Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  IDENTITY

Inspirational Reading
by Max Smith
2004-08-01

This article shared 3176 times since Sun Aug 1, 2004
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Herndon Davis was recently in Chicago to talk about a new book he has written, Black, Gay and Christian, An Inspirational Guidebook to Daily Living. Upon reading it and understanding why it was written, I developed an awesome respect for what Mr. Davis has accomplished.

This book is unique. It is written on three levels. First, it inspires same-gender-loving people to stand up for ourselves: to improve our emotional and intellectual mindset in the direction of self-acceptance. That is to say, it seeks to completely reconcile being both a born-again Christian and a person involved in a sexually active lesbian or gay male relationship.

Secondly, Davis encourages us to walk with faith. He provides Christian faith-based approaches to dealing with such issues as; dating, forming LGBT relationships, adopting and parenting children, being out of the closet at work, and overcoming emotional difficulties associated with homophobic or AIDS-phobic family members and neighbors.

Additionally Davis says 'this book seeks to reach out to the mainstream African-American heterosexual and church population in an effort to assist them in gaining a clearer understanding of the homosexual lifestyle in an effort to broaden the inclusion, reconciliation, and acceptance of our lifestyle as part of the overall rich and vibrant fabric of our community.' Once the African-American community overcomes its homophobia, a higher level of sexual and emotional honesty can be achieved. Then pressing issues such as poverty, crime, education and racial profiling can be addressed much more effectively.

A reader of this book does not need to be particularly religious or familiar with the Bible. It is written in an easy-to-understand style. Numerous examples of bogus irrational anti-gay arguments are given with logical and reasonable responses to each one. It is a perfect book to read before coming out to family, co-workers and especially church-goers.

In 1971 author Saul D. Alinsky published Rules for Radicals, A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals. The Book-of-the-Month Club News called it a 'classic text for organizers bent on greater social and political justice.' This new book by Herndon Davis can empower voices to counter conservatives with their 18th Century understanding of LGBT sexuality.

Davis acknowledges that some people dread the notion of confronting conservative Christians, even though their attitudes are the foundation upon which homophobia is built. It's a case of no pain, no gain. Suppose lots of LGBT people read this (and/or similar) call-to-action texts, then win over the hearts and minds of conservatives. Our community would then enjoy a future in which we could be able to say: the first 40 years after the Stonewall revolt was when Black churches used to oppress same-gender-loving people before they became better informed!

Clearly it will take lots of optimism and the patience of Job to bring about a community-wide change from internalized homophobic self-oppression to self-acceptance. But this book gives you mega-doses of optimism and hope on every page. The further into this book you read, the more empowered you will feel.

By the time you get to page 124 you will be prepared for the author's direct challenge: 'We must begin to stand up to the Black Church.' Davis says, 'Yes, I know this is much easier said than done, but it MUST be done or we will forever suffer.' Davis further admits that to bring the battle for LGBT affirmation into Black churches may mean you will be singled out and berated, it could also cause individuals to be targeted for a change in sexual orientation, through a flurry of scriptures, prayer circles, and verbal intimidation. Davis makes it plain that, 'If you attend a church whose pastor, bishop, ministers or staff openly express belligerent and homophobic beliefs, then you have three choices. You can either take the abuse every Sunday with a smile. You can leave your church for a more gay/lesbian accepting environment. Or you can confront your church pastor, bishop, ministers and staff and initiate a dialog of understanding.'

Over the next six pages the book gives a very detailed, step-by-step journey into how to effectively confront homophobic conservative Christians.

Black, Gay and Christian is an excellent read. It helps you envision a future 21st Century African-American community in which LGBT people are respected and spiritually uplifted. It will inspire and empower you to join others who want to root out homophobia from where it is most deeply entrenched: in the 18th Century attitudes about same-gender love in so many Black churches.

Davis effectively makes the case that now is the time for spiritually grounded, socially conscious LGBT people to meet the challenge of: standing in faith with self-esteem, walking in faith with honest affirming relationships, and ultimately running in faith as we build up our community. This book is available at Open Door Books, 5954 S. Albany, (773) 778-3030.

Herndon Davis can be reached at BlackGayChristian@yahoo.com or at BlackGayChristian.com .


