Comments on: Racism is Gay: Prop 8 and its Discontents.

By: Paul R

Paul R — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:43:35 +0000

Wow! Lots to think about - but also lots of blame. As a white gay Catholic man, often I do not agree with what the Catholic Church does or how it spends it money and will address it. I address it with my 5 siblings who all are conservatives, I address it with my 82 year old mom, and I address it with my donations to the church. Now I feel it is time for the black gay community to speak up and not look to scapegoat others. It seems to be a fact that black voters voted in support of Prop 8 in overwhelming numbers. So how will you address it in your community? I do not know of all the activities of Marriage Equality in California since I live on the other coast, but I did donate to their efforts, and I do know that their efforts no matter how unsucessful in this case were not in sole support of “white” gays, but in support of equality for all.

By: nadia

nadia — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:03:25 +0000

Tim’m, thank you.thank you.thank you. I have read and re-read this piece and each time come away with another thought or question at the forefront of my mind. Your analysis cuts through the narrow and self absorbed aspects of identity politics and reveals whats really going on. A reality that many deny and/or avoid. This we know is not a new thing. It sharpens our own analysis and fuels our fight.

By: Jan Moore

Jan Moore — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:28:33 +0000

Dear Tim’m, I don’t think there is any danger at all of your becoming uninspired….I am reading your statement carefully, and not wanting to gainsay anything you have shared, I want to mention that in the 60’s and 70’s and hell, prolly even as we speak, there were infiltrations by FBI, CIA and other (’scuse me) “black ops” who made it their business to undermine any political alliances by groups they did not favor. Can you imagine that that might be the case, at least somewhat, here? It would be my fear, as these kinds of very divisive events (being harrased by white gays ; maybe they werent’ really who you thought they were?) I have heard these rumors, too, and I am sorry to hear it and rather angry, simply because of the divisiveness. I am happy to celebrate our new president-elect, and have high hopes, tempered with post bushco PTSD. I am sad but poised, waiting, regarding the outcome of Prop 8. I think we will be justified in the courts. The people are not right all of the time….and when they are wrong, deserve to be defeated. Regards, and thanks for your thoughtfulness. Jan

By: Rachel Swan

Rachel Swan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:58:04 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

By: jennifer e

jennifer e — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:03:59 +0000

i have been breathing despair, working it into rage, recrafting it into analysis. whites, my brethren, return again and again to the well of racism, so deeply embedded we don’t even see our complicit dance steps unless they are blatant. We’re talking about this in classes now, in the dentist office (where I had work done yesterday), in the arm chair, this intersectionality, these intersections of oppression, blame, really horror.how comfortable it is for whites to blame, always always communities of color, if it’s not Prop 8, it’s crime, its safety, it’s school quality, it’s freakin everything. The specific issue might change, but the refrain doesn’t. That’s the key for me to identifying the bigotry - for showing the dehumanization to other whites. I agree over and over with your analysis Tim’m, and acknoweldge your tiredness. all my thoughts are racing… thank you for your work. jennifer