John Amaechi: Black Gay Athletes Face a "Double Prejudice"

John Amaechi is back in the news. The handsome and articulate former NBA player came out of the closet in February 2007 and became a media sensation—as well as the target for ugly homophobic rants and jokes. Amaechi talks to The Voice, Britain's largest black newspaper, about his own coming out process and reflects on the life and death of another black gay athlete—Justin Fashanu, the football star who came out in 1990, suffered vile homophobic abuse from football fans and players, and, tragically took his own life ten years ago this week, on May 2, 1998.

Amaechi "paid tribute to the bravery of Fashanu and admitted he took note of the former footballer’s negative experiences before making his own decision to come out.

" 'I don’t think you can take anything away from the abject bravery of what he did. I just think that he entered the storm completely alone. I looked at his experience as a bench mark for how bad it could get, because it wasn’t just the fans - a lot of what went on was the absolutely abominable news coverage.' "

Last year, Amaechi said the response he has received from the community has been "overwhelmingly supportive and positive." The former professional basketball player also talks about the hyper-masculinity template applied to black men and black athletes, and, says black gay athletes face a "double prejudice."

"The juxtaposition of being gay and black in sports is especially powerful. Because if people were to guess who the gay people in sport were, they’d pick the white folk.

The bad part about that is it leads to a double prejudice. So you’ve got the black people stereotype - that black people are strong, can jump high, are really quick and very masculine.

"Then because you’ve got this one stereotype of black people, that automatically means they can’t be gay, because you’ve got a stereotype about what gay people are, which is absurd."

One of the most publicized, visceral reactions to Amaechi's coming out process was from former NBA player Tim Hardaway, whose on-air, anti-gay and homophobic rants cost him endorsement deals and a commentary slot with the NBVA All-Star Game.

Amaechi comes out again [Voice]

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Comments

[Derrick from PHilly]

One of my major arguments to black gay men (white ones too) concerns the stereotypes that y'all want to get rid of. The major stereotype is that of the effeminate homosexual male. The only way to counter the effect of feminine-acting males representing the gay/sgl world is for more traditionally masculine gay/sgl men to come out--let folks know you are a gay football player, lawyer, marine, mass murderer, etc..

It's the only way because us "queens" aint goin' no where. Go to any elementary school in this country and you'll see some eight year boy doing his Beyonce impersonation....every generation has a whole new crop of "queens"--we keepa' comin'.

Y'all have "butch it up"--the image of gay/sgl men, I mean. I wish my Reggie Bush would come out, come in, come around...just cum!

[queerunity]

black gay disabled jewish women face quadruple prejudice.

http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com

[Derrick from Philly]

Thanks for the link, queerunity. Your site gives valuable information about just how inclusive the definition of the term "gay" should be.

Tell the Black Gay Jewish Disabled Woman to vote for Obama. She aint got a damn thing to loose.

[TheRevKev]

I am so moved by John's comments and his tribute.

This is one of the greatest reminders to me, when I get on my horse about people coming out, to understand the environments of each person living their daily lives. That Justin came out and was hated and taunted and made to feel like his life was under siege on the daily, to the put that he took his life, just concerns me daily. I applaud John's coming out AT ALL and being able to stand as an icon of Black men, Male Athletes, Strong Towers and being such a beautifully stunning example of how a life well lived is the most redeeming revenge of all.

He is beautiful, sexy, smart, witty, out-spoken and a shining example of all that we can be as Black Gay Men. Rod and I have had conversations about coming out before and I don't understand why we are asking athletes and actors to do it when QUEENS in the music industry and entertainment industry are daily living behind masks. This is where I applaud the FIERCE OUT DIVAS who stand in their truths, because I remember being contacted by VIBE to do an article on being out in the industry and the reporter, a woman, was stunned and so disappointed, that she couldn't get any other high powered Black Gay men, besides me in my position as Senior Producer and Record Label Liaison, to come out on the record.

WE ARE, MANY OF US, NOT AS OUT AS WE PROCLAIM IN THE STREETS AND IN THE SHEETS!

But Bravo to shining this light, yet again, on John, Justin and all of the Spirits of Essex and Marlon, that remind us to living fiercely and without fear!

I'D RATHER BE HATED FOR WHO I AM THAN LOVED FOR WHO I AM NOT!

[Donald]

The Voice is published by the same company that publishes the Jamaica Gleaner, a paper known for its vehemently consistent homohatred. I'm sure Mr. Amaechi's comments about 'insensitive media' bear that in mind.

[Tony]

Great article and I hope I don't sound petty or rude, but never has the omission of the word "out" been this funny to me:

"...about his own coming [out] process..."

Sorry, it just made me chuckle not seeing the "out" in that sentence. :D

[Rod Mc]

Duh! Thanks, Tony. That omission was very Freudian! :)