2004 was a good year for Black gays in terms of exposure…or was it? While America contended with such widespread issues like gay marriage, HIV, and being on the “down low”, you’d think equal representation of these topics across a range of ethnic groups would provide a more concise and broad picture, right?
Stifle your laughs, please.
It’s no surprise that Blacks hardly get a fair shake when it comes to media representation or accountability. Phill Wilson points out in his MetroWeekly article “Absent Recognition” just how many glaring omissions GLAAD overlooked.
…the absence of any substantive recognition of blacks among this year’s Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards, which honors the media for fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the GLBT community, is so shocking. Black journalism plays an important role in covering issues that are important to Americans of African Descent who happen to also be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
In the area of overall newspaper coverage, the National Newspaper Publisher’s Association (NNPA), a 65-year-old federation of more than 200 black community newspapers from across the United States featured monthly columns written by black gay and lesbian journalists. The columns dealt directly with gay issues in the context of black America. GLAAD and others were quick to attack George Curry’s column on gay marriage, but ignored Kai Wright’s follow up or NNPA’s fair and balanced response to the reaction to Mr. Curry’s column.
Wilson goes on to name at least twenty different media sources which GLAAD failed to mention in their media awards. But with these oversights, one has to ask…did GLAAD look past these sources because of the attention paid to gay issues for African-Americans? One could argue that we don’t need GLAAD’s recognition to know the work done, articles written and specials produced made an impact in the gay community. But when your mission statement includes such charges as “promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation”, you’re going to be held accountable if you stray. And GLAAD has strayed far, far away.
Consequently, award ceremonies such as these even reek of racial bias on the Internet and in the blogosphere. Awards such as the 2005 Bloggies, the 2004 Weblog Awards, the Queeries and the Cybersocket Web Awards are all publicly chosen and reflect a gay lifestyle which lacks any color outside of a tanning salon. I just have to ask…where in the hell are we? Guess what…we’re not all on the “down low”. Some of us can write. And damn well. And we care about politics and the economy and gay marriage and good education and HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. And chances are great content will be overlooked for skinny twinks in kwashiorkor-induced poses yammering about A&F and getting their cock felt up under the table by a man twice their senior. Still clueless on us Black bloggers? Here’s a start. Follow the links therein and see how far the rabbit hole goes.
To let Steven Fullwood talk about it:
This ain’t progress. And yeah I know about the black lesbian on The Wire. And there’s some black gay character floating about as well on cable television. HBO, right? And can’t forget that Got that. Woo-hoo, we have overcome.
I am itching for a revolution. Not that I know what I would do, because I don’t. But I am not happy watching this shit go on. I’d like to see some of these shows cancelled. Maybe that’s a start.
Maybe it’s high time for the Black Weblog Awards to rise. It will probably be the only way we’ll get that “fair, accurate and inclusive representation”.
Publicly chosen, of course.
I totally agree with you although I can’t say that I am disappointed by the glaring omission of sexual minorities that also happen to be racial minorities and due credit and recognition for people that talk and write about us. I can’t be disappointed because this is only what I have grown to expect. As much as “the community” likes to tout that they are open and accepting to all and that “we” are in a fight for equality I know it is [not a total truth.] People are fighting for their own equality, benefits and representation. And folks wonder why there are “black” prides…and I collect tokens for my tokenage…and I call GLAAD, sad…and wonders never cease.
But when your mission statement includes such charges as “promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation”, you’re going to be held accountable if you stray. And GLAAD has strayed far, far away.
Years ago, GLAAD’s reputation took a nosedive. The common perception is that organization leadership became very cozy with media outlets. Many advocates seemed more interested in getting exposure and soundbites on the very outlets they were policing. There also has been substantial organization in-fighting.
Another problem is that some gay activists consider quantity more important than quality. The five Queer Eyes queens irritate me a helluva lot more than the psycho transexual in Silence of the Lambs. Movies are dramatic, fantastic scripts; most people watch them for some element of escapism. But news and reality television is a snapshot of our culture. Okay, okay we can’t send everyone to butch camp. But let’s be honest: Steven Cojocaru and Bobby Trendy are caricatures. That’s why so many heterosexuals public will stomach them.
It never occured to me that the rainbow flag was anything more than a symbol. We’re still people. And they’re still white men, most of whom are accustomed to privilege, and getting their way.
Naturally, black gay men are even less of a priority for them.
I like your idea of establishing our own awards.
Rod
Brotha2Brotha
I wrote Mena Trott last year and asked her how many Black people worked for Movable Type. I never got a response. I think she’s a doll, but her silence really speaks to the core of the normalcy of our invisibility – especially in tech spaces. What incentive do white people have to ask “Gee, where are the Black programmers, pundits, bloggers, web designers, entrepreneurs, artists and writers?”
What I really don’t understand is why some of those same white balk once Black organizations are formed. White gay children want to know “Why do y’all need to have a separate Black gay pride?” Well, because y’all ain’t right – and spelling it out for you unnecessarily extracts my energy when your ass KNOWS shit ain’t right. I’m speaking in generalities, yes, but just look around … at our administration, at our utter lack of effective cross-cultural gay organizations, at our ridiculous unemployment, incarceration and HIV infection rates.
A suggestion: could we not implore that the National Black Justice Coalition, also speak out about such ommisions, along with their fight for gay marriage? That way, we work with organization that are already developed for the purpose of working for us.