LGBT topics and Afro-Americans in the Americas
Encyclopedia
Similar to the experience of non-heterosexual people in Africa during the arrivals and expansions of Abrahamic religions
through various imperialistic and colonial attritions into the continent, the lives of homosexual, bisexual and transgendered Afro-Americans - both those who were imported from Africa
and those who were descended from such coerced migrations but were born in the Americas - were highly influenced by the doctrines of both European-descended Christianity (which tended toward highly-homophobic dialogue in its expressions against non-heterosexuality
) and the African-descended traditional religions which were preserved by African slaves in the Americas.
It was only during the latter half of the 20th century that the atmosphere for LGBT Afro-Americans was significantly liberalized in the political and legal sector in most American countries (while Afro-Americans in their entirety experienced waves of independence movements in the Caribbean and ethnic civil rights movements in countries where Afro-Americans dwelt in demographic minorities). However, in the 21st century, non-heterosexual people remained persecuted in predominately-black areas of the former British colonies of the Caribbean due to predominating religious fundamentalisms (derived mostly from Roman Catholic and various Protestant denominations) and cultural bigotries.
Various celebrations of U.S. Afro-American LGBT identity include various Black gay pride
s in predominately-black suburban areas of the United States. In addition, various endeavors to increase Afro-American representation in LGBT media have been undertaken in the 21st century, such as the short-lived television series Noah's Arc
.
). In addition, greater concentrations of Afro-American Christian clergy rail against
s were mostly stripped from the civil codes of such countries' governments in the 20th century. However, in addition to the homophobic imprint of European-imported culture and religion, LGBT Afro-Americans in Latin America also enjoyed the comparative sexual liberalization which existed in the Afro-American religion
s which are practiced with much more frequency and cross-ethnic popularity in Latin American countries.
Nevertheless, charismatic religious movements
which are more homophobic than local traditional variations of Christianity (thanks to the more traditionalistic focus of the nations, societies and subcultures in which these movements start — as well the least homophobic Brazilians, for example, were not the atheist and agnostic ones but the Roman Catholics, since, historically, homophobia in Latin America came mostly from individual variations of machismo
rather than religious moral rules) which gains popularity among discriminated sectors of the societies conquers much of its power from Afro-Latin Americans. This is notedly true for certain regions of South America, and the stereotypical homophobic Pentecostal or Evangelical Protestant priest who is popular among the lower middle and working classes particularly in Brazil. About 21.7% of roughly 13 million Afro-Brazilian
s and 18.2% of roughly 83 million of Multiracial 'brown' Brazilians
are Protestants, compared to 15.16% of about 92 million Brazilians of mostly European and/or Middle Eastern descent
and 13.3% of about 1.1 million Brazilians of East Asian descent
. Some of them project a really huge influence on the societal norms of their communities, and as a result turns (generally) more socially conservative on a range of issues, but most importantly homosexuality, sexual minorities, heterosexism, homophobia, gender roles and sexism.
Abrahamic religions
Abrahamic religions are the monotheistic faiths emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him...
through various imperialistic and colonial attritions into the continent, the lives of homosexual, bisexual and transgendered Afro-Americans - both those who were imported from Africa
Atlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade, also known as the trans-atlantic slave trade, refers to the trade in slaves that took place across the Atlantic ocean from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth centuries...
and those who were descended from such coerced migrations but were born in the Americas - were highly influenced by the doctrines of both European-descended Christianity (which tended toward highly-homophobic dialogue in its expressions against non-heterosexuality
LGBT matters and Christianity
Christian denominations have a variety of beliefs about sexual orientation, including the moral status of same-sex sexual practices and gender variance...
) and the African-descended traditional religions which were preserved by African slaves in the Americas.
It was only during the latter half of the 20th century that the atmosphere for LGBT Afro-Americans was significantly liberalized in the political and legal sector in most American countries (while Afro-Americans in their entirety experienced waves of independence movements in the Caribbean and ethnic civil rights movements in countries where Afro-Americans dwelt in demographic minorities). However, in the 21st century, non-heterosexual people remained persecuted in predominately-black areas of the former British colonies of the Caribbean due to predominating religious fundamentalisms (derived mostly from Roman Catholic and various Protestant denominations) and cultural bigotries.
United States and Canada
A minority of U.S. Afro-Americans identify openly as LGBT, while a larger number of Afro-Americans are closeted about their sexuality. However, openly-LGBT Afro-Americans have contributed extensively to many cultural and political events and institutions in the process of the ethnicity's enfranchisement and participation in the melting pot of the country while also becoming increasingly visible participants in the movement for LGBT civil rights in the United States. While LGBT African Americans often face homophobic bigotry from heterosexual African Americans (often derived from religious motivations), they also have come into conflict with LGBT European-Americans due to matters of race and color in United States LGBT culture.Various celebrations of U.S. Afro-American LGBT identity include various Black gay pride
Black gay pride
The black LGBT pride began as a result of the gay black minority community in the United States feeling marginalized and less a part of the whole gay community in participation, organization and administration...
s in predominately-black suburban areas of the United States. In addition, various endeavors to increase Afro-American representation in LGBT media have been undertaken in the 21st century, such as the short-lived television series Noah's Arc
Noah's Arc (TV series)
Noah's Arc is an American cable television dramedy. The series, which predominantly features gay black and Latino characters, focused on many socially relevant issues, including same sex dating, same-sex marriage, same-sex parenthood, HIV and AIDS awareness, infidelity, promiscuity, homophobia, gay...
