Irvine511
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i usually take Rev. Sharpton with a large grain of salt ... but he's absolutely right in this case, and it underscores a fact of life: homophobia literally kills.
SHARPTON CHALLENGES BLACK HOMOPHOBIA
Inland Empire
By Chris Levister
“There is latent homophobia in our community,” says the Reverend Al Sharpton. In classic Sharpton style the outspoken civil rights activist is pointing the finger directly at what historically has been a sanctuary for Black people: ‘the church’.
“Black churches have not stepped up to the plate on HIV. Black preachers walked arm in arm from Selma to Montgomery. Arm in arm we were beaten, jailed, humiliated and dehumanized.” Sharpton says, sadly, on the issue of HIV many Black ministers have become the oppressor.” Sharpton accused some Black preachers of using their pulpits to diminish the humanity of some rather than celebrate the humanity of all.
“I’m going to challenge the homophobia in our own backyard,” said Sharpton. Alarmed by the staggering number of new cases of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community, Rev. Sharpton is set to launch a grassroots initiative designed to take the gloves off homophobia, a problem, he says, has undoubtedly contributed to the spread of HIV among Blacks.
Sharpton’s national campaign is aimed at educating the public about HIV/AIDS, while using his bully pulpit to caution against discriminating against gays and lesbians. “We’ve turned our backs on many of the very folks early civil rights activists fought and died for.”
Sharpton plans to begin airing public service announcements on BET and radio stations with predominately Black audiences that will train a spotlight on the epidemic, a leading cause of death among African-Americans, especially Black women. “I’m calling on Black preachers to step to the line in confronting the issue of homophobia among African-Americans.” A topic long considered taboo, especially in the Black religious community.
“This is an enormous leap for the Reverend to take,” said Allen Roskoff, a gay rights activist. Roskoff has known and worked with Sharpton for more than 20 years. “It’s high time that we all stand together to fight bigotry and homophobia.” He said Sharpton’s decision on the HIV issue will generate national attention to the epidemic and save lives in the long-term.
Over the next year, the civil rights activist will conduct public forums at churches and schools addressing the stigma that has long surrounded the disease.
Sharpton’s challenge is welcome news to Rev. Dr. Robert L. Fairley, pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Earlier this year Fairley ruffled feathers in the wider church community when he publicly threw his support behind the use of latex condoms, safe sex education, personal responsibility and greater church leadership to stem the spread of AIDS. In June, Rev. Fairley, HIV/AIDS activists, public health, and community leaders celebrated the opening of the San Bernardino HIV/AIDS Resource Center housed in the New Hope Life Center.
“Rev. Sharpton’s national challenge encourages his peers to speak out,” says 32 year old Marcy Craig of San Bernardino. Craig was diagnosed with HIV in 2003. Her husband of 8 years died of AIDS in 2004. Craig believes Sharpton’s initiative will turn the spotlight on pastors who preach homophobia.
“It’s painful to sit in church and hear a pastor preach that HIV is a “consequence of sinful behavior.” Craig said, such uncompassionate ministry encourages many African-American gays and lesbians, to hide their sexual identity for fear of being rejected.”
Marjorie Fields-Harris, the executive director of Sharpton’s National Action Network, will spearhead the fight homophobia initiative.
“It’s a lot larger than preaching biblical doctrine and passing out condoms,” said Harris. “We have to address the social factors. We intend to go into the churches and the community to address this issue from a grassroots perspective.”
During his presidential race last year, Sharpton was one of the only candidates who publicly supported gay marriage, and earlier this year at the request of Brian Ellner, an openly gay candidate running for New York’s Manhattan borough president, Sharpton marched in the city’s Gay Pride Parade.
