I REMAIN VERY UNSETTLED BY THE FACT THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE SO HOMOPHOBIC I AM AN AFIKAN-AMEIRCAN 28 YR OLD LESBIAN I HAVE BEEN OUT SINCE 16 STILL HAD /HAVE A CHILD AND PLAN TO HAVE MORE , BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT JUST ME. LESBIANISM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AGES CHECK OUT RUTH ELLIS THE 100 YR OLD SOUTHERN LESBIAN AND THATS NOT EVEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBURGE WE ARE BEING BURRIED BY OUR OWN PEOLPLE THAT IS WHY AFRIKAN-AMERICAN LESBIAN WILL REMAIN IN THE CLOSET OR ONLY OUT TO A SELECT FEW FOR FEAR OF RIDICULE AND REJECTION. I AS WELL AS OTHER AFRIKAN AMERICAN LESBIANS WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS. I AM EQUALLY PROUD BEAING AFRIKAN-AMERICAN AS WELL AS LESBIAN WHY SHOULDNT I BE WE ARE A LARGE UNSEEN MOST TIMES UNHEARD PEOPLE WHY IS THIS?WE ARE HUMAN WE HAVE LOVE WE LIVE WE BREATHE WE EXIST EVEN THOUGH IT IS ASHAME THAT SOME OF US FEEL THAT WE CANNOT CO-EXIST WITH HETEROSEXUAL BEINGS. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT I/WE ARE LEADING TO THE EXTINTION OF THE AFRIKAN AMERICAN RACE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS .STILL I WARE MY PRIDE COLORS AS WELL AS THE AFRIKAN AND COLORS MY HAIR REMAINS LOCKED MY "BLAKCNESS" WILL NEVER FADE IN THE WAY I DRESS SPEAK WALK AND LIVE NIETHER WILL THE FACT THAT I AM A LESBIAN.LESBIANISM IS NOT A DISEASE AND IN MY OPINION IS JUST AS NORMAL AS A HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP. I DO BELIEVE THAT HOMOSEXUALITY WILL EFFECT THE WORLD BUT NOT WITH EXTINCTION OF THE HUMAN RACE.(PLEASE!)I AM AMAZED HOW PEOLPLE CAN BE SO CLOSED MINDED TO FREEDOM AND THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL PREFFRENCE AND CHIOCE BUT SO QUICK TO JUDGE WHEN THE ONLY TRUE JUDGE IS THE CREATOR.I PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND UNDERSTANDING AND I PRAY THAT YOU ALL ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS IN LIFE. ASHE :confused: :heart: :peace: :peace:

Lewa5...you have the right to choose to be whomever you want to be but is it really necessary that you must shout who you are to us? If you are comfortable in your skin and with your lifestyle, what does it matter to you what other people think of you? Surely once you made your choice, you knew that you would receive criticism and strong opinions from those who disagree with your lifestyle. But still...even so...why are you so upset that you come here and blast your opinions at us like this?

Okay...you're lesbian and you're African American....so what? What's the purpose of this thread, just to get attention?

PEACE AND BLESSING NN QUEEN. WELL IT MAY SEEM AS IF IM BLASTING BUT I AM NOT ,MOST OF THE TIME I USE CAPITALS.SISTAH I ASSURE U I AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH ME AND AM SURELY NOT LOKKING 4 ANY ATTENTION JUST UNDERSTANDING OF Y OUR PEOPLE R SO HOMOPHOBIC.SO REST ASURRED IT IS NOT THAT DEEP.
BLESSING AND PEACE ASHE
SHEM HOTEP

Lewa5, thank you for explaining that you're not shouting when you write. Usually capital letters is an indication that the writer is shouting while wanting to make their point.

Knowing that now, maybe you should consider typing your future messages in small letters if your intention is not to convey hypersensitive communication.

Also, I certainly can't answer for everyone here on how they feel about homosexuality but I think it's safe for me to say that not everyone here is homophobic just because they might not agree with individuals who choose to live a homosexual or bisexual lifestyle. Phobias are an indication that something is feared. There are people here who don't support homosexuality for many reasons but fear may not be one of them.

Peace.