.
Former British colonies in the Caribbean
In contrast to the relative political liberalization of LGBT Afro-Americans in North America, legal, political and cultural structures retain anti-LGBT laws and practices dating from the colonial period in most former British colonies in the Caribbean, a similar outcome as most former British colonies in Africa (with the sole exception of South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
). In addition, greater concentrations of Afro-American Christian clergy rail against
Latin America and the Caribbean
The experience of LGBT Afro-Americans in the former French and Spanish colonies of the Caribbean has largely followed the general LGBT dialogue with the governments and religious institutions of their respective countries, as sodomy lawSodomy law
A sodomy law is a law that defines certain sexual acts as crimes. The precise sexual acts meant by the term sodomy are rarely spelled out in the law, but are typically understood by courts to include any sexual act deemed unnatural. It also has a range of similar euphemisms...
s were mostly stripped from the civil codes of such countries' governments in the 20th century. However, in addition to the homophobic imprint of European-imported culture and religion, LGBT Afro-Americans in Latin America also enjoyed the comparative sexual liberalization which existed in the Afro-American religion
Afro-American religion
Afro-American religions are a number of related religions that developed in the Americas among African slaves and their descendants in various countries of Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of the southern United States...
s which are practiced with much more frequency and cross-ethnic popularity in Latin American countries.
Nevertheless, charismatic religious movements
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
which are more homophobic than local traditional variations of Christianity (thanks to the more traditionalistic focus of the nations, societies and subcultures in which these movements start — as well the least homophobic Brazilians, for example, were not the atheist and agnostic ones but the Roman Catholics, since, historically, homophobia in Latin America came mostly from individual variations of machismo
Machismo
Machismo, or machoism, is a word of Spanish and Portuguese origin that describes prominently exhibited or excessive masculinity. As an attitude, machismo ranges from a personal sense of virility to a more extreme male chauvinism...
rather than religious moral rules) which gains popularity among discriminated sectors of the societies conquers much of its power from Afro-Latin Americans. This is notedly true for certain regions of South America, and the stereotypical homophobic Pentecostal or Evangelical Protestant priest who is popular among the lower middle and working classes particularly in Brazil. About 21.7% of roughly 13 million Afro-Brazilian
Afro-Brazilian
In Brazil, the term "preto" is one of the five categories used by the Brazilian Census, along with "branco" , "pardo" , "amarelo" and "indígena"...
s and 18.2% of roughly 83 million of Multiracial 'brown' Brazilians
Pardo
In Brazil, Pardo is a race/colour category used by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics in Brazilian censuses. It is a Portuguese word that encompasses various shades of brown, but is usually translated as "grayish-brown"...
are Protestants, compared to 15.16% of about 92 million Brazilians of mostly European and/or Middle Eastern descent
White Brazilian
White Brazilians make up 48.4% of Brazil's population, or around 92 million people, according to the IBGE's 2008 PNAD . Whites are present in the entire territory of Brazil, although the main concentrations are found in the South and Southeastern parts of the country...
and 13.3% of about 1.1 million Brazilians of East Asian descent
Asian Brazilian
An Asian Brazilian is is a Brazilian citizen of full or partial Asian ancestry, who remains culturally connected to Asia, or an Asian-born person permanently residing in Brazil. Brazil received many immigrants from Asia, both from Middle East and East Asia...
. Some of them project a really huge influence on the societal norms of their communities, and as a result turns (generally) more socially conservative on a range of issues, but most importantly homosexuality, sexual minorities, heterosexism, homophobia, gender roles and sexism.
See also
- Racism in the LGBT community
- LGBT themes in African diasporic mythologiesLGBT themes in African diasporic mythologies-West African, Yoruba and Dahomean :The celestial creator deity of Dahomey mythology is Mawu-Lisa, formed by a merger of the twin brother and sister gods Lisa and Mawa . In combined form, he or she presented as intersex or trangendered...
- Horace GriffinHorace GriffinReverend Horace L. Griffin is an Episcopal minister and gay man. Griffin is the author of Their Own Receive Them Not: African American Lesbian and Gays in Black Churches, which was released in October 2006.-See also:...
- LGBT and multiculturalismLGBT and multiculturalismLGBT and multiculturalism is the diversity within LGBT community as a representation of different sexual orientations, gender identities—as well as different ethnic, language, religious groups within LGBT community...
- LGBT topics and Voodoo
- LGBT rights in the AmericasLGBT rights in the AmericasLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights are complex in the Americas. The British, French, Spanish and Portuguese colonists, who settled most of the Americas, brought Christianity from Europe...
- LGBT rights in AfricaLGBT rights in AfricaLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights in Africa are limited in comparison to other areas of the world, with the BBC estimating that homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries...