Group founded by MLK threatens to fire LA chapter leader for gay rights support

[ColbertWatcher]

From the Los Angeles Times
Civil rights group threatens to fire local leader for gay marriage endorsement
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference has targeted the Rev. Eric P. Lee, president of the Los Angeles chapter, for his outspoken advocacy.
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
July 11, 2009

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights group partly founded by Martin Luther King Jr., has threatened to fire the president of its Los Angeles chapter because he supports same-sex marriage.

The Rev. Eric P. Lee, president of the local SCLC chapter for two years, became an outspoken advocate of same-sex marriage during the recent campaign against Proposition 8, an amendment to the state Constitution that banned such unions.

(...)

"Marriage equality is not a priority in the African American community," Lee said. "We're dealing with unemployment and underemployment, a lack of public education and affordable healthcare." But Lee said he was driven to support same-sex marriage by the teachings of King, who helped found the SCLC to champion civil rights 50 years ago.

"Any time one group of people are denied the same rights as other people, it is unequivocally a denial of civil rights," Lee said.

(more at the link)

--Los Angeles Times

[Sultana]

1. Tsk, tsk, assholes

Dr. King is rolling in his grave.

Aye, don't these fools know that Dr. King supported gay rights:eyes:

[ColbertWatcher]

2. I bet they cover their asses and say he got fired because he didn't show up to the meeting.

Thus avoiding the whole gay issue.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Rood ruck with this thread. I think it's important.

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Thank you, we'll see how it goes. n/t

[LooseWilly]

5. Cheers for Rev. Lee...

:toast:

"Any time one group of people are denied the same rights as other people, it is unequivocally a denial of civil rights," Lee said.
Some good ideas never go out of style...

[Starry Messenger]

6. A hero in my book.

:)

Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, the local SCLC board leader and secretary of the state's Democratic Party, has defended Lee and challenged the national leaders' ability to fire him. City Council President Eric Garcetti also wrote a letter of support.

Lee said he is not waiting for approval to continue his advocacy for same-sex marriage.

"I'm not going to let their inaction handcuff me from fighting for justice," he said.

[chill_wind]

7. K & R.

[tavalon]

8. Methinks they don't get it

[ColbertWatcher]

9. It's strange. Why would they do this? n/t

[bridgit]

10. Ah'pitty the fool that thinks it ain't over yet!

:rant:

[Iggo]

11. Civil Rights group threatens to fire local leader...

...for supporting civil rights.

Um...Okay, then.

[Statistical]

12. "Any time one group of people are denied the same rights as other people"

"Any time one group of people are denied the same rights as other people, it is unequivocally a denial of civil rights"

Can anyone honestly say it is not?

Person X has right a.
Person Y does not.

Only differences is person Y is a homosexual.