Jason Howard Green

Jason Howard Green

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Celebrate Black Queer Voices: Holler If You Here Me: Black and Gay in the Church

 


The documentary Holler If You Hear Me: Black and Gay in the Church was a must see for me. I am a black gay man that grew up in the church. I was in the church every Saturday for choir rehearsal, all day on Sunday from Sunday school until "the doors of the church are open", I was in church for bible study, and whenever there was a revival we would be in the church every night of the week.

I loved the fellowship of the folks I went to church with, I appreciated the lessons I learned in the church, and Lord, I loved it whenever there was occassion when all the church ladies would bring food and we would all break bread together in the church (because church ladies can cook).

Growing up in the church was wonderful - until it wasn't. I didn't see the hypocrisy of the church when I was a kid. But it slowly started to reveal itself to me. This place that taught me not to judge anyone was the quickest to judge people. The place that taught me I should be accepting of everyone was quick to shun people. And this place that taught me love every was the same place that hated anyone that did not fit in the very specific mold they had for you (this place almost made me hate myself).

In the film Holler If You Hear Me, I saw many people dealing with the same struggles I had to overcome. When the place that you go to for comfort, balm and strength becomes a place of hate and condemnation. It's a difficult road to be on and it's journey not everyone survives.

This film is also available on YouTube. There are 4 parts to the series and you can see part one below:

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