Rob Smith, 'Closets, Combat & Coming Out' Author, On Homophobia In The African-American Community

Author Rob Smith spoke at length about homophobia in the African-American community in an appearance on HuffPost Live this week.

Of the perception that the African-American community is more heavily opposed to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lifestyles, Smith said, "I always take issue to the idea that any race of people is more homophobic than another."

Acknowledging that much of African-American culture is "deeply rooted in religion," he then added, "I don't think homophobia is something that has a color. It does us a disservice in this fight for LGBT equality when we try to place a color on homophobia."

Smith penned the new memoir Closets, Combat & Coming Out, which he recounts being a gay man of color while serving in the Iraq War prior to the 2011 repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."