OVERVIEW: The Black community
has often been held accountable for its lack of acknowledgement and resistance to its own “same gender loving”
community. In what could be described as a ‘fear of a gay planet,’ issues addressing homosexuality are still
considered taboo in large sectors of the black community, including the church.
An insightful video clip from
a presentation given by social architect Cleo Manago has been circulating the Internet and stimulating increased dialogue
within the Black as well as gay-identified-communities. Manago recently participated in a candid debate on homosexuality
in Black communities, civil rights and attitudes behind Black resistance to homosexuals at Rev. Al Sharpton's National
Action Networks 2009 Summer Conference held in Atlanta, GA.
Manago was joined by author/activist
Kevin Alexander Gray, and National Action Networks Director of Health & Wellness, Tony Wafford. The
recent legislation on gay marriage and domestic partnerships sparked the presentation which addressed the question.”
Is same gender relationships a civil rights issue?”
Manago, known for his outspoken
and no holds barred opinions, eloquently expresses in the video presentation, "Often when I have these discussions in the
Black community, someone gets up talking about reproduction. To reproduce or to not reproduce being the measure of who deserves
the most rights or respect. This is not logical because most sex that people have, including heterosexual sex is not
to reproduce." Manago further goes on to discuss that “While HIV is killing us the Black community, its difficult getting
heterosexual men involved in part based on myths, judgments and under-discussed issues around manhood in the Black community.”
BACKGROUND: Recognized as one
of the "Leading Men in 2008" and titled "The Uniter," by Instinct Magazine, Manago has
been at the forefront of the movement to liberate the masses from stereotypes and ingrained cultural perceptions since 1989.
His message and vision of love and acceptance is ensconced in the context of cultural affirmation and transformation. (See
link below to Instinct Magazine)
Cleo Manago is the founder
the AmASSI Health & Cultural Centers based in the Inglewood area of South Los Angeles, with additional projects in Harlem,
Atlanta and the Baltimore/DC area. The acronym ‘AmASSI’ stands for the African, American Advocacy, Support-Services
& Survival Institute. Uniquely, AmASSI combines counseling, skills building and educational programs regarding the
prevention of HIV disease, substance abuse and various health threats; with cultural affirmation, critical thinking and self-concept
enrichment. The approach confronts many of the psycho-social, mental health, contemporary and historical factors that
impact Black well-being and constructive behavior, with technical assistance also provided to other organizations on how to
improve their capacity to attract, affirm and serve diverse Black people.