Peace and Blessings NN Queen I thankyou for letting me know that about the capitals i never thought of it that way I will take your advice when i post. And you r absolutely right phobia does imply fear. Its just that when i tell people or let them know by way of similar conversation that i am in the life they become so ridgid and yes i do know that not everyone is like that so i guess i will move on.Thankyou again. May the Ancestors kiss your eyelids. blessings and peace. Ashe.:toast: :heart: :) :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:

Thank you Sister Lewa5 for being so cooperative. We already know that there are Black homosexuals and Black heterosexuals, and whenever the conversation addresses that topic you're always opening the door to include a religious, spiritual and African ancestral perspective. My question is, does the discussion of that add to or take away from our focus which is to empower and uplift our people?

Peace.

I had the same question NN "does this discussion/topic take away our focus of empowering black people"? I raised this issue in a similar thread, and I think that it is taking away the focus of this particular forum. A house divided can not continue to stand. And these continued topics on homosexuality and the supposed prejudice that our members have against it is distracting. Disagreeing with homosexuality does not make someone homophobic. Although I can't speak for everyone, I do not think the community at Destee is homophobic. In fact the subject has never come up in the PanAfrican forum until recently. It had not come up because it was a non-issue. Fighting for gay rights has nothing to do with the liberation of black people. It is a separate issue. Therefore I implore us to move on to another discussion.

You have some nerve ending your comments with "Ashe" - Yoruba/Orisa religion in its true African form does not condone lesbianism. Never has, and never will.

Did you know one of the requirements of being considered an Ancestors worthly of veneration upon your death was that you have to have had children? Now how can African propogate such a belief and still support homosexuality? Easy, we dont.

I'm still trying to figure out why one has to accept one's sexual preferences in order to not be labeled "homophobic".

As NNQueen stated, that suggests a fear. Its not about fear its about not accepting a practice as natural or normal.

I don't have to accept your personal sexual practices as right, good or natural to accept you as part of the African community. Your sexuality is only part of you, I hope, if not, then there lies your problem.

You have some nerve ending your comments with "Ashe" - Yoruba/Orisa religion in its true African form does not condone lesbianism. Never has, and never will.

Did you know one of the requirements of being considered an Ancestors worthly of veneration upon your death was that you have to have had children? Now how can African propogate such a belief and still support homosexuality? Easy, we dont.
....................................

Alaafia abure Ifasehun,

You're absolutely right. Yoruba religion does not condone lesbianism. But you forgot to mention that it does not condemn lesbianism either. I have spoke with very old Babalawo about this, and they can point to no Odu that makes a mention of homosexuality. This does not mean that it is supported or not. It simply means that religiously it is not an issue. If the religion never will accept homosexuality as you say, does this mean that elders like Baba Abimbola and Baba Elebuibon were wrong for initiating gays and lesbians? I don't think we could ever say that these elders did something that goes against the foundation of their blood and culture. It is the Orisa who chooses people, and some of the people Orisa chooses are gay. I'm a lesbian, and have been chosen by Orisa from birth. I do not mean to cause any disruption, dissent, or stray from the issue of pan-Africanism which is the main focus. I just wanted to put this out there in the hopes that the Orisa community will stop hating other Afrikans because of who they love. It is divisive, and not at all conducive to pan-Africanism or the development of the Orisa community.

Ase.

Welcome to our forums Gift and thank you for your message. I hope you enjoy your time with us. Come visit us in Voice Chat and listen to our ******** radio station as you surf the web. We offer online classes in a variety of different subject areas, so check out the link. If you like what we are trying to do here with and for our community, we hope you will decide to become a financial supporter so that we can continue to be independent and offer more opportunities.

I look forward to your future posts!

Peace!

Peace NNQueen,

I think this forum is a wonderful space. I have been following it for a few months now without posting, and was very glad to find it on the net. Unfortunately, I'm a student and cannot financially contribute to the site at this time. However, I do plan on checking in periodically to see what is going on and try to support in any ways that I can. When I start working and am able to contribute I will definitely contribute to this website's mission.

Continued Blessings.

