African american Quote by Dan Savage
“I do know this, though: I’m done pretending that the handful of racist gay white men out there—and they’re out there, and I think they’re scum—are a bigger problem for African Americans, gay and straight, than the huge numbers of homophobic African Americans are for gay Americans, whatever their color…I’ll eat my shorts if gay and lesbian voters went for McCain at anything approaching the rate that black voters went for Prop 8.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Dan Savage on race and sexuality, 2012
The speaker argues that internalized homophobia among African Americans is a larger issue than a small group of racist gay white men.
In simple terms: Homophobia within a community can be a bigger problem than a few overtly racist outsiders.
Address internal biases before blaming external groups.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political campaigning
- community outreach
- education programs
- media commentary
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do internal biases affect political outcomes?
- What strategies reduce homophobia within communities?
The claim may overlook systemic racism and other intersecting oppressions.