For Black gay men, love can seem like a rare commodity. The complexities of dating, relationships and society’s expectations for what constitutes a love relationship can leave many men feeling unfulfilled.
Thankfully, independent TV shows, web series and movies have been creating representations of Black gay romance for years. These stories are the ones that are most often ignored by mainstream Hollywood productions, but they are still changing lives and shaping TV history.
1. Relationships with Clergy
Black love is a shared culture that is tailor-made for every couple and infinite in its meanings. But despite the many small moments of representation in popular media, queerness is often left out in favor of a dominantly heteronormative narrative about black love.
When it comes to relationships with clergy, the church’s stance on gay marriage has become a point of tension in the African-American community. Despite their outspoken opposition to same-sex marriages, the presence of gay clergy in Black churches is commonplace.
While gay priests have been a part of the Christian community for centuries, they were once viewed as outside the Church’s purview and were often not permitted to be married by their bishops. This was because the Catholic Church has long held that same-sex love is not procreation, a doctrine that is deeply entrenched in their platonized Christian tradition.
2. Theological Support
Theological support is a crucial aspect of gay black love. It can include a number of different resources, including apologetics, spiritual guidance, and faith-based activism.
Theology is the study of religious belief, practice, and experience. It is the basis of most Christian ministries, and it can also be an important field for exploring non-Christian religions.
It is critical for Christians to understand their own beliefs and how they can influence others. Theology can be a helpful resource in this area, as it often helps people better understand their own faith and how to communicate it with others.
In addition, theological understandings of same-sex relationships can help Christians make informed decisions about how to engage in this kind of relationship. For example, What God Has Joined Together: The Christian Case for Gay Marriage is a great resource that debunks myths about sexual orientation and explores how the Bible can help people of all faiths understand the positive benefits of same-sex relationships.
3. Support in the Workplace
Even at great workplaces, LGBTQ+ employees are 7% less likely to have a psychologically healthy work environment than straight colleagues. That’s despite the fact that America has many laws and policies protecting the interests of employees and their families.
Moreover, even in a culture that has embraced the LGBT movement, Black gay men and other queer people of color face acute discrimination. For example, Stonewall reported that 61 percent of black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people had experienced racism in the past year.
For these reasons, it is crucial that the LGBT community receives a wide range of support in all aspects of life, including in the workplace. This includes not only sexuality, but also nondiscrimination practices, sensitivity training, and other workplace resources.
The climate that Black LGBTQ people experience in their workplace is complex. It is often ambiguous and in some cases, hostile. As such, it is important to address the needs of Black LGBTQ employees and their communities by providing support in the workplace that helps them to thrive.
4. Social Support
We conducted a phenomenological analysis of social support received by GBMSM in Western Kenya to better understand their experiences of resilience-promoting resources and how they contribute to sexual health. We collected data from in-depth interviews with 60 GBMSM.
GBMSM primarily described receiving emotional, informational, and instrumental support from their friends and peer groups. These relationships provided a sense of belonging, connected them to affirming organizations that promote healthy sexual orientation identities, and helped them cope with discrimination and other negative experiences.
Healthcare providers, peer educators, and other people including work colleagues and police officers also were cited as sources of social support by GBMSM. They provided emotional support by empathizing with their concerns and offering advice, as well as informational and instrumental support by sharing knowledge about STI testing, HIV counseling, and treatment.
