"We are God's Children, Y'All:" Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Lesbian- and Gay-Affirming Congregations

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

“…Church-sanctioned heterosexism may have resulted from the Black community's efforts to live as full human beings in the face of racial oppression (Boykin, 1996(Boykin, , 2005Hooks, 2001). One could argue that heterosexism in the Black community is the consequence of a White supremacist past and internalized racism, a perspective taking shape and gaining ground in the current discourse around Black heterosexism (Barnes, 2013;Manago, 2012 (Balaji et al, 2012;Barnes, 2013;Chaney & Patrick, 2011;McQueeney, 2009). In addition to the negative experiences shared by research participants in these studies, the researchers also documented a heteronormative ideology present in everything from church doctrine to weekly sermons.…”

“…Religion and faith have and continue to play an integral role in the cultural survival of the Black community (Barnes, 2013;Boykin, 1996Boykin, , 2005Hooks, 2001;McQueeney, 2009). Belief in a higher power and favor in the afterlife have sustained the Black community through the evils of slavery, the indignities of the civil rights era, and the modern ills of poverty and social injustice.…”

“…Homosexuality's connection to mental illness, perversion, and biblical sin associates those engaged in such behaviors with social stigmas the Black church contests (Barnes, 2013;McQueeney, 2009).…”

“…In an effort to demonstrate acceptability to White society, the Black church holds up the traditional nuclear family and child-centeredness as the expectation for Black community members (Barnes, 2013;Dudley, 2013;McQueeney, 2009). Church-sanctioned heterosexism may have resulted from the Black community's efforts to live as full human beings in the face of racial oppression (Boykin, 1996(Boykin, , 2005Hooks, 2001).…”

“…However, even affirming Black churches may adopt a "don't ask, don't tell" standard for Black LGBTQ members, "taking full advantage of Black LGBTQ gifts and talents" while denying them the opportunity to participate fully in the church or the larger community (Barnes, 2013(Barnes, , p. 1424Chaney & Patrick, 2011;Gibbs & Jones, 2013;McQueeney, 2009). Distancing itself from certain actions and "lifestyles it considers to be immoral," the Black church has been called out for this hypocritical stance (Barnes, 2013(Barnes, , p. 1418.…”