Down Low Brothas

[DELTAQTE]

Hey everybody!

I don't know if you read the most recent
VIBE(with missy on the cover) but it talks about the new type of homosexual man, the homothug. Meaning that the man wears his timbs and talks the talk and walks the walk, but he double dips on the side and 100% believes he is not gay(how they justify this is that if they are the ones "givin it" they are not the gay ones).

It is very scary to think that this is going on, but more men double dip then we know. With the women not even knowing what the heck is going on! What are your thoughts on this?

And I must tell you ladies, there are a LOT more gay rappers in the industry than you think!


QTE

I'm going to leave this one alone for now...

[Nubian]

I just finished reading Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris. Thats all I could think of after reading your post. Its true, these days we have to be careful about who we put our trust into, you never know whose "double dipping" and putting lives in danger.

[DirectorDST99]

I just finished reading Not a Day Goes By by E. Lynn Harris. That is some serious stuff. I'm going to read all the others esp. since I checked out his website www.elynnharris.com

It give excerpts from all of his books. The new one, Any Way the Wind Blows, comes out on the 10th of this month. This gives me an idea for readers and regular GChatters!

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"Director" #2
LaMarque Alumnae Chapter
Spr 99

[This message has been edited by DirectorDST99 (edited July 07, 2001).]

[ChaosDST]

Sorors, I've heard more and more about this topic over the last two years. Studies have shown that black men who come out of prison often times continue to enjoy sex with men. After they go back to their wives and/or girlfriends, they go out and see their boyfriends or miscellaneous men. This is one of the causes of the increases in black women with HIV.
This is why we can NEVER judge a book by its cover, you never know what someone HAS or what someone DOES. Most gay men do NOT look or act like the stereotype...beware.

[BrandNubian]

Originally posted by ChaosDST:
Sorors, I've heard more and more about this topic over the last two years. Studies have shown that black men who come out of prison often times continue to enjoy sex with men. After they go back to their wives and/or girlfriends, they go out and see their boyfriends or miscellaneous men. This is one of the causes of the increases in black women with HIV.
This is why we can NEVER judge a book by its cover, you never know what someone HAS or what someone DOES. Most gay men do NOT look or act like the stereotype...beware.

I had to say something. I say this with all due respect and I know you said that these "homo thugs" (I detest that phrase, by the way) are just one of the reasons behind the increase of AIDS/HIV cases in African-American women.

True, men who have sex with both men and women and don't protect themselves (which not all of these "homo thugs" do) are a risk to every one of their sexual partners. And I think it's important to focus on the way people engage in at-risk behavior.

However, AIDS/HIV is not a "gay/bisexual" disease. Gays/lesbians/bisexuals do not even account for the largest number of AIDS/HIV cases in the black community. Heterosexuals account for the most cases.

But I notice (in general) black folks' willingness to jump on the "these so-called gay and bisexual men are a problem" bandwagon when it comes to discussing AIDS/HIV.

Nobody gives half as much attention to heterosexual men and women who "two-time" and "dip out on" their partners and thus, expose their partners to the possibility of AIDS/HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Beware of those folks too, just as much as you would of gay or bisexual men/women. Everybody wants to focus on the GLBT community of color like it's the biggest source of the problem. It's not. Lack of communication about sex is a problem, regardless of sexual orientation. Lack of comprehensive sexual education is a problem. The fact that our communities use sex to sell and market everything, while being very conservative and unwilling to frankly and intelligently discuss sexuality is a problem.

I am not pointing fingers at anyone in particular here on the board. I just think that people need to get past some of their "issues" with the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender members of our community if the real fight against AIDS/HIV/STDs is to begin and be effective.

That being said, DELTAQTE, I am not at all surprised at that list you provided. If nothing else, it is only logical to think that at least a handful of hip-hop/R&B entertainers are GLBT.

While I thought that the Vibe article was a piece of trash (in terms of journalistic quality) and very short-sighted, I am glad that people are beginning to openly talk about a phenomenon that has quite frankly, existed for quite some time.

