[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Those are not analogous. "Gay lifestyle" implies that homosexuality is merely a conscious way to live your life. People tend not to say "heterosexual lifestyle" because they consider heterosexuality to be so innate and embedded in them that it isn't always a conscious choice.

ETA: Race is learned because we are not born as (insert race, ethnicity, culture). Although race becomes deeply embedded and less conscious through socialization, it still relies on conscious and subconscious reinforcement. That isn't the same thing as sexual orientation which, in its true form, is considered by many to not be learned, not be mostly a result of socialization, not be a choice of actions, and therefore not be about a lifestyle.

There is nothing lame about those who believe in the existence of the "Black community." It does not imply that every Black or African Diasporic person believes the same things or lives the exact same lifestyle. There are similarities even when there are differences. I am a proud member of the Black community which encompasses people of the African Diaspora across physical communities, across a diversity of experiences, and across a diversity of perspectives.

You already know that the "Black community" isn't the only "community" that has historic and present-day significance. "LGBT Community," "Gay Community," "Italian-American Community," are among the communities that are considered to exist by many people. Nothing lame about that.

/long post alert

^^^Beat me to it.