For decades we have watched our favorite African American stars grace the silver screens and welcomed them into our homes across the television waves. They have been our heroes and heroines. We idolize them, lust after them, envy them, and emulate them. On the screen, they are the men and women we fantasize being, and they are the role models suitable for our children.
But for some African American stars, beneath the surface of the fame, glitz and glamour there lies a secret; a secret that if revealed could prove costly to their careers and perhaps the public image they have created for themselves. It is a secret which causes most to closely guard their privacy and lead a double life of sorts. For most, this secret would undoubtedly cause their millions of adoring fans to pause and question whether they belonged atop the pedestal we have set for them. The secret is that they are gay.
But why does it matter? The foundation of African American culture is anchored by Christianity and strong family values. These anchors have steadied many of us as we have traversed some of the darkest and most trying times and carried us into the light. One could say that the Christian faith and our family value framework have been two prominent cornerstones of black survival. The African American family has been in a state of rebuilding since its near destruction at the hands of slavery. We have grown to embrace and revere the traditional patriarchal family structure in having the male as the strong figure and head of our household. In light of this value, same-sex intimate relationships are seen as a betrayal to the family. Our Christian based religions and our church cultures back it up. From the pulpit, our ministers condemn homosexuality, dooming the acts here on earth to an everlasting hell in the ever after.
Unfortunately, stigma and discrimination fueled by religiosity and homophobia remain pervasive in our society. Black Hollywood is not immune. The increased visibility of popular and or powerful gays and lesbians would be one of the most obvious and effective ways to move our culture towards a more progressive society; a society in which people are judged by the integrity of their character and their impact on the real world. But let’s keep it real. Is outing black Hollywood the best approach to deal with this secret?
Hollywood is an industry, which thrives on creative imagery and the invocation of fantasy. It’s a product: image and illusion that both reflects and influences of what we think, what we do, what we buy, and more relevant, how we feel about ourselves. The Hollywood industry is unified around one common objective – profit, billions of dollars in profit annually. We as African Americans love entertainment. We pay $13 to see our favorite leading ladies and leading men, and for the next 2 hours we immerse ourselves into the lives represented on that big screen, in essence, we pay for the fantasy. But would a gay celebrity blur the boundaries of our fantasy and the real world? Would a gay celebrity turn millions of fans away from the box office and jeopardize the Hollywood industry and its ability to produce profit?
So we ask ourselves again, why does it matter? Bottom line, if you toss aside religious and cultural beliefs, perception is key in Black Hollywood and will continue to be as long as there is a profit to be turned.
Source: personal