Gay, God-fearing and fighting for acceptance
buzzz worthy. . .
VH1 aired a ground-breaking special on Monday, "Out In Hip Hop," a special program about Gays in Hip Hop and in the church that demonstrated Christian gays are still fighting for acceptance. The topics stemmed from the current season of "Love and Hip Hop Hollywood" where two gay rappers game to grips with being open about their relationship in an industry that traditionally shuns gays.
I broached the subject of gays in the gospel industry eight years ago in an article entitled, "Gay, God-fearing and Fighting for Acceptance." Since then gay lifestyle is more out in the open in the media and the LBGT community has made significant strides, but the church remains a place that condemns homosexuality. To offer further insight on the matter, the article is reprinted below.
VH1 aired a ground-breaking special on Monday, "Out In Hip Hop," a special program about Gays in Hip Hop and in the church that demonstrated Christian gays are still fighting for acceptance. The topics stemmed from the current season of "Love and Hip Hop Hollywood" where two gay rappers game to grips with being open about their relationship in an industry that traditionally shuns gays.
I broached the subject of gays in the gospel industry eight years ago in an article entitled, "Gay, God-fearing and Fighting for Acceptance." Since then gay lifestyle is more out in the open in the media and the LBGT community has made significant strides, but the church remains a place that condemns homosexuality. To offer further insight on the matter, the article is reprinted below.
Scientist says being 'Gay' and being 'Homosexual' is different
Byron Cage dares to join the conversation on internet talk show many
gospel artists prefer to keep 'in the closet'
Conversations about homosexuality in the Black church are
"hush-hush" despite the widespread reality of it from the pulpit to the
pew. When occasionally discussed in church, damning messages from fire
spitting preachers generally aggravate the rejection associated with
being Gay.
This tradition tends to stigmatize Black churches as homophobic
and encourages Gays to close the door of the figurative closet and throw
away the key or gravitate to churches that openly embrace the lifestyle.
Sometimes Gays too, in defending their positions engage in the
exchange belligerently. Both sides argue fervently with little traction
toward agreement.
On December 5, Minister Byron Cage and Dr. Joseph Nicolosi
sensitively "went there" as guests on La Gospel Talk, a new online
program hosted by EUR's Mona Austin that discusses matters relevant to
the urban-contemporary church. The topic was "Gay, God-Fearing and
Fighting for Acceptance in the Black Church."
The majority of the artists and pastors who were invited to join
the panel either shied away from the opportunity to talk about the
matter or ignored the request. It is not an easy conversation to have,
in part because of the equivocal behavior of "down low" pastors and
others in the church. Byron cage's openness on this subject may be a good start to getting the conversation started.
The Prince of Praise was on vacation in Hawaii with his wife when
he unselfishly participated in the blunt discourse via cell phone.
Having a footing in the gospel music industry and the church where he
admits homosexuality is rampant, he had first hand knowledge of the
subject. Cage identified a combination of ignorance and unjust judgment
as the main reason preachers generally don't broach the subject.
"The harsh reality in the African American Church is that they've
always shunned it and blasted it as if you're going to hell. . ."
Another harsh reality is the deceit that takes place as
conversations about openly accepting Gays in the church remain dormant.
In the December issue of Essence Magazine in its ongoing series that
explores the state of Aids in Black America, an anonymous Gay Black
pastor says that he has not come forth with his true sexual identity
because he doesn't believe his congregation is "ready" for the
revelation.
The Stellar-award winning Cage also believes people shy away from
the things they don't understand. He contributed his memories of a Gay
friend who died from AIDS to "Not In My Family" an anthology of personal
stories from recognizable names (which is accompanied by a CD of the
same name released on Gospocentric Records that includes a song from
Cage) about individuals who have died from HIV/AIDS.
Cage astutely shared his knowledge in an innocuous dialogue with
Dr. Nicolosi strictly coming from a "church boy" perspective.
Dr. Nicolosi spoke as a scientist. A 20-year veteran in Clinical
Psychiatry, Dr. Nicolosi is Catholic, but his views come from a
scientific perspective. The founder of the National Association for the
Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (www.narth.com) theorizes that
homosexuality is a complex psychological condition that originates from
distorted erotic feelings that come from parental detachment and
abandonment from the parent of the same sex. Yet, he refutes the notion that a person can be born gay. Recognized as the foremost expert in same sex attraction, he also believes that being Gay and being homosexual are
not identical persuasions.
Published originally at EURWEB.COM on Dec. 11, 2006
Byron Cage dares to join the conversation on internet talk show many
gospel artists prefer to keep 'in the closet'
Conversations about homosexuality in the Black church are
"hush-hush" despite the widespread reality of it from the pulpit to the
pew. When occasionally discussed in church, damning messages from fire
spitting preachers generally aggravate the rejection associated with
being Gay.
This tradition tends to stigmatize Black churches as homophobic
and encourages Gays to close the door of the figurative closet and throw
away the key or gravitate to churches that openly embrace the lifestyle.
Sometimes Gays too, in defending their positions engage in the
exchange belligerently. Both sides argue fervently with little traction
toward agreement.
On December 5, Minister Byron Cage and Dr. Joseph Nicolosi
sensitively "went there" as guests on La Gospel Talk, a new online
program hosted by EUR's Mona Austin that discusses matters relevant to
the urban-contemporary church. The topic was "Gay, God-Fearing and
Fighting for Acceptance in the Black Church."
The majority of the artists and pastors who were invited to join
the panel either shied away from the opportunity to talk about the
matter or ignored the request. It is not an easy conversation to have,
in part because of the equivocal behavior of "down low" pastors and
others in the church. Byron cage's openness on this subject may be a good start to getting the conversation started.
The Prince of Praise was on vacation in Hawaii with his wife when
he unselfishly participated in the blunt discourse via cell phone.
Having a footing in the gospel music industry and the church where he
admits homosexuality is rampant, he had first hand knowledge of the
subject. Cage identified a combination of ignorance and unjust judgment
as the main reason preachers generally don't broach the subject.
"The harsh reality in the African American Church is that they've
always shunned it and blasted it as if you're going to hell. . ."
Another harsh reality is the deceit that takes place as
conversations about openly accepting Gays in the church remain dormant.
In the December issue of Essence Magazine in its ongoing series that
explores the state of Aids in Black America, an anonymous Gay Black
pastor says that he has not come forth with his true sexual identity
because he doesn't believe his congregation is "ready" for the
revelation.
The Stellar-award winning Cage also believes people shy away from
the things they don't understand. He contributed his memories of a Gay
friend who died from AIDS to "Not In My Family" an anthology of personal
stories from recognizable names (which is accompanied by a CD of the
same name released on Gospocentric Records that includes a song from
Cage) about individuals who have died from HIV/AIDS.
Cage astutely shared his knowledge in an innocuous dialogue with
Dr. Nicolosi strictly coming from a "church boy" perspective.
Dr. Nicolosi spoke as a scientist. A 20-year veteran in Clinical
Psychiatry, Dr. Nicolosi is Catholic, but his views come from a
scientific perspective. The founder of the National Association for the
Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (www.narth.com) theorizes that
homosexuality is a complex psychological condition that originates from
distorted erotic feelings that come from parental detachment and
abandonment from the parent of the same sex. Yet, he refutes the notion that a person can be born gay. Recognized as the foremost expert in same sex attraction, he also believes that being Gay and being homosexual are
not identical persuasions.
Published originally at EURWEB.COM on Dec. 11, 2006
