WGA: “Homophobia In Black Hollywood”

COMMENTS (14)

• Hmmm. Where’s Isaiah Washington?

  Comment by Michael Workman — Friday March 12, 2010 @ 4:38pm PST  Reply to this post

• All I can say is, as a straight black man, I can attest to the absolutely ridiculous level of homophobia in the black community. I mean, it’s an obsession, it really is. If you happen to wear the wrong shirt, or strike the wrong pose when you’re out somewhere, you’re suspect. say the wrong thing, make the wrong joke, you’re on the DL. I hate to say it, but my people are beyond dysfunctional on so many levels, and this is just one of ‘em. I’ll try to make this. I’m sure just walking in the door will make someone think I’m gay/bi/DL/suspect/closeted/in denial or something, but I’ll go anyway..we need to grow the hell up.

  Comment by Sean — Friday March 12, 2010 @ 6:07pm PST  Reply to this post

  • Sean,

    I really want to thank you for your comment. Very well said.

    Comment by chelI — Monday March 22, 2010 @ 5:46pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I interviewed Barclay for another website. He’s a great interview and insightful. He certainly has a lot to offer on the subject matter. Wish I could attend, but I am on the wrong coast.

  Comment by Craig — Friday March 12, 2010 @ 6:49pm PST  Reply to this post

• Hmmmm, maybe they could have Tyler Perry lead a panel discussion?

  Comment by Hellooooooo? — Friday March 12, 2010 @ 7:04pm PST  Reply to this post

• Where’s Tyler Perry? *snicker, chuckle*

  Comment by Jay — Sunday March 14, 2010 @ 6:46pm PDT  Reply to this post

• The ultra level of homophobia in the black community is not just the result of ignorance and super religious influence. It’s cold hard reality and tragedy.

  Men leading double lives have infected black women with HIV at alarming rates. The AIDS infection rate in D.C. rivals parts of West Africa. And Atlanta, the black gay Mecca has soaring rates of both.

  So which came first?

  The homophobia or the tragedy?

  Sean above is right. A straight man in LA is one comment away from being suspect because no one cam tell the players without a scorecard anymore.

  What is needed are openly gay black personalities in the business and not these closeted, half-in, don’t-ask-don’t-tell celebrities we have.

  I won’t hold my breath.

  Comment by NCFBM — Monday March 15, 2010 @ 10:07am PDT  Reply to this post

• Does this open to anyone or only WGA members? Anyway to reserve a seat or something?

  Comment by So Yo — Monday March 15, 2010 @ 10:39am PDT  Reply to this post

  • You do not have to be a member of the WGA to attend. But you MUST RSVP at diversity@wga.org

    Comment by WGA Committee Rep — Tuesday March 16, 2010 @ 2:09pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Sean you don’t know all of the 40+ million African-Americans that live in America so how you decided to type such foolishness can only be explained by your willingness to believe the worst about Black people. I think you are the one who needs to grow up.

  Comment by SelfHateIsAMotha — Monday March 15, 2010 @ 5:25pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I hope this helps move along positive change

  Comment by iamnoahjames.com — Tuesday March 16, 2010 @ 12:03pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Health issues aside, we must understand that this is the entertainment industry an industry that thrives on the bottom line. Black folks can barely get movies produced about black folks let alone black homosexuals and lesbians. Personally, I would just like to see some character driven stories incorporating all aspects of life, I am not interested in seeing movies just about gays, blacks, whites…it’s boring…as far as the “dl” is concerned and black women contracting HIV…that is whole other topic for discussion that needs to be lead by a therapist.

  Comment by Colin — Tuesday March 23, 2010 @ 6:35am PDT  Reply to this post

• Considering the number of catty comments above, no wonder Hollywood is worried it will gets clawed in dealing with the subject.

  Comment by Juanita Woodbridge — Friday March 26, 2010 @ 5:16pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Bravo to the WGA and these leading black writers/show runners for addressing the rampant issue of homophobia in our industry. Unfortunately, this scourge persists not just in Hollywood but from an arena that really needs to do some soul searching — the black church. I have butted heads with black deacons and pastors, trying to get them to use their power of the pulpit to preach of love, not hate.

  The black church, in my book, is a leading progenitor of homophobic thought in the black community and A reason — not THE reason — I believe, suicide is so high among black men. Forced into the closet, many feel compelled to exit this life, full of flagging acceptance and bigotry. And when the church condones such Neanderthal prejudice it only laps into the athletic arenas/locker rooms, the corporate board rooms and, yes, ‘liberal’ Hollywood.

  Wouldn’t it be great if some of the closeted gays and lesbians of mega-power in Hollywood spoke up and out — and knocked down this door of ignorance.

  Just my two humble cents.

  Comment by Bobby the Saint — Monday June 18, 2012 @ 10:52pm PDT  Reply to this post