Troubling trends with black America and homophobia

Former Miami Heat guard and five-time All-Star Tim Hardaway caused quite a stir last week after sharing some rather unedited thoughts on gay people. His remarks came during a radio interview just one week after John Amaechi became the first former NBA player to disclose his homosexuality. Here's a glimpse of what he had to say:

"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

Hardaway later issued an apology through his agent, although it's almost too much of a 180 turn to be convincing. Regardless, there is a bigger problem at hand, and it needs to be addressed: Hardaway is merely the latest member of a sizeable group of black celebrities to make anti-gay remarks. Recently, star of Grey's Anatomy Isaiah Washington was widely rebuked for his use of a gay slur while referring to co-star T.R. Knight, who was subsequently forced to come out of the closet last October. And there is no shortage of black musicians (DMX, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, to name a few) and athletes (Jerome Bettis, Allen Iverson) who have had accusations of homophobia leveled against them.

I realize there are plenty of white homophobes out there as well. However, I would expect anti-gay sentiment to be an issue among straight white people, who comprise a powerful majority in this country and therefore cannot truly relate to the discrimination and constant struggle for equal treatment that gay people face. The black community, and any other targeted racial minorities, to be fair, cannot say the same.

I understand the distinction. We must acknowledge that historically, African Americans have undergone unique suffering at the hands of whites - gay whites included. Blacks cannot hide their skin color, and although gay people should not be expected to disguise their sexual orientation, it is possible for them to do so in a threatening situation. I also realize that as a gay white man, I cannot possibly relate to the double minority status of LGBT men of color or the three-pronged discrimination facing LGBT women of color.

But for all of the differences, I am convinced that the similar hardships we have faced are more compelling. Hardaway's "apology" merely scratches the surface. The first time I read Dr. King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and realized how many parallels existed between the civil rights movement's struggle for basic fairness and the gay community's ongoing fight for equality, chills rushed down my spine.

I can't help but think that these words truly unite our movements: "When you are. plagued with inner fears and outer resentments ... then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair."

Black conservatives will counter that being gay is a choice, so no comparison whatsoever is appropriate. As a matter of fact, no conclusive research - sorry, the Jesus Christ Research Institute doesn't count - exists to show that homosexuality is any more a matter of choice than heterosexuality. Millions of Americans simply would not choose to be oppressed by society on a regular basis. And for any anti-gay African Americans using the Bible to distinguish gays from blacks, I would refer them to "Black Theology and Black Power" author James Cone, who has documented Christian theologians defending both slavery and segregation through religious arguments. It's time to be honest about how much we have in common.

Homophobia in all of its forms is inexcusable. However, it is particularly distressing to see it coming from black celebrities, who serve as role models for millions of black youths in this country, and who quite frankly, should know better. As historically targeted minorities, neither group has had it easy. Rather than tear each other apart, we should identify our similarities and unite against injustice.