"Tension is growing in the African American community over Proposition 8..." (San Francisco)

[Duncan Grant]

Amos Brown says foes boycott his fundraiser

San Francisco -- Tension is growing in the African American community over Proposition 8, with the leader of the San Francisco branch of the NAACP saying he expects some black ministers to boycott the group's annual fundraiser tonight because he supports same-sex marriage.

The Rev. Amos Brown, a pastor at Third Baptist Church and president of the local branch of the civil rights organization, and Alice Huffman, president of the California State Conference of the NAACP, have faced criticism from some members since they decided to oppose Prop. 8.

<snip>

Rochelle Metcalfe, a former writer for a local African American newspaper who now writes a community column on the Internet, said some black ministers are upset with Brown.

"I've been hearing about people who are upset that he supported the No on 8 campaign," she said. "He knows some people don't agree with him so I don't think the boycott is a surprise.

"But it is a hurtful issue because it is splitting our community."

<snip>

More at: Amos Brown says foes boycott his fundraiser

See a local television station's coverage (KGO) at: Pastors boycott NAACP Banquet over Prop 8

This is one of the most compelling intersections of religion/culture/politics that I've seen in the post-Prop H8 aftermath. The story is a few days old (11/20/08) but deserves a thoughtful read... :hi:

[msongs]

1. elections have.....consequences nt

[hughee99]

4. In this case, they all supported the same candidate, though. n/t

[Ian David]

2. The Black Community NEEDS to have this fight within itself.

What it does NOT need is to have us scapegoating them for the passing of Prop 8.

Note: I'm not accusing anyone here of doing that.

[madmadmad]

6. agreed. i will not right off blacks over this.

mormons? different 22 million dollar story.

[Spectral Music]

7. It seems like they need outside pressure to have this argument

Which is why they are having it now and not before the election.

[roguevalley]

19. this must be hell for AF gays, lesbians etc. THis has been brewing for

years.

[PFunk]

9. Hey I not only agree but many blacks who been fighting amonst themselves off-panel for years,,,

...against this. I now glad its out in the open (where-I hope we can get more allies on our side against these idiots).

[xchrom]

3. hey -- that's the way it goes. nt

[terrya]

5. Gosh, that's a real shame.

Pardon me if I don't lose any sleep about this.

[LostinVA]

20. Seriously --

[IndianaGreen]

8. Splitting your community? Who gives a FUCK?

LGBTs of all colors and religious views marched, and some died, for civil rights. Bayard Rustin was shit upon his own community for being queer. James Baldwin was treated as a pariah.

Next time someone gets shot by 42 bullets fired by NYPD, or some other police department, the first question we must ask is if the shooting victim was against Prop 8.

Reciprocity must be demanded. As we treated, we must respond in kind.

If you don't care about my rights, I won't care about yours!

[yardwork]

13. I disagree. I support all human rights. We need to get away from identity politics.

The people who voted for Proposition 8 made a big mistake. They may not realize it now, but one day most people will look back on this time and be shocked and surprised that gay people were treated this way, just as many young people now find it hard to believe that there were Jim Crow laws or that women weren't allowed to vote or own property.

It's wrong to divide us up into different groups. Human beings don't work that way. That's the corporatist Republican talking point.

[DrPresident]

15. Unforgiveness is not the answer. Martin Luther King forgave his jailer. n/m

If he were here he'd tell you the same thing.

[Zuiderelle]

10. I admire Brown and Huffman greatly for standing by their convictions.

This issue is splitting a lot of communities. And that's a good thing. Keep the conversation going.

[yardwork]

14. I too admire them, but I disagree that it's this issue that is splitting communities.

The religious right is splitting communities. Who is angry with the NAACP leaders for standing up for human rights? Fundamentalist preachers. Who is threatening to boycott unity dinners? Fundamentalist churches. Who told their congregations lies about Proposition 8? Fundamentalist churches.

[Zuiderelle]

16. Agreed.

[nichomachus]

11. Americans in general vote against their own best interests

why should blacks be any different. They are as threatened by the principles behind Prop H8 as much as any other group.

If we can take away constitutional rights from one group, we can take them away from other groups.

[yardwork]

12. I'm glad that this local and the state NAACP presidents oppose Proposition 8.

I appreciate their support for all human rights.

As usual, it's the fundamentalist churches that are causing trouble.

[ruggerson]

17. What we need to be doing is supporting our allies in the black community

and, slowly, make it culturally unacceptable for our foes to oppose gay civil rights.

[Jamastiene]

18. Of course, it is.

It is not like black people are a monolithic one minded drone. Black people are just people. The allies we have in the black community will stand up for us. I have complete faith in that. Solidarity wins it for all of us. United we stand. Divided we fall. This is about human rights, not color.