Gay Rights: What Would MLK Do?
Posted by: Simcha Whitehill
Filed in:
news
1:10PM, Thursday July 30th 2009
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the civil rights group founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is trying to fire Reverend Eric Lee, the president of its Los Angeles Chapter, because he supports gay marriage and dissed Prop 8. While it’s pretty ironic that the SCLC would give him a pink slip over gay rights, that’s sadly, not the only thing funny about a leading civil rights group turning their back on a marginalized community. Reverend Lee was a key figure in the marches and rallies against the California bill. But sadly, 70 percent of black voters did not share his sentiments at the polls. While the SCLC refuses to comment on the matter, perhaps, as the WOW Report pointed out, this quote from a 2003 speech by MLK’s widow, Coretta Scott King, can come to his defense now.
“I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people. ... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.”
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Coral
wrote on July 30 2009 @ 01:55 pm: [report]
I think it’s still tough for any black person (particularly men) to admit they are gay-especially to their own community. And it’s sad that it is that way..because I think all cultures and ethnicities have more or less the same percentage of people being gay or lesbian. Much of the world still vilifies gays and lesbians and many countries refuse to admit that it occurs in their population.
Ghirardelli
wrote on July 30 2009 @ 03:03 pm: [report]
Unbelieveable.. Talk about hypocracy. Why does it matter which gender you prefer? Cudos for any gay, lesbian, or bisexual man or woman who can openly admit to their family and friends who they are. Whats horrible is that sometimes even your own family turns their back on you.
retro chic
wrote on July 30 2009 @ 04:32 pm: [report]
It was very disappointing (and mind-blowing for some) out here in CA that 70% voted FOR Prop 8 ban. Even Obama went soft at the last at minute election time. There was a lot of “Shame On You”-type flyers and demonstrations around black “Christian” churches around town (LA) post-election. How soon we forget…
lovers4life
wrote on August 4 2009 @ 03:08 am: [report]
im gay andyou know wat why does it matter if he supports gay marrige cause you know this is a free country and people do have the right to support who the very well please you know people like my parents are the reason half us gay people dont come out cause they never accept us and they never will i say let the preacher support us cause he works 4 god their is a place in heaven for us gay people. and why does it matter wat gender we like as long as were happy thats all that matters by own family threw me out on the streets at the age of 16 and now im in a fster home cause i thought i could trust my parents but i couldnt just let him support gays please.