By Kheven LaGrone 

Watching the LOGO/Human Rights Commission (HRC) presented Democratic candidates debate on LOGO on August 9, an outsider might see a diverse but united gay community.  There were four panelists—one white man, two white women and one Black man.  The cameras broadcasted many people of color in the audience. A couple of the presidential candidates were even asked questions about Black gay men.   

It is vital that the white gay movement present a multi-racial, non-discriminating
front—regardless of gay America’s race reality.    How could the white gay movement demand equality if white gay communities discriminated?  If the white gay movement marginalizes its people of color, then why shouldn’t mainstream America marginalize white gays?

And if white gay America is denied its rights, much of its power is denied as well. The panel did not reflect “the gay community.”  It did not risk offending or
alienating mainstream America with too much color nor with a transgender person. There was no one displaying a physical disability or speech impediment.  The panel reflected the appearance of an “acceptable” gay community that would further white gay activists’ agenda. 

However, the panel was not truly racially diverse.  Having two white female and one white male on the panel presented a more complex white gay perspective.  The one Black man could only present one man’s perspective—his own.  There wasn’t even a lesbian of color on the panel. Why didn’t the organizers of the debate have had a Black, Asian or Latina lesbian replace one of the white women to at least present a more diversified voice for gays and lesbians of color?  Why didn’t they include a transgender person of color? 

During the debate, there was repeated talk of “the gay community” as if there was one and as if it had a voice on that debate.  But this showed the power of the white gay community to define “the gay community” and to define its voice through its media.  The reality is that there is no unified gay community.  For example, there are separate Black gay clubs due to discrimination and black gay prides.  That separation was not discussed in the debate. 

During the debate, Obama, the lone Black candidate, was asked if he believed that the fight for gay rights was “on par” with the Black fight for civil rights.  How could he say “no” before a white gay audience?  Not if he wants their support.  Yet, that Black candidate had to support (or give the appearance of supporting) the white gay movement’s argument that their rights struggle is “on par” to the Black struggle.  Having a Black man say this on national television gave credence to white gay activists’ argument that the two struggles are “on par.”  I would have phrased the question differently:  Is the white gay movement struggle to reclaim white skin entitlement (and power) while the Black civil rights struggled for equality?  

Power is relative.  The white gay power of the white gay community would be seen more clearly through the eyes of a same-gender loving person of color in that same community.  A controversy in San Francisco a couple of years ago shows the power differential among white gays and gays of color.  A popular club in San Francisco’s white gay district was accused by several people (including former employees of the club) of discriminating against African Americans, still (mainly) white men lined up on the weekends to get inside the club.   

Even LOGO used its power to cancel one of its shows “Noah’s Ark,” despite its popularity among Black gay men.   I doubt LOGO would have canceled a television show had it been as popular among white gays and lesbians. 

Is the white gay community more oppressive to Black gay people than the Black community is oppressive to Black gay men?  Black gays and lesbians have debated this.  Yet at the debate, while the Bible-based homophobia of many in the Black church was discussed, the racism and marginalization the white gay community was not.  Does the white gay community have the power to decide which one is worse for African American same gender loving people?  Or does the white gay community have the power to present to the world, through its media, which one is worst for African American same-gender-loving people?

As the gay rights movement shows, civil rights and power, though connected, are not the same.  Obviously, compromised rights compromise full power.  And by denying the white gay community rights, they are also denied the full power of whiteness in America.   

The gay rights movement is as much about power as it is about rights.  Black gays and lesbians must not be pimped or tokens of the movement, but must fight for power as well.