An Ugly Op Ed Published in the LA Times Today.

[David Zephyr]

Below I have posted a small portion (DU's rules) of a very biased and I think troubling opinion piece written by a self-identified black lesbian who seems to relish the fact and express a sort of joy that Proposition 8 was not defeated in California. The Los Angeles Times gave a prominent and sizable space to this Op Ed today.

I'm curious as to how this Op Ed will be received here.

I'm also certain that Barack Obama would find Ms Cannick's opinion not helpful. In any event, I have posted it below with the link to the rest of the short piece which I hope everyone can and will read. I look forward to reading your comments, too.

----------------

"No-On-8's White Bias" by By Jasmyne A. Cannick, November 8, 2008

I am a perfect example of why the fight against Proposition 8, which amends the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, failed to win black support. I am black. I am a political activist who cares deeply about social justice issues. I am a lesbian. This year, I canvassed the streets of South Los Angeles and Compton, knocking on doors, talking politics to passers-by and working as I never had before to ensure a large voter turnout among African Americans. But even I wasn't inspired to encourage black people to vote against the proposition.

Why? Because I don't see why the right to marry should be a priority for me or other black people. Gay marriage? Please. At a time when blacks are still more likely than whites to be pulled over for no reason, more likely to be unemployed than whites, more likely to live at or below the poverty line, I was too busy trying to get black people registered to vote, period; I wasn't about to focus my attention on what couldn't help but feel like a secondary issue.

The first problem with Proposition 8 was the issue of marriage itself. The white gay community never successfully communicated to blacks why it should matter to us above everything else -- not just to me as a lesbian but to blacks generally. The way I see it, the white gay community is banging its head against the glass ceiling of a room called equality, believing that a breakthrough on marriage will bestow on it parity with heterosexuals. But the right to marry does nothing to address the problems faced by both black gays and black straights. Does someone who is homeless or suffering from HIV but has no healthcare, or newly out of prison and unemployed, really benefit from the right to marry someone of the same sex?

Maybe white gays could afford to be singularly focused, raising millions of dollars to fight for the luxury of same-sex marriage. But blacks were walking the streets of the projects and reaching out to small businesses, gang members, convicted felons and the spectrum of an entire community to ensure that we all were able to vote.

Balance of Op Ed here at the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-cannick8-2008nov08,0,3295255.story

[mitchtv]

1. what a ************

THANKS FOR NOTHING

[David Zephyr]

3. Pretty divisive and outrageous, huh?

I was taken back reading that this morning, mitchtv.

[skiddlybop]

6. She seems like the black La Rouche.

Total loose cannon.

Meanwhile, here she is whining about anti-gay reggae music. Why she objects to one form of hate and not another, I don't know. I don't give a fuck about linking to her ravings.


Reggae Music is Not All One Love
Gay Bashing in Black Musical Culture
by Jasmyne A. Cannick

Earlier this year, a group of Black lesbian and gay bloggers got together to create awareness around the homophobic and anti-gay lyrics found in dancehall reggae. Realizing that reggae wasn’t as entrenched in American pop culture the way that hip-hop and misogynistic lyrics are, we embarked on a very deliberate campaign aimed at reggae artists like Buju Banton and Bennie Man, who had recorded songs calling for the murder of lesbians and gays.

Admittedly, it was never our goal to have their concerts cancelled. In fact, we asked that the artists be replaced with friendlier performers, preferably artists that had never called for the murder of lesbians and gays through their lyrics or that these artists publicly separate themselves from their previous song lyrics. If all else failed, we asked various club venues to rescind their invitation to perform.

“Buju Banton said that he has two words for the gays, ‘F*** them.’"

Following the launched protest, in an interview with Billboard.com Buju Banton said that he has two words for the gays, "F*** them." He then goes on to say that, "I have never bashed any gays before, and if I bashed gays, I bashed them 16 years ago. There's no tolerance from . I'm not a gay-basher. I'm not a homophobe."

So which is it? You never bashed gays, or you did it 16 years ago?

I'm confused.



As Black America's most well known and talked about Black lesbian activist and political commentator, Jasmyne Cannick is known for addressing the issues others can't or simply won't. Chosen as one of ESSENCE Magazine's 25 Women Shaping the World in 2005, at 28, Jasmyne is a co-founder of the Nat’l Black Justice Coalition, the nation’s Black gay civil rights group and co-chair of Nat’l Stonewall Democrats Black Caucus. She writes a daily blog at jasmynecannick.com and myspace.com/jasmynecannick.

