NAACP reaches out to gays: Urge unified struggle for civil rights agenda

[Better Believe It]

NAACP reaches out to gays
By Krissah Thompson
Washington Post Staff Writer
September 23, 2010

The outreach has been steered by former chairman Julian Bond and the group's president, Benjamin Jealous. Both men are supporters of same-sex marriage rights, though the NAACP's national board has taken no stance on the issue.

Jealous, who is helping to lead a march for jobs and justice in Washington next month, will be in New York on Wednesday night to encourage members of the city's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center to attend the rally.

"The NAACP is opposed to discrimination in all its forms," Jealous said in an e-mail, adding: "We recognize that many of our members are also members of the LGBT community, and just as the LGBT community counts on us to stand with it for basic civil rights protections, so we count on the LGBT community to stand with us in our unified struggle for the broader civil rights agenda."

In the meantime, he has sought to bring gay rights groups into the coalition of groups that will rally on the Mall in October. AIDS Walk Washington will fold its supporters into the event, and Jealous hopes to attract gay rights proponents, union members and politically liberal minorities to the rally.

More than 200 liberal and civil rights groups are behind the "One Nation" event, which organizers hope will revive themes that energized the progressive grass-roots base two years ago. LGBT groups have not always been in that mix, said Jeffery Campagna, a gay rights activist who is helping with logistics for the rally. More than 20 LGBT groups have signed on.

"It's a turning point," Campagna said. "This is a huge coalition of groups that don't always sit at the same table, but it is groups that come together around common ideals. What has impressed me about this coalition is that it has actively reached out to the LGBT community."

Please read the full article at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/22/AR2010092205697.html

This is a very important and positive development. BBI

[MadMaddie]

1. This is an important step.

The key is unification of all our parts. The more we are unified the more destructive it is for the Repugs.

[nc4bo]

12. I agree!! Very good news and it's about time! nt

[GodlessBiker]

2. When a NAACP Board member is organizing to overturn marriage equality in Iowa, it's hard to make ...

a financial or emotional commitment to the organization.

http://renwl.org/news/lgbt-rights/naacp-leaders-pursue-gay-support

[Better Believe It]

3. So are you supporting the Oct 2nd March on Washington?

The one NAACP board member was unable to stop the NAACP and its leadership from reaching out to gay people and working with gay organizations in support of their civil rights. That sole board member obviously represents a minority of the NAACP leadership and does not dictate policy. If they did, the October 2nd March on Washington would not be happening and there would be no effort on the part of the NAACP to work with gay organizations and leaders on that and other projects.

Did you somehow miss that?

Let's not nit pick and search for some excuse to discourage and not support the positive moves of the NAACP and October 2nd March on Washington.

This is not a good time for divisions and sectarianism.

[GodlessBiker]

4. Nit pick? You're kidding, right? I'm just fucking tired of it.

Sure I support the march. So what?

[Better Believe It]

7. It's just one NAACP board member who isn't dictating policy.

So don't let that upset you so much.

Don't you see that this is a step forward and real progress for the NAACP?

I do.

So look at the big picture.

Glad to hear you're supporting the march.

So what?

Well, here's what.

I think that some organizations and individuals ( a minority) who describe themselves as progressive or liberal seem to be boycotting it.

And I'm pleased to hear you're not in that camp. That's what.

[blondeatlast]

6. An individual member vs. the entire organization.

Like Joe Lieberman vs, the entire Democratic Party.

But do keep shooting yourself there, I'm sure it's fun.

[TheWraith]

11. Seriously, you're going to bash the group over one single board member?

You do know that there's no such thing as ideological cohesion in ANY group except for cults, right? The idea of an organization being one single entity is a myth.

[Nikki Stone1]

20. There should be institutional cohesion. The board member should be removed for going against

the direction of the organization. THAT would be a real show of faith from the NAACP.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. K&R

[qb]

8. It makes sense to join forces. After all, black & LGBT are not mutually exclusive groups.

:grouphug:

[me b zola]

9. K&R

:thumbsup:

[Iggo]

10. Welcome news.

And may I shout a well-meant and good-natured "It's about fucking time!"

[Smashcut]

13. K/R

[racaulk]

14. K&R

:applause:

[Better Believe It]

15. Kick

[Better Believe It]

17. Kick

[Bluenorthwest]

16. This is excellent news, Julian and Benjamin are both good men

and I assume eventually the Board will enter the 21st as well with their good leadership and examples to follow.
Strong alliances are key to progress on issues of vital importance to both communities and those alliances have been too long delayed at far too great a cost.

[Better Believe It]

18. Kick

[ooglymoogly]

19. This is good news and it is important news....Gays have supported

black causes from the get go as well as any other folks neath the wheel of prejudice.

[anachro1]

21. Bible Folks

will only denounce ALL gay people use they have used us to their advantage.

Christian Hate = Christian Hate = Christian Hate.

[ruggerson]

22. Great. It's a start.

n/t