What if the majority of the population was gay and the minority was heterosexuals and we were stigmatized, talked down upon, treated like we had leprosy and called “heterosexual hag”? It doesn’t feel good does it? In some ways this is how black gay men are treated especially if they are young MSM. A person should not be treated differently because of their sexual orientation, they deserve to be respected and treated with dignity.

The psychological distress of racism, unemployment and discrimination that black men face on a daily basis is enough to make you scream; they may engage in various risk behaviors, such as having sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol as a way of coping which can and have led to high rates of HIV infections in our communities. We as a black community need to do better in loving and accepting our men whether if they are gay, bi or straight. God’s greatest commandment is to love one another. Therefore, by mistreating, stigmatizing and belittling is not love it is lack of compassion, respect and dignity. Think about it put yourself in their shoes, I have!