[amdezurik]

16. well you are conflating two different things

being pro-gay and being pro-gay marriage. They can be separate views. Now while it is obvious to me and you that this is a rights issue, all she is doing is saying that it was the no on 8 campaign's JOB to sell it to people. And it was sad that it was so slow to take off it never really broke through to lots of people. It had a much harder sell to make with so many pastors and preachers and priests talking it up, and the commercials I saw (with fine production values and saying it loud and clear) needed to be on more often and with more of a hook. It just never caught on except with a lot of the under 30 crowd. That and the yes folks were not shy about lying well and often.

[mondo joe]

19. It was the job of NO ON 8 to sell it. And it was the job of every person to be decent without

being sold on not being a bigot.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mondo joe]

51. Bigots are bigots. That's not abusive.

And those who excuse bigots are complicit.

[skiddlybop]

20. No I'm not.

She says she doesn't care or support gay marriage.

Loose cannon. LaRouche crazy-ass type.

[AntiFascist]

22. I think the No on 8 campaign failed miserably...

I'm not saying that this was a failure of the gay community, it was a failure of the people who we entrusted to carry our message. For the longest time they were only showing ads with two white parents of a lesbian (and we only saw small pictures of their children). Who could relate to these people besides other white, liberal PFLAG members?

[mondo joe]

28. Don't blame the campaign for the bigotry of bigots.

No other civil rights effort gets blamed for the bigotry of the oppressor.

[AntiFascist]

30. I'm certainly not blaming the "civil rights effort" in general...

I'm blaming the people who we entrusted to fight the bigotry because they could have done a much better job with all the money that was so generously donated toward the cause, specifically at noonprop8.com

If anything, we should have supported their competition at the Courage Campaign more, because they had some pretty cool ads:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/

[mondo joe]

31. Again, you are blaming the campaign for failing, instead of blaming the bigots.

Would you blame a woman who is raped for not beating up her attacker?

[AntiFascist]

34. If the woman had expensive, trained bodyguards then I would blame the bodyguards...

the Obama campaign overcame tremendous bigotry. They were proactive, extremely well organized, and they spent all of their money very effectively. Let's try to be more like that next time.

[mondo joe]

35. We don't have bodyguards. We have our own efforts, and you are blaming the victims.

Appalling.

[AntiFascist]

37. I've already encountered this shit in another thread...

I'm blaming those who were entrusted to rescue the victims. Exactly how "victimized" are the people over at noonprop8.com? Windfallen is more like it.

[mondo joe]

38. Persist in blaming the people who fought for equality for the bigotry of others.

It's to your own shame.

[AntiFascist]

41. No, I think I'll just add the Courage Campaign to my sigline...

they might do a much better job in the future.

[David Zephyr]

44. Exactly. People reveal themselves more than they care to think.

Thanks for calling it out when you see it. I do. See below.

[amdezurik]

47. no he/she is not saying anything like that

the concept is pretty simple, you try to get your audience to relate to your message, and adding a bit of color earlier and more often could have helped make the numbers more even at least.

[mondo joe]

49. The FLAW is in the characters of those who voted for Prop 8. Not in those who fought it.

If the opponents of Prop 8 had sat around drinking champagne out of their slippers the fault would STILL lie with the bigots who voted for it.

[AntiFascist]

52. hahahaha, so....

if the noonprop8.com people were sitting around all day drinking expensive champagne, instead of doing their job, then the fault would still be with the bigots who voted for prop 8? Ok, you just convinced me that they were given too much money.

[mondo joe]

53. Actually, yes, civil rights are inherent - not a matter of doing something to deserve them.

The fault for bigotry is always with the bigots. Always.

[AntiFascist]

54. So basically you just said...

we don't need to fight for our civil rights, just blame the bigots for our predicament. It sounds like you enjoy always being the victim. Have you been drinking too much champagne?

Where would the black rights movement be if MLK decided that he didn't need to march and risk his life for his cause, just blame the white people because they will always be bigoted?

[mondo joe]

55. No. You're conflating practical matters with who is at fault.

We need to fight, because that's a practical matter.

But when we are denied our rights it's not our fault - it's the fault of the bigots.