This article shared 3176 times since Sun Aug 1, 2004
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Kara Swisher talks truth, power in tech at Chicago Humanities event 2024-03-25
- Lesbian author, award-winning journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher spoke about truth and power in the tech industry through the lens of her most recent book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, March 21 at First ...


Gay News

RuPaul finds 'Hidden Meanings' in new memoir 2024-03-18
- RuPaul Andre Charles made a rare Chicago appearance for a book tour on March 12 at The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave. Presented by National Public Radio station WBEZ 91.5 FM, the talk coincided with ...


Gay News

Without compromise: Holly Baggett explores lives of iconoclasts Margaret Anderson and Jane Heap 2024-03-04
- Jane Heap (1883-1964) and Margaret Anderson (1886-1973), each of them a native Midwesterner, woman of letters and iconoclast, had a profound influence on literary culture in both America and Europe in the early 20th Century. Heap ...


Gay News

There she goes again: Author Alison Cochrun discusses writing journey 2024-02-27
- By Carrie Maxwell When Alison Cochrun began writing her first queer romance novel in 2019, she had no idea it would change the course of her entire life. Cochrun, who spent 11 years as a high ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Women's college, banned books, military initiative, Oregon 2023-12-29
- After backlash regarding a decision to update its anti-discrimination policy and open enrollment to some transgender applicants, a Catholic women's college in Indiana will return to its previous admission policy, per The National Catholic Reporter. In ...


Gay News

NATIONAL School items, Miami attack, Elliot Page, Fire Island 2023-12-22
- In Virginia, new and returning members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Fairfax County School Board were inaugurated—with some school board members opting to use banned books on the topics of slavery and LGBTQ+ ...


Gay News

Chicago author's new guide leads lesbian fiction authors toward inspiration and publication 2023-12-07
- From a press release: Award-winning and bestselling lesbian fiction author Elizabeth Andre—the pen name for a Chicago-based interracial lesbian couple—has published her latest book, titled Self-Publishing Lesbian Fiction, Write Your ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Tenn. law, banned books, rainbow complex, journalists quit 2023-12-01
- Under pressure from a lawsuit over an anti-LGBTQ+ city ordinance, officials in Murfreesboro, Tennessee removed language that banned homosexuality in public, MSNBC noted. Passed in June, Murfreesboro's "public decency" ordinance ...


Gay News

BOOKS Lucas Hilderbrand reflects on gay history in 'The Bars Are Ours' 2023-11-29
- In The Bars Are Ours (via Duke University Press), Lucas Hilderbrand, a professor of film and media studies at the University of California-Irvine, takes readers on a historical journey of gay bars, showing how the venues ...


Gay News

BOOKS Owen Keehnen takes readers to an 'oasis of pleasure' in 'Man's Country' 2023-11-27
- In the book Man's Country: More Than a Bathhouse, Chicago historian Owen Keehnen takes a literary microscope to the venue that the late local icon Chuck Renslow opened in 1973. Over decades, until it was demolished ...


Gay News

Photographer Irene Young launches book with stellar concerts 2023-11-20
- "Something About the Women" was appropriately the closing song for two sold-out, stellar concerts at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage November 19, in celebration of the new book of the same name by Irene Young, the legendary ...


Gay News

Rustin film puts a gay pioneer into the spotlight 2023-11-16
- The story of activist Bayard Rustin is one that should be told in classrooms everywhere. Instead, because Rustin was an openly same-gender-loving man, his legacy has gone relatively unnoticed outside of LGBTQ+-focused history books. Netflix hopes ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: The times Streisand failed to make a splash 2023-11-13
- "Fame is a hollow trophy. No matter who you are, you can only eat one pastrami sandwich at a time."—Wise words from Barbra Streisand. You all know that Barbra Streisand's book is out. And I ...


Gay News

Charles Busch dishes on life as a storyteller 2023-11-09
- Performer/writer Charles Busch, who recently penned his autobiography, Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy, said that collecting his most precious and salient memories in a book felt "inevitable." "Storytelling is such an essential ...


Gay News

LGBT HISTORY PROJECT: Exploring 70 years of lesbian publications, from 1940s zines to modern glossy magazines 2023-11-02
- Since the '40s, lesbians have created a vibrant history of publications. From the exploration of daily lesbian life to literary and feminist pursuits, to the modern age of glossy magazines, for over 70 years, lesbians have ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.