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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCoretta Scott King on the subject of Gay rights:
Lesbian and gay people are a permanent part of the American workforce, who currently have no protection from the arbitrary abuse of their rights on the job. For too long, our nation has tolerated the insidious form of discrimination against this group of Americans, who have worked as hard as any group, paid their taxes like everyone else, and yet have been denied equal protection under the law.
I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation.
I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. 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.
We have to launch a national campaign against homophobia in the black community.
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. This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group.
Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Raster
(20,998 posts)Coretta Scott King gives her support to gay marriage
POMONA, N.J. (AP) The widow of Martin Luther King Jr. called gay marriage a civil rights issue, denouncing a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban it.
Constitutional amendments should be used to expand freedom, not restrict it, Coretta Scott King said Tuesday.
"Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union," she said. "A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-03-24-king-marriage_x.htm
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)Thanks to Coretta and Martin
chknltl
(10,558 posts)THIS erases the embarrasment brought about by all the anti-gay sickos who our media has been paying attention to recently.
HankyDub
(246 posts)Bayard Rustin...
Tom Kahn...
and a million others...
nolabear
(42,001 posts)Just curious.
Raster
(20,998 posts)...many of them just before she died.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-03-24-king-marriage_x.htm
Coretta Scott King gives her support to gay marriage
POMONA, N.J. (AP) The widow of Martin Luther King Jr. called gay marriage a civil rights issue, denouncing a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban it. Constitutional amendments should be used to expand freedom, not restrict it, Coretta Scott King said Tuesday.
"Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union," she said. "A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."
William769
(55,148 posts)K&R
goclark
(30,404 posts)pnwmom
(109,020 posts)Raster
(20,998 posts)...even when the ugly spectre of black christian homophobia began to manifest in earnest - even from her own daughter - Mrs. King stood solid.
This country and all it's citizens owes a great debt of gratitude to both Dr. and Mrs. King.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)K & R