Since you brought up MLK: Would you say it was the fault of African Americans who came before MLK that they were denied civil rights because they didn't do enough to get them? Would you say MLK's assassination was his fault for not defending himself better?

Or would you say the fault lie with the bigots and murderers?

[AntiFascist]

56. I don't recall hearing MLK railing against the bigots...

his efforts were directed much more toward his own community. He empowered them and gave them confidence. Basically, if I may paraphrase, he called for people to look within themselves to bring about change. "We shall overcome" not "we shall defeat the bigots." It was much more than just a "practical" matter for him, it was transformational.

[mondo joe]

57. Not answering, I see. NT

[tudor586]

73. Beware the tendency to displace internalized homophobia onto other GLBT's

Self-criticism must be constructive or it shouldn't be done. Destructive criticism sets us back so far. The op-ed writer illustrates that point rather well. She is not the first anti-equality member of our community to speak out; in Massachusetts we had anti-gay marriage gay Republicans running for the legislature from Cape Cod.

[CreekDog]

2. the whole "white people didn't do this...", "black people did that...", and "gays didn't do this..."

is just the wrong way to talk about this. words matter, these words don't help.

No on 8 should have had a better outreach campaign. that's not the fault of whites, or gays or whomever.

all folks should vote to support equality for gays regardless of that voter's own status, race or if they are more dispossessed than they group they are being asked to vote on. the person with the least rights and the person with the most rights all have a duty to see that everybody has full rights that they can use.

the problem with blaming communities is that people don't march in lockstep by race, gender or sexual orientation, nor should they but when you appeal to them based on race, you talk to them as if it was the only motivation a person within a group could have.

[mondo joe]

21. Why blame the victims?

Instead of saying "No on 8 should have had a better outreach campaign" why not say "more voters should have been decent human beings instead of bigots"?

What other civil rights effort has ever been held responsible for bigotry of bigots?

[CreekDog]

26. the whole column is a mess of accusations to wrongly suggest a black v. gay meme

it's a disaster. it's so poorly written that my hope is that people will see through it for what it is.

[mondo joe]

29. Meme?

LOL

[CreekDog]

32. don't i get credit for using that word?

:shrug:

[mondo joe]

33. You don't get credit because it's not accurate.

There IS a problem.

Proposition 8 isn't the problem. It surfaced a problem already documented in multiple polls - the African American population is disproportionately opposed to equal civil rights for gays.

There is some animosity between GLBT and African American populations. It's not a meme, and refusing to recognize it doesn't help anyone.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. It's interesting. Clinton started his 2 terms with gays in the military and I asked the

similar question then.

What do people care about most?

Affordable available health care or being able to be gay and serve in the military? Seems like a no brainier.

[David Zephyr]

8. What are you saying? Are you actually excusing Clinton's walking away from his promise?

And are you inferring Obama should do the same?

I think you should expand on what in the hell you are saying.

[John Q. Citizen]

15. What I'm saying is the right to serve openly gay and the right to have health care

enjoy far different constituencies.

I think the right to health care affects more gays and straights than the right to serve openly in the military does.

[David Zephyr]

25. You created a false choice as you clearly know Clinton didn't have to choose between these two.

I think you just revealed a side of you I always suspected and now know.

I will never have anything to do with you again at the DU.

I now know you. You are no friend of my family and friends and loved ones.

Now go and be smug with your "choice".

[John Q. Citizen]

61. I'm not sure where you are coming from. But that's OK. You don't seems to be either.

I think you are paranoid, what with all your suspecting and such.

[David Zephyr]

90. No. You've slipped up on GLBT issues just one too many times and I've got your number.

As far as "paranoia" goes, that suggests that I am afraid of you. LOL!

You really are full of yourself.

You come prancing into a GLBT forum and lecture my community about priorites after we've suffered a great defeat. I'd rather have an outspoken homophobe attack me than have such as you lecture my community about our "priorities".

You merit the extremely low regard I have for you and your phony liberalism.

Did you enjoy your ugly gloating here with your pathetic disguise of giving "advice"? You really thought you could pull it off, didn't you? LOL.

I've got your game now.

[Zuiderelle]

66. Why does it always comes down to what people "care about most?" As if that is a valid excuse to not

care about something extremely important. There can be only ONE important thing at a time. Thanks, now I understand, I didn't know that was the rule.

