R197, with all due respect, I think that you are being disingenuous here. A result of the Black community not coming to terms with homosexuality are some outcomes cited by R198. Or, my own reasons for not dating black men. I'm not homophobic. Susan Hayward said it best; "I WANT TO LIVE!"
Now, I'm not dismissing the possible genuine attraction that this young man holds for the snow bun... the Carnival Cruise Line dancer, but there can be other stuff all wrapped up with that too. That could be; The general non-acceptance of gays within the Black community; his own prejudices and fears, etc.
Some Wikipedia passages that are relevant to this discussion;
Homophobia in ethnic minority communities--Black community
Homophobia is considered prevalent within the African American community. Numerous reasons are given for this, including the image young black males are supposed to convey in the public sphere; that homosexuality is seen as antithetical to being black in the African American community; and the association of the African American community with the church in the United States. African Americans in general tend to have more homophobic beliefs than the rest of the country. More black Americans support the idea that queer people should be condemned, or that AIDS is an acceptable punishment for gay people. Some believe this to be attributable to the effect that conservative church going has on African Americans.
Homophobia and the Black Church
This history between the black church and slaves, has created this indelible bond between black American’s and the Black church. The values preached within the black church tend to be socially conservative, with the exclusion of how the church addresses the homeless. However, when it comes to the home, traditional family values prevail. Maintaining a nuclear family, with a man as the main provider, and a woman as the staple of the house, still represent predominant values within the black church. Heterosexuality is seen as the only acceptable standard, while homosexuality is seen as condemnable by God.
Homophobia and AIDS in the Black Community
The disproportionately high incidence of HIV/AIDS amongst African Americans is attributed to homophobic attitudes. Black communities associate the disease almost exclusively with gay (white) men and not their own community. Many still view HIV/AIDS as a gay disease, and homophobia is one of the main barriers preventing better treatment for people with AIDS inside the community. Irene Monroe of the Huffington Post wrote: "while nearly 600,000 African Americans are living with HIV, and as many 30,000 newly infected each year, there is still within the black community one in five living with HIV and unaware of their infection; and, they are disproportionately heterosexuals. As long as we continue to think of HIV/AIDS as a gay disease, we'll not protect ourselves from this epidemic." There is a direct link between homophobia and AIDS in the black community. The more homophobia that one experiences, as an LGB person, the more likely they are to engage in unprotected anal intercourse. Additionally, studies have found that the more likely one is to engage in risky sex if they more strongly identify with their sexuality and their race.