Gift, I certainly understand what it's like being a student and living on a meager income. I'm just glad that you're enjoying being here and want to contribute your knowledge and opinions. I wish you well with your studies.

Peace.

How does Homosexuality move Africa forward? Isn't it a European value not an African one? Isn't the only reason we have been exposed to it is because of Colonization?

Welcome Pintobean!

You've asked an interesting question and I look forward to reading the responses you receive. I hope your enjoy your time with us. Our community has many features to offer you, so we hope you take full advantage of the opportunities that are available. Particularly, if you enjoy good music, tune into our ******** radio station. It's wonderful and I listen to it all day when I can. Also, if you like to expand your mind, we offer a variety of classes on different topics. Voicechat is one of our greatest features--day and night every day, there's something exciting and interesting being discussed. Make sure you have speakers and a mic because you won't want to miss the opportunity to talk to us.

I look forward to reading more from you.

Peace :wave:

To the author of this thread.

A yo Queen (if you r black) get your mind right, get your head right, get your act right and stop sleeping with women. You are a woman. Our people are not homophobic we just dont agree with it. Black people are tryna move forward and there you r sleeping with the same sex.

Get you ish right homey, and stay away from European TV cause obviously its had a shytty effect on you.

Pardon my rudeness

No, "peoplesman," your rudeness will not be pardoned whatsoever. LEWA is asking a question, not for your opinions about her life.

Peoplesman,

I've followed your posts and have noticed members of our community giving you advice on what is required for you to remain here in good standing. Please adhere to the rules of our community or find the nearest exit. Your hostility and rudeness are unacceptable. Consider this a FAIR warning!

Thank you!

I asked my college professor about gays in tribal africa and this is what he said to me (over a year ago. His book should be on the market now).

from Mwalibubaruti of Morehouse College:

My book, Homosexuality and the Effeminization of the Afrikan Male, which is a response to such nonsense is now with its readers. It will be on the market hopefully within 6 months to a year. Nonetheless, all of the studies in the book to which you are referring, which I painstakingly read, are of post European invasion societies that existed before European invasion. The studies are of their post European existence/activities as still intact traditional Afrikan societies. European physical and cultural invasion modified/changed/violated them and their traditions. Anyone should know that a people are affected by what and who they encounter, especially when the other's way is forced on them, militarily or by dent of survival, regardless of whether their name, physical appearance, or the majority of their traditional ways remain untainted. Of course, people will always believe what they want, even the truth of historically known liars. Europeans are about the business of homosexualizing the world by any means necessary. Since when has truth or the fact that they are historically a culturally minority/abnormality been a deterrent to them spreading their chaos. What may be problematic, on our part, is discussing their "opinion" and propaganda as if it were worthy of our attention. We should know their way by now.

I'm sorry my gay brothers and sisters, but I believe in my heart that our ancestors would not want us to be gay.

That life style destroys our families. It causes confusion in our households and more importantly it is not an AFrican tradition at all in no way shape or form.

I think that all of us are challenged in some way or another in this life. Some of us have to fight a serious illness, some have to live without parents, some have children who die, and some are challenged with the descision of being gay, of being attracted to the same sex. I believe it is a challenge and one must fight that challenge because it is wrong.

It is a european way of life. It is what theydo and have always done since they were mutated. They make these un-natural things fair seeming to us and we are so weak that we go along to get along with their culture.

We as African people are so far-removed from our culture that we should challenge ourselves to go back. Sankofa. and learn about who we once were. Use our energies to travel to the Motherland and learn. All of AFrica is not at war. Learn about traditional religions. Learn about ancient Kemetic beliefs systems. Learn AFrican languages.

Stop trying to assimulate with these sick mutated, anything goes, people and take on the values of our ancestors.

If you find yourself liking someone of your same sex, fight it as if you have to do so to save your life, because in reality that is what you are doing.

To me justifying that lifestyle shows that one is weak, careless, selfish and does not care about the whole African community, only their selfish desires and needs.

We as a people are so fragile, so disconnected with our culture. When I see a gay Black man and woman my heart aches because I know they are victims of self-hate. They are totally disconnected to who they are and following the life style of mutated people.

I hope you do not get angry at these words. I am saying them with love.


Peace.