“Rev. Sharpton can do enormous good on this issue.” said Ellner “When the Reverend speaks people listen. We need to get past the myths and phobias. We are faced with the African-American community’s greatest challenge: Survival.”
http://www.blackvoicenews.com/modul...=article&sid=3526&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
SHARPTON CHALLENGES BLACK HOMOPHOBIA
Inland Empire
By Chris Levister
“There is latent homophobia in our community,” says the Reverend Al Sharpton. In classic Sharpton style the outspoken civil rights activist is pointing the finger directly at what historically has been a sanctuary for Black people: ‘the church’.
“Black churches have not stepped up to the plate on HIV. Black preachers walked arm in arm from Selma to Montgomery. Arm in arm we were beaten, jailed, humiliated and dehumanized.” Sharpton says, sadly, on the issue of HIV many Black ministers have become the oppressor.” Sharpton accused some Black preachers of using their pulpits to diminish the humanity of some rather than celebrate the humanity of all.
“I’m going to challenge the homophobia in our own backyard,” said Sharpton. Alarmed by the staggering number of new cases of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community, Rev. Sharpton is set to launch a grassroots initiative designed to take the gloves off homophobia, a problem, he says, has undoubtedly contributed to the spread of HIV among Blacks.
Sharpton’s national campaign is aimed at educating the public about HIV/AIDS, while using his bully pulpit to caution against discriminating against gays and lesbians. “We’ve turned our backs on many of the very folks early civil rights activists fought and died for.”
Sharpton plans to begin airing public service announcements on BET and radio stations with predominately Black audiences that will train a spotlight on the epidemic, a leading cause of death among African-Americans, especially Black women. “I’m calling on Black preachers to step to the line in confronting the issue of homophobia among African-Americans.” A topic long considered taboo, especially in the Black religious community.
“This is an enormous leap for the Reverend to take,” said Allen Roskoff, a gay rights activist. Roskoff has known and worked with Sharpton for more than 20 years. “It’s high time that we all stand together to fight bigotry and homophobia.” He said Sharpton’s decision on the HIV issue will generate national attention to the epidemic and save lives in the long-term.
Over the next year, the civil rights activist will conduct public forums at churches and schools addressing the stigma that has long surrounded the disease.
Sharpton’s challenge is welcome news to Rev. Dr. Robert L. Fairley, pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Earlier this year Fairley ruffled feathers in the wider church community when he publicly threw his support behind the use of latex condoms, safe sex education, personal responsibility and greater church leadership to stem the spread of AIDS. In June, Rev. Fairley, HIV/AIDS activists, public health, and community leaders celebrated the opening of the San Bernardino HIV/AIDS Resource Center housed in the New Hope Life Center.
“Rev. Sharpton’s national challenge encourages his peers to speak out,” says 32 year old Marcy Craig of San Bernardino. Craig was diagnosed with HIV in 2003. Her husband of 8 years died of AIDS in 2004. Craig believes Sharpton’s initiative will turn the spotlight on pastors who preach homophobia.
“It’s painful to sit in church and hear a pastor preach that HIV is a “consequence of sinful behavior.” Craig said, such uncompassionate ministry encourages many African-American gays and lesbians, to hide their sexual identity for fear of being rejected.”
Marjorie Fields-Harris, the executive director of Sharpton’s National Action Network, will spearhead the fight homophobia initiative.
“It’s a lot larger than preaching biblical doctrine and passing out condoms,” said Harris. “We have to address the social factors. We intend to go into the churches and the community to address this issue from a grassroots perspective.”
During his presidential race last year, Sharpton was one of the only candidates who publicly supported gay marriage, and earlier this year at the request of Brian Ellner, an openly gay candidate running for New York’s Manhattan borough president, Sharpton marched in the city’s Gay Pride Parade.
“Rev. Sharpton can do enormous good on this issue.” said Ellner “When the Reverend speaks people listen. We need to get past the myths and phobias. We are faced with the African-American community’s greatest challenge: Survival.”
http://www.blackvoicenews.com/modul...=article&sid=3526&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
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). And this is an excellent move on his part. 