[John Q. Citizen]

67. The ability to prioritze is important. I happen to believe

if everyone had access to affordable health care and to education, that so many gays and straights who now join the military wouldn't, and that the military would have no choice but to allow all of their members to be themselves instead of pretending to be someone else.

i also believe it would change the dynamic around the marriage issue. Gays and straights would no longer marry for the health insurance. Also, the idea of inclusiveness would be stronger and more widely defined as a positive value.

All this would help get gays serving openly and marrying.

[Zuiderelle]

70. The ability to work on many things at once is just as important.

[John Q. Citizen]

85. Cognative pychology has shown us that humans multitask very poorly.

Try it yourself.

Try to write a letter while you talk on the phone.

Successful humans will prioritize and finish either task first before moving on to the other remaining task. Or they will switch back and forth, devoting almost all their brain power to one task and then switching and devoting it to the other task. Humans don't divide up their attention very well.

Now of course, different humans will choose different priorities. And that's normal and how it should be.

[David Zephyr]

91. Ignore him and his pomposity. He's gloating here over our loss.

Just ignore him.

[Gman]

5. The lady does make some good points

in the grand scheme of things.

[kevinbgoode]

9. Yeah...too bad she didn't explain how all of those other issues don't trump

straight black marriage - which is another problem in the community. But I find it interesting that, even though the writer claims she KNOWS how to talk to her community about this issue, she CHOSE not to do so - even as she knocked on all of those doors trying to get people registered to vote.

Proposition 8 might not have been a priority for HER - or for HER community - but it was still on the ballot. If it wasn't a priority, why didn't she (and the other) not vote on the issue at all?

At least she explained that her community doesn't believe in civil marriages, or those ceremonies not sanctioned by the church. Now THAT is something which needs to be examined.

[David Zephyr]

10. Exactly. The author clearly has issues.

Apparently is was a priority with her because she's howling about it in the Los Angeles Times.

The woman has issues with white people and takes it out on gays and lesbians. She's clearly deranged.

[kevinbgoode]

17. I get the distinct feeling while reading her web site

that...everything is all about "her." I wouldn't necessarily categorize completely as race-based. . though I think she makes a profit using it as an angle. If exploiting a wedge can pad her resume, she's there.

All of these months and she never wrote about those concerns during the campaign, when issues could be addressed - when she was clearly connected to people and participants of the effort.

[jonnyblitz]

7. this was posted in GD forum when I woke up and logged on this

morning and it caused quite a stir.

[jvaljean]

11. IMO, this will only make gay vs. black problems worse...

...why can't one be pro-black and pro-gay? The two do not seem to be at odds to me.

[bluedawg12]

60. No one is anti black, in fact there are leaders in

the black community that have said the same thing, that there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

The only folks that can fix things with-in a group are members of that group, that's true for any group.

This surfaced on Tuesday and merits attention, It is pro-gay and it is pro- gay for all races and ethnicities.

[Book Lover]

12. What kills me here is that all we "asked" people to do

is fill in one box instead of another on a government form. Sorry that is asking too fucking much from people. Doesn't affect your life? Great! Then why not hit the "no" button instead of the "yes" button on the eSlate or whatever?

[Riverman]

13. This Dear Sister,Does Not Appreciate the Sacrifice of Many

that led to the adoption of the Voting Right Act inthe sixties. Certainly many Black people suffered greatly through slavery, Jim Crow and the direct and indirect racism in the United States that still persists in many manifistations even today. But, what this person does not seem to acknowledge is that many non-black people joined in the fight for civil rights for all and most particularly, African-Americans. Many white Jews, Catholics and Protestants marched in the south in the '60, some died, some beaten. Even today, Barack Obama would not have been elected without support of non-black people. And thank goodness for that.

As white man who has for several decades supported rights for all people, especially black people, I am deeply disappointed by this person's attitude that somehow black causes are advanced by ignoring the right of gay and lesbian people. There are not civil rights for all if civil rights are denied by the majority of any one minority. It is profoundly the most false comfort for black people to think that now they are safe because a black man had been elected President. No doubt a great achievement in United States and even world history and I enthusiastically supported Obama's election and joined my partner in tears of joy, hugs, kisses and a toast to this monumental event.

