. On occasion I even would fall asleep on the steps of the altar worshipping my God.

I am black. I am gay. And yes, I am a Christian.

Before you read this, be warned that the comments section gets pretty hostile from all sides. But don’t let that deter you; LZ is a great writer and a great person, and his opinions need to be heard. This topic is becoming more important by the day - give this a read for a solid perspective on the debate.