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Same gender loving, or SGL,[1] a term coined by activist Cleo Manago, is a description for homosexuals in the African-American community. It emerged in the early 1990s [2] and is often used by African-Americans or Blacks who prefer to reference their homosexuality in ways more resonant with Black cultural affirmation and pride. The terms "gay and lesbian" were derived from European (Greek, German, British, French), White history and ethos. Since creation of gay identity - by an exclusively White, male, homosexual, San Francisco collective in the late 60's - the term has not necessarily been empowering or resonant with a growing number of Black homosexuals and bisexuals. The late famed author and activist James Baldwin (writer), who openly identified as homosexual, was present and popular during development of the gay movement. Yet, Baldwin never joined or became an advocate. He experienced the gay movement and construct as being of little benefit to Black homosexuals, and racistly White. According to Cleo Manago, overall, this has not changed.
Despite the cultural and Black affirming limitations of the [White] gay movement and identity - and a, still, current problem with institutional racism - gay identity chauvinists often misrepresent the purpose and meaning of SGL. An example, as stated on the White or mainstream gay version of SGL - also on Wikipedia, is that SGL allegedly “includes both closeted (down-low) and out homosexuals within the Black communities.” This is an underdeveloped, thus, minimizing way of describing SGL. Many SGL people of African descent once identified as gays and were "out" as such. With the goal of being more [Black] culturally affirmed and connected, ultimately, they chose to identify as same-gender-loving (SGL). Cleo Manago, the primary spearheader of the SGL "movement," is an out and highly-profiled homosexual Black community activist. References to SGL as specifically connected to closeted or down-low Black homosexuals are gay-identity biased and misleading associations with the term.
Another example of White gay chauvinistic bias and attempts to minimize the weight of SGL is the following results from a survey conducted at a few gay identifying Black events. This was conducted by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation or GLAAD, a predominantly White organization. It reports, "In a 2004 study of African-American men, most of whom were recruited from black gay organizations, 12% identified as same gender loving, while 53% identified as gay.[3] Men attending Black Gay Pride Festivals in nine U.S. cities in 2000 responded similarly, with 10% identifying as same gender loving, 66% as gay, and 14% as bisexual."[4]
That this survey was done by GLAAD at gay identifying venues would explain these results. GLAAD’s survey represents who went to these gay-labeled events, not the whole of same-gender-loving (SGL) African Americans.
A COMMENTARY FROM Cleo Manago, WHO HAS RECENTLY LEARNED OF A WIKIPEDIA CONTROVERSY ABOUT SGL: White male people created gay identity, and purposely decorated it with Greek (European) lambdas, German (European) pink triangles, White male (European) beauty standards, and a word [gay] derivative of (European) "gay paree" or gay Paris. What they have accomplished, i.e. a member of congress, relatively successful management of HIV disease, international political and economic prowess, media representation, large White (often racist) organizations across the country, is commendable. This success is anchored in that "gay" holistically affirms White homosexuals, in every way. This is good for White homosexuals, and indicates the sheer power of self-determination. My request is, that White gays (and their Black counterparts) cease with the ironic racist attempts at disrupting Black self-determination, and stop with all the effort to marginalize SGL. Regardless, Blacks all over the world are identifying as SGL. Google it! Sure, ultimately, anyone can call themselves SGL (It would not be the first time Whites have stolen what Blacks do), but not everyone is affirmed by or benefits from the White gay movement. Not all Brothers and Sisters are down with "gay." So, alternatives have been desperately necessary."
References[edit]
- ^ "WHY THE TERM "SAME GENDER LOVING" FOR BLACK PEOPLE". terryhowcott.com. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
- ^ "Communities of African Descent Media Resource Kit". Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
- ^ Malebranche, DJ (2004). "Race and Sexual Identity: Perceptions about Medical Culture and Healthcare among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men". J Natl Med Assoc. (96): 97–107.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) Summarized in Young, Rebecca M.; Meyer, Ilan H. (2005). "The Trouble With "MSM" and "WSW": Erasure of the Sexual-Minority Person in Public Health Discourse". American Journal of Public Health. 95 (7): 1144–1149. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2004.046714. PMC 1449332. PMID 15961753. - ^ Cochran, SD (July 11–16, 2004). "Don't Call Me Queer: Preferred Self-Identifiers for Recruiting African American MSM's in HIV Research (Abstract)". Int Conf AIDS. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
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