But, I was terribly dissapointed as a resident of California and bi man to see that my fellow citizens who voted for Obama, also voted to deny rights already established for a minority.

In fact I am more than angry! How dare these bigots use the democratic process to impose their religious views on other who do not share their religous views. What's next stoning female adulterors? Imprisoning female victims of rape! Please be consistent in your application of your Bible!

We MUST get religion out of public life and use of the authority and power of the government and its laws to impose the religious views of a majority on any minority. This is the bold face of facism.

So my dear Black Lesbian Sister, wake the fuck up! When they come for the gays and lesbians, they will come for you. They will not bypass you as a black women, they will take you as a lewsbian, even if there is a black president that you worked so hard to elect to the exclusion of working also for the rights of your own gay and lesbian brothers and sisters! You cannot hide!

[varelse]

14. Equal rights are not a luxury...

and marriage is important to millions of Americans. It's the foundation on which a family can be built - can't get much more fundamental than that. Ugh. Very sad.

[mondo joe]

18. I'm sick of excuses for bigoty. And if you vote against equal civil rights for gays, you are

a bigot.

[David Zephyr]

27. Not just voting against civil rights, voting "to eliminate" them.

And yes, you are right: it is bigotry.

And we can see bigotry here at the DU from many straight posters who have been silent on our civil rights for years here. Now, they can't contain their homophobia and are dying to gloat.

Check out my give and take above with a prominent DU'er who stepped into the shit in our forum.

[Democrats_win]

23. It's a mistake for either side to make enemies of each other. Remember, change will happen again.

And that change could be a reinvigorated GOP that hates African Americans and GLBT folks to an extent greater than we've seen before Then we'll look back and regret attacking each other. Hey, now we have much greater control of congress. With this power, homosexual marriage should be a mandate---or something like that.

[Crunchy Frog]

24. I guess it's not possible to walk and chew gum at the same time.

:shrug:

[bluedawg12]

36. Saw it, it's loaded with stereotypes and implications of elitism

and frivolousness, regarding gays, and oh yes, while gays were out working for Obama, we forgot to kiss her @ss and tell her of our teens weensy oppressive status in AmeriKa in 2008.

[ruggerson]

39. Does this idiot even remember who FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL to raise HIV awareness

in the black community in the early days?

HINT: GAY PEOPLE. Both black and white.

[mondo joe]

40. And: I don't know where people got the idea that you had to do something to deserve

equal rights under the law.

If gays lived up to every false stereotype and were the most flip, elitist things on the planet we'd STILL deserve equal rights.

[ruggerson]

42. don't leave again

:)

[David Zephyr]

45. The author is indeed an "idiot" as you say.

Some "progressive", huh?

[Zenlitened]

43. Yep. Marriage has nothing to do with...

... economic security, healthcare, stability, support, etc. :crazy:

...Does someone who is homeless or suffering from HIV but has no healthcare, or newly out of prison and unemployed, really benefit from the right to marry someone of the same sex?

Cannick's a real sharp thinker, huh?

[bluedawg12]

59. Do any of those people benefit by not having a button

pushed to just say, "no!"

"Does someone who is homeless or suffering from HIV but has no healthcare, or newly out of prison and unemployed, really benefit from the right to marry someone of the opposite sex and spend enormous amounts of money on a wedding?" Yet, it's done every day and it doesn't bother her.

[Duncan Grant]

46. I got as far as "white" gay community and it all fell into place.

Let's maim and disable the friends and allies in our own community in order to send a message to the establishment.

Mutually assured destruction -- here we come.

[mondo joe]

48. The author has confused civil rights with doing something to deserve civil rights.

If gays were the most self centered, elite, affluent, lazy people on earth we'd STILL deserve equal civil rights.

The flaw is in those who voted against civil rights - not in those who lost them.

[bluedawg12]

58. Bravo! I am a little tired of the old 60's hierarchy of priorities

in causes.

The zero sum game with all losers. Of course you gotta wonder how enlightened she is as a lesbian saying such things?

Self hate much?

[Creideiki]

62. "Secondary" issues I supported this year:

The right of workers to form unions. The right for government workers (policemen, firemen, teachers, nurses, state workers) to retain a political voice. This in spite of not being a government worker, nor one that would be in a position that could unionize.

The right of women to have control over their bodies. (The personhood amendment.)

The right to a level playing field for racial minorities. Never going to benefit directly from this