Is the Black Community More Homophobic?: Reflections on the Intersectionality of Race, Class, Gender, Culture and Religiosity of the Perception of Homophobia in the Black Community

Standing in the intersection : using Photovoice to understand the lived experience of black gay college students attending predominantly white postsecondary institutions.

“…There is a deficit of BLG youth voices in the existing body of research on intersecting identities and less prevalent are contemporary explorations of the experiences of BLG youth in the college context (Christmas, 2013;Gibbs & Jones, 2013;Hill, 2013). An exploration of the experiences of young people requires both innovation and timeliness.…”

“…Hooks did not attempt to diminish the role religious beliefs and the church play in promoting heterosexism within the Black community; rather, she recognized that many "Christian black folks are taught in churches that it is a sin to be gay" (Hooks, 2001, p. 69;Gibbs & Jones, 2013). With that, Hooks suggested that it was the responsibility of theologians, scientists, activists, and others to examine the nature of heterosexism in the Black community without assumptions of degree or intensity (Collins, 2013, Hill, 2013Hooks, 2001). …”

“…Much of what we know about the BLG experience is discussed in juxtaposition to the White LGBTQ experience, without specific regard for the influence of White racism or Black heterosexism (Gibbs & Jones, 2013;Hill, 2013). Say it Loud,…”

“…I think if they could really put everybody (homosexuals) together and throws us over there and do some genocide. (Balaji et al, 2012, p. 734) For the purpose of this discussion, the phrase "Black church" is used only to reference the combined power of faith and influence of church organizationsspecifically, Christian-within the Black community (Hill, 2013). The Black church has a long history as the model and primary teacher of the manner in which Black community members should conduct themselves (Barnes, 2013(Barnes, , p. 1411.…”

“…Task Force (NGLTF) was an early attempt at a comprehensive report on the BLG experience (Battle, Cohen, Warren, Fergerson & Audam, 2002;Hill, 2013 The commonly held definition of a traditional undergraduate student is one who enrolls in college immediately after graduation from high school… younger than age 20 (Center for Institutional Effectiveness, Kennesaw State University, 2004; University of Louisville, 2015).…”