First of all, and ya know, not speaking from the black perspective ... because, oh yeah, there's NONE of that on the LoT btw ... two things:

1) Some blacks are very pissed off that the gays "equate" their civil rights struggle with that of the famed black variety in the 60's ... not realizing we're not equating the dollar value or other "best"ness ... but rather just the type of struggle. Sheesh.

2) A great many blacks are virulently, violently, backwardly homophobic. Those who were oppressed are, without enough ironic sense, imo, hardly immune to feeling prejudice and bigotry and hatred. Pfft, witness Israel.

You see, I often wonder if it is the same type of struggle.....and not being gay....... because, oh yeah, there's NONE of that on the LoT btw ......(hahahaha), economically, educationally, jobwise....I don't see the same type of discrimination. However, I am perfectly willing to admit since I'm not gay I just may not know.

I'm not black, but I can only imagine what kind of crap they have to deal with on a daily basis. Just because I don't experience what they do doesn't make what happens any less valid- and anyone who thinks gay people don't face discrimination, hostility and the like are living in a bubble. I don't see many churches looking to hire gay persons, and in quite a few communities across this land they are routinely denied employment, admittance to social groups, etc. It's not easy for an openly gay person to win public office, and do I even need to to mention the military?

I would posit three contributing factors (among many I'm sure):

1. I'm sure plenty feel like their still fighting their own fight and would prefer society focus on them until it is done. A form of "hey, I'm walking here, wait your turn."

2. The center of "black civil culture" and the power structure within it is heavily dominated by somewhat fundamentalist evangelical Christian religions. And just as with the predominantly white versions of these churches aren't sympathetic to the homosexuality as an acceptable state of being, the black churches aren't really any friendlier. They may recognize that the struggle is similar in form but that doesn't mean you have to think it is similar in justification.

3. You aren't being exposed to a wide enough cross section of black intellectuals, leaders, and communities to be aware of the communities that do support gay rights.

Coretta Scott King was a strong supporter of gay rights.

I don't really think it makes much sense to try to rank quality of oppression. Oppression is oppression, just because it manifests in different ways doesn't mean they aren't born of the same thing.

Speaking as a lesbian of color, it's my view that one's own oppression does not necessarily give one perspective or empathy.

I disagree. I think there are certainly levels of oppression which certainly rank worse than others. I do think slavery is worse and more offensive than denying someone a state sanctioned marriage and am not ashamed to say so. I can think of 100s of forms of oppression that would fall in the same category of being worse than that.

However, the ideals that lead to the end of any form of oppression remain the same. And the methods necessary to get our from under it remain the same. And the passion that engenders from those within it is the same. If you truly believe that you are unfairly being denied equal status as a human being, you're not going to take it well when someone says, "Get over it, my plight was way worse." The relative degree of oppression does not make it any less valid, nor does it negate the "worse" case from being a fair analogy.

I think it does to the masses, though. To equate slaery or the holocaust with denial of state sanctioned marriages doesn't play well to Joe on the corner.