The Refusal to See Ties Between Racism and Homophobia

From the blog by Michael in Norfolk
http://michael-in-norfolk.blogspot.com/2011/03/refusal-to-see-ties-between-racism-and.html
Editors Note: Some readers may not like the views expressed in this post. However, it is a message that needs to be sent in my view.
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In the wake of the delay/defeat of marriage equality in Maryland because, at least according to some reports - of the homophobia of black members of the Maryland House of Delegates, once again attention is focused on the fact that some members of the black community refuse to recognize the connection between anti-black bigotry and anti-gay bigotry. In the process, these delegates - and the brain dead pastors that the pander to - undermine support for their own civil rights and equality under the law. Both phenomena have had the Bible used as justifying hate and intolerance against their victims and both are a result of a sick mindset among those who have a desire/need to grasp at differences in others so as to make them feel superior and better about themselves. Yet, too many in the black community - black pastors in particular - refuse to open their eyes to the reality and allow themselves to be manipulated by white Christianists like Tony Perkins. That's right, individuals and organizations with documented ties to white supremacist groups. Like myself, John Aravosis finds the stupidity/ignorance of the black pastor set enough to drive one crazy. The black pastors are sending a dangerous message. They want others to support black civil rights yet they refuse to support the civil rights of others. I suspect the end result of this is a disinclination on the part of some in the LGBT community to continue to oppose anti-black racism. That's right, black homophobia is driving away would be allies. Here are highlights from a post on America Blog Gay:
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Racism is the same thing as homophobia, and they're the same thing as anti-Semitism, as bigotry against the Irish during the 1800s and beyond, as America's appalling treatment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, of America's appalling treatment of Muslim-Americans following September 11, and the Republicans appalling treatment of Latinos to this day.
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It's absurd for one group to make the claim that they suffered more than others, thus other claims for equal rights are somehow less valid.

[Maryland] Del. Emmett C. Burns saying "Those who want to ride on our coattails are historically incorrect; gay people had not endured the struggles of blacks, had not had crosses burned on their lawns or been thrown in a police wagon."
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Actually, gay people have been thrown in police wagons - some during Stonewall, and others fighting alongside Martin Luther King (Coretta mentions this fact below) - and had the bigot from Maryland bothered studying his civil rights history, he'd have known that.
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Prejudice and bigotry is a bad thing. And it's motivated by the same hatred, regardless of the skin color or sexual orientation of the perpetrator or the victim. So the next time you're confronted by an anti-gay bigot like Delegate Burns, or anyone who claims that somehow racism is more evil than homophobia, quote the words of Coretta Scott King, when talking about racism and homophobia. And then tell them to STFU, unless they want to now claim that they know more about civil rights than Martin Luther King's widow.
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Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King's widow, told them to. In a remarkable address before the Task Force's annual meeting, on November 9, 2000, Mrs. King gave a forceful statement on the importance of gay rights to the overall civil rights struggle (read Mrs. King's entire speech here.)
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And this was not the first time Martin Luther King's widow made clear that groups like the Concerned Women for America have no idea what they're talking about when they try to speak on behalf of African-Americans about civil rights.
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[S]he [Coretta King] said, "But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'" "I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people," she said. - Reuters, March 31, 1998.
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Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood," King stated. "This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group." - Chicago Defender, April 1, 1998, front page.
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John has a number of additional quotes from Ms. King that I encourage readers to check out. Anti-gay bigots in the black community are stupidly cutting their own throats and aiding those white "family values" Christianists who despise the black community almost as much as (or perhaps even more)they despise LGBT individuals.