NAACP president on marriage equality: 'We don't take a position on that nationally'

[ccharles000]

The NAACP is celebrating its 100th year as the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized civil rights organization, and it was expected that some LGBT-related issues would be addressed, specifically marriage equality and HIV/AIDS prevention, would come up during its national conference (July 11-16) and in discussions with the MSM as the org marks its centennial in New York.

Looking over the 96-page program, there is no session specifically addressing the issue of LGBT rights, though Barney Frank shows up for a session on "Advancing Big Dreams, Securing Bold Victories: Advocating the NAACP's Federal Legislative and National Public Policy Agenda to Congress." There is also a panel today on "The Great Silence: The Impact of HIV/AIDS on African American Women," clearly providing an opening to discuss homosexuality, bisexuality, and denial and lack of safer sex practices in the community that has caused infections to skyrocket. One can only hope that some honest discussion will take place. BTW, one of the artists to serenade the conventioneers during the Gospel extravaganza is the evangelical, anti-gay recording duo Mary Mary (more on them here). President Obama will speak to the group on Thursday.

Often seen as irrelevant by the younger generation of black activists, the NAACP selected Benjamin Todd Jealous to serve as its 17th president and CEO, the youngest person to hold the position in the organization.

Ben Jealous has has a strong background on social justice issues; his efforts have been forward-thinking in many respects, including outreach to the blogosphere. I met Mr. Jealous last year as he was starting on the job at the NAACP, and I asked him specifically about the organization and its public stance on marriage and LGBT rights. At the time he was quite firm in saying that there is strong support for marriage equality in some individual chapters (they are autonomous) and in leadership in the NAACP(board member Julian Bond is also a strong ally as well).

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/12005/naacp-president-on-marriage-equality-we-dont-take-a-position-on-that-nationally

[imdjh]

1. "When it will happen - you know, we - we work on issues for decades." No, he, didn't. nt

asshole

[katandmoon]

2. It's good to know who your friends aren't...

[ccharles000]

3. yup

[d_r]

4. join

you can join the naacp for $30 and vote.

[MADem]

5. The NAACP has, among its members, many members of historical black churches that are

conservative (and bigoted) when it comes to gay rights. This is the simple and unpleasant truth. The McClurkins and the Kirbyjon Caldwells ARE card-carrying members of the NAACP. And they get very angry when the equality movement is compared and contrasted with the black civil rights movement. They preach against equality at every turn.

It's unpleasant, as I said. But to shy away from this basic fact is to shy away from the real issue--that some (not all, but some, and they are a critical "some" in terms of their numbers) black people who are moderately to strongly religious have a biblical "problem" with gay folks. It is a generational thing, to some extent, perhaps, but not entirely.

Two articles touching on this inconvenient truth:

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/674748.html

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=755

[VMI Dem]

6. Why would an organization with a history of fighting for civil rights not take a stand

on a clear cut issue of denial of civil rights?