Julian Bond @ the HRC Dinner in L.A. - speaks about Gay Equality & The American Black Experience.
We don't think most gay people would equate the gay rights movement to that of the African-American experience for equality, but the issues at the core are the same: equality before the law.
"Black people of ALL people should not oppose equality, and that is what gay marriage is." - Julian Bond. Sadly, of those who voted on Proposition 8, an overwhelming 70% of those votes FOR PROP 8, came from the African-American community. Click here for article with demographic breakdowns.
We are not racists, that is proof from a number of exit polls. We ALL voted for Obama, so we see a great deal of considerable irony for this large group of traditionally oppressed people in this country, to oppress yet ANOTHER class of people - and VOTE/CHOOSE to strip away their civil rights. We have no words for our disgust and pain at this fact. We do not blame the African-American community for this, we blame organized Christian faiths (of every variety - tells you something doesn't it? When they can't agree on how to worship the same "god."), which is at the heart of most American culture. Therein lies the root of that divisiveness.
Here is Julian Bond speaking at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner in L.A. - in an eloquent, humorous, heartfelt, and deeply moving speech:
The Advocate & Tyra have already discussed this at length - here are just some links to echo it for those who missed it.
Leave a Reply