Over this past week, I've made a couple of observations which I feel must be discussed.




 
Black People  
It pains me to learn that 70% of the Yes to Prop 8 vote came from Black people. I am not surprised, for the reason for their vote is their deep roots in religion.
I have said this before, religion has shaped Black people since slavery. However it's disheartening to see how passionate they were to vote against gay marriage. It was like they forgot not too long ago we were faced with similar matters. We should've remember that our freedom, our rights were just granted to us, and it was granted to us reluctantly. We should not forget.

We should remember our struggle and hope that we would have such freedoms. If they truly believed in God, then they would have not voted for this. Denying folks from their happiness is not Christian. Out of all people, Black people should've known better. I hope we can have a real discussion about this in our community. We need to get down to the heart of the issue. Yes on Prop 8 is a setback, and the support from Black folks cuts ultra deep.

   
Gay People  
Okay, let's not do this folks. Over at several LGBT blogs, I'm seeing some racial foolishness rise.
   
For example

Geoffrey, a student at UCLA and regular Rod 2.0 reader, joined the massive protest outside the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Westwood. Geoffrey was called the n-word at least twice.
It was like being at a klan rally except the klansmen were wearing Abercrombie polos and Birkenstocks. YOU NIGGER, one man shouted at men. If your people want to call me a FAGGOT, I will call you a nigger. Someone else said same thing to me on the next block near the temple...me and my friend were walking, he is also gay but Korean, and a young WeHo clone said after last night the niggers better not come to West Hollywood if they knew what was BEST for them.

 

 
Los Angeles resident and Rod 2.0 reader A. Ronald says he and his boyfriend, who are both black, were carrying NO ON PROP 8 signs and still subjected to racial abuse.
Three older men accosted my friend and shouted, "Black people did this, I hope you people are happy!" A young lesbian couple with mohawks and Obama buttons joined the shouting and said there were "very disappointed with black people" and "how could we" after the Obama victory. This was stupid for them to single us out because we were carrying those blue NO ON PROP 8 signs! I pointed that out and the one of the older men said it didn't matter because "most black people hated gays" and he was "wrong" to think we had compassion. That was the most insulting thing I had ever heard. I guess he never thought we were gay.
So I see the blaming is getting out of control and we have resorted to more drama within the community. Let's not go down this path. The last thing we need is have another group coming after us. I mean that on both sides (Black and Gay)

We need to recognize that there was some things we could've done better. Like reached out to the Black and Latino communities. And make it more open for LGBT people of color to feel a part of the community. I reported last month about how some of us felt like outsiders in the WeHo world.

If more of this craziness continues, we will only give the Religious Right the perfect fuel to their cause. They can say that these racist acts are just examples of our demon possession. And we only want to create chaos instead of harmony. This is not the time for racism in the midst of our culture war. As we want to remind the Black & Latino folks about the past, let's not push it by rehashing the racist mess from that past.

We must accept the mistakes from the NO on Prop 8 campaign and move on. We are fortunate to have another chance. Let's not screw it up on petty issues.