For more on the homosexuality and hip-hop topic, here's another article:

http://www.whoo.org/entries/00000006.shtml

[DirectorDST99]

Please, everyone, be mindful of the nature and sensitivity of this topic. We don't want to appear to be censors, but we also don't want graphic content and language on a message board that carries the name Delta.

Thanks. I hope you all understand, if not feel free to e-mail me. And, sorors, if I'm leaving anything, any point out, please correct me.

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"Director" #2
LaMarque Alumnae Chapter
Spr 99

[DELTAQTE]

Actually, the list was not only on our radio show, but on a few other radio shows across the country. They didn't say the name outright, but you knew exactly who they were talking about.


Director, I know we have to be careful about this topic, but it is also something we as black women must be aware of(no matter how much we try to tiptoe around it). I care very much about this subject, because one of my good friends was with a man for 4 years and found out 2 months ago that he was bisexual.

If this topic has scared some of you...good!

Please be careful


QTE

[CrimsonTide4]

I took offense/became chagrined at the title choice for your thread. It is eye catching but it is disrespectful.

I agree that this is an important issue. It was first bought to my attention when I heard Soror Rae Lewis Thornton speak about her life with AIDS. She touched on some of the same issues that Brand Nubian expressed.

Most importantly, no matter if you are a heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc. please practice safe sex.

[DELTAQTE]

I'm curious, how is it disrespecful to you? Or do you just cringe at the word.

And it wasn't meant to be "eyecatching" by any means. The Vibe article was titled this and it was a very good article.


QTE

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by DELTAQTE:
I'm curious, how is it disrespecful to you? Or do you just cringe at the word.

And it wasn't meant to be "eyecatching" by any means. The Vibe article was titled this and it was a very good article.


QTE

It is not disrespectful to me per se, as I am neither a homosexual or a thug. However, I believe that since this board is about respect for self and others, I thought the title was disrespectful to the homosexual population.

If I remember correctly from conversations that I had about this topic on another forum, not all of them are "homothugs". We as a community are so judgemental that our attitudes and beliefs make it difficult for some of these people who are caught between being a homosexual and a heterosexual to be honest with themselves about their sexuality. For some of them, they straddle the fence their whole lives in fear that they will be ridiculed for their choices. I constantly think of Basil, the pivotal character in E. Lynn Harris' books who is this fictional character but there is a lot of truth found in his character. How many other men and women, not just musicians and athletes, are living a life of fence straddling when it comes to their sexuality.

[Nubian]

Actually, I never thought of HIV/AIDS as a problem specifically in the Gay, Lesbian community. I was always fully aware of the threats that come from promiscuous heterosexual sex, but it never really dawned on me until I read E. Lynn's book that there are some who hide their orientation thus putting lives in danger. I'm naive like that. But I'm glad this discussion has been brought to the forefront, it just adds to my reasons for practicing abstinence.

[DELTAQTE]

And that is the point Nubian, gon head girl

I understand what you mean now Crimson, but there is a difference between what you are talking about and what this topic is about. There is a huge difference between being SCARED to come out the closet and HIDING it from the person you are with. It just goes to show that the sterotypical homosexual person is not always the case.

Just to let you know, I am a very strong supporter of the rights of the gay community(thanks to my 4 best buds I mentioned up above). One thing we always argue about though is if being oppressed as a gay person is the same as the oppression of blacks. I told my friends heck no it isn't, they disagree. Anyone care to voice an opinion?

QTE

[DirectorDST99]

DELTAQTE, Notice I edited my post. I read that thing about 4 times but was reading it WRONG..LOL. I thought you said your friend was a man....I missed the "with a man" part...LOL.

[kiml122]

There is a book by the name of B-Boy Blues, this book centers around exactly what this topic is about. The E. Lynn Harris books are really soft compared to this book. When I first read this book a few years back I had to put it down a few times because it was so up close and your face. But one of the main characters didn't see himself as being gay since he wasn't getting "poked" and had a child. If anyone else has read this book, tell me what you thought.

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Holla - 2001
KL