Sadly, homophobia within the Black community does not come solely from our stubborn heterosexual counterparts. In actuality, the fiercest homophobic attacks we receive actually come from the fiery and evil hands of our very own gay/lesbian brothers and sisters.

Identical to how the fight for equality allowing women the right to vote was vehemently opposed by many women; the same can be said of the 1960's civil rights movement where Dr. Martin Luther King's biggest opposition actually came from other Black clergy. Now today, the same comparison can be said of the gay/lesbian civil rights struggle, especially within the Black community.

Many of the loudest and most fiery anti-gay preachers, pastors, bishops, and ministers are indeed gay/lesbian themselves. Many gospel artists, past and present who preach anti-gay sermons in the midst of their singing performances are indeed gay/lesbian. In fact across all spectrums of society regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or nationality; it is often the one that cries the loudest and the longest that always has something to hide.

When one hates another person, they often see in that person what they see in themselves and desire not to be. Internalized homophobia is the new "cancer" killing the Black community. It takes a racial minority, then subdivides it and causes the two factions to war, hurt, and destroy one another.

The result? The DL phenomenon which is now being blamed by the media for the increase of HIV/AIDS in the black community is one example. The creation of unfulfilling heterosexual marriages along with STDs creeping into the bedroom with innocent children caught in the middle is yet another result.

Drug and alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, depression and suicide among gays/lesbians are all the results of internalized homophobia as well. When a person feels unworthy, despises him/herself, and allows the world's perception to dictate their footsteps and place in society, what results is a miserable life existence for each of them.

In coming to terms with your sexual orientation and discovering your life's definition and purpose, you must first pray to God in humble submission taking all of your previous knowledge and understandings of what you think you know to be true, along with your personal desires, emotions, and opinions completely out of the mix and instead allow the Holy Spirit to move within you to filter, accept and reject what is best for you and your life. You must do this seriously and truly seek to hear God's clear voice, and not the voice of yourself or of Satan.

You must be willing to yield to God's will and be willing to accept whatever he is calling of you or is directing you to do. Once you hear God's clear and distinct voice, then you must pursue it without fail, despite what family, friends, clergy have to say. Remember, your salvation and relationship is one that is between you and God. It does not include others.

As Gay/Lesbian Christians, we must mediate upon the following scripture:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2)." We CANNOT allow the thoughts, opinions, and perceptions of others to conform us and become our reality. Instead our growth in God must become our reality, not what the pastor/bishop thinks or preaches.

You are NOT a fag, sissy, punk, carpet licker, bull dagger, panty waste or pervert. You are not a rebellious menace to society. You are not a wicked, malicious virus of mankind. You are NOT worthy of death, disease and eternal pain and suffering. You are instead a beautiful creation of God. You were made by a God who knows every dimension about you in his own image. Please take time to meditate upon the following verses:

"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. … and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me." Psalm 139:1-5

"…so God created man in his own image." Genesis 1:27

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being…" Acts 17:28

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:30

Our existence as gays/lesbians is by intricate and very deliberate and detailed design, and not by genetic accident. We are not freaks of nature, nor are we to hold our heads down in shame, denial or self-loathing.

As Gay/Lesbian Christians, we ARE worthy to inherit the Kingdom. We ARE capable of living fulfilling, joyful lives. We ARE saved by grace though faith. We ARE God's workmanship created in Christ (Ephesians 2:10). So if God created us in Christ, then what right, power, or enforcement does any human being on earth have to tell us otherwise???

For us to grow spiritually and socially as Gay/Lesbian Christians we must first change our internal mindsets, self-image, and feelings of unworthiness in order to truly transcend the "world" view of our sexual orientation and instead accept God's view, acceptance and love of us in our spiritual relationship with him.

In short, we must renew our minds. We must break the emotional strong holds of guilt, shame, fear, denial, depression, self-loathing and unworthiness and instead pray to God to bring all of those ill thoughts into captivity and to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). When all of these strong holds are caught and brought into obedience, only then will we grow, soar, and reach new heights within God.