There’s some trend bucking in Baltimore, where a group of black activists have come out for gay marriage. Under the leadership of Elbridge James (pictured), the Maryland Black Family Alliance will push their peers to join the call for gay civil rights. Says James:
There’s a scarcity of information on this issue in the black community. The black press doesn’t cover it; talk radio doesn’t cover it. … We have this sort of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell policy’ in our community.
As James talks gay rights, others question the parallels between gay and black social movements. Politico pastor Emmett C. Burns Jr objects to the correlation:
I get really bent out of shape when you talk about gay and lesbian rights as a civil rights issue. Whites can hide their gayness; I cannot hide my blackness.
First, that’s not always true. Second, did Burns just imply that all gays are white?!
Rt. Rev. Dr. RES
Kudos to this organisation. Like the similar Canadian groups that came to our defence, it is simply equal justice under law for all families.
adamblast
And third, telling people that their oppression is no issue as long as they lie about themselves and live in hiding?
Fucking nazi. I suppose the Jews weren’t oppressed either, because they could hide. If they were lucky.
Black activists who use the closet as an excuse to denigrate the gay rights struggle are pigs.
'( '-' )' Bearnaked Joe
No, I think he just implied all whites are gay!
Rt. Rev. Dr. RES
OOps….I read only the part where he stood in defence of gay marriage rights.
I cannot imagine that he believes that no minority, black, brown, red or yellow are gay. Wow, stretches my credulity somewhat !!!!
adamblast
To be fair, Bishop, the article refers to two pastors: Elbridge James, who has taken a courageous stand in favor of gay rights with his group, and Emmett C. Burns Jr, who disagrees and claims gay rights is not a civil rights issue.
perry
I know a lot of whites who can’t hide their gayness. =)
Leland Frances
Bravo to the Maryland Black Family Alliance which is joining a growing list of groups of people of color such as the California NAACP who see that bigotry is bigotry and reject the professional victimhood of people like Burns. I’m sure the latter says things like, “Gays were never slaves.” No, but he overlooks several things: 1. some Black slaves brought to America were sold into slavery by Blacks from other tribes in Africa; 2. Some Blacks in Africa still practice slavery; 3. Slavery was outlawed in the US more than a century ago; 4. It is no longer illegal to fire people in the US because of their race, or refuse to serve them or sell/rent them a house, let them sit where they want on buses, in restaurants, movie theatres, etc., but in 30 states someone can legally use another being gay to deny him/her all of those things; 5. Blacks can marry whomever they want of the opposite gender but in only one state is it legal for gays to marry.
Too bad the great Coretta Scott King isn’t still around to remind Rev. Burns of such things, nor the great gay Black icon Bayard Rustin to inform him as he did others before he passed:
“The barometer of where one is on human rights questions is no longer the black community, it’s the gay community. Because it is the community which is most easily mistreated. … the question to ask is, ‘What about gay people?’ Because that is now the litmus paper by which this democracy is to be judged.” – Bayard Rustin
afrolito
Thanks for that Leland. I had no idea racism was over, and that blacks were doing so well in every facet of american life.
Rt. Rev. Dr. RES
Thanks for the clarification, Adam. I appreciate your kindness. God bless. Bishop RES
Leland Frances
Afrolito, thanks for reminding us how willingly stupid some people can be by accusing others of saying things they never did. What time is the next Professional Victims meeting?
ProfessorVP
I wish Queerty… No, I wish EVERYBODY would stop using the expression at the top of this story, “Gay Marriage.” Y’know, like there are two kinds of marriage- real marriage and pervs taking it up the ass and shopping for window treatments marriage. Better choices: Marriage Equality or Same-Sex Marriage.