Living Out Loud with Darian

Warning: I'm about to blow off some steam. Just when I thought I'd seen it all, the NAACP gives Isaiah Washington an Image Award . This is the same organization that was silent during the murder of Michael Sandy and the recent homophobic remarks made by Tim Hardaway.

The same organization who's validity in 2007 is repeatedly in question, and after a national scandal involving the Grey's Anatomy actor they've taken it upon themselves to award a bigot...I mean my brother...I mean a successful rehab patient who's been "cured" of his homophobia .

What kind of message is the NAACP sending? I think it's obvious that they could care less about the lives of Black gay and lesbian people since they've stood silently as our character, our lives, and our inherent right to be visible within the Black community has come under attack.

Do they really expect us to believe that Isaiah Washington's performance was far superior than the other nominees? Has anyone been able to focus on Isaiah the actor lately or just his off-screen antics? The talents of Jesse L. Martin or Hill Harper alone provided an alternative to awarding Isaiah Washington with an Image Award, emphasis on the word "IMAGE".

When my blackness is being discriminated against you can guarantee the NAACP will be there, but when my gayness is discriminated against the very same organization looks in the other direction. No matter what part of my identity faces discrimination it is still wrong, and it hurts me as a human being, not just the Black part of me or the gay part, but me as a whole person.

Isaiah's words not only hurt T.R. Knight and created an uncomfortable environment for his co-workers to work, but they ricocheted all over the world and contributed to an already hostile environment for gays and lesbians in America.

And to top it all off in his acceptance speech he thanks, guess who? Jasmyne Cannick . I will stop there.

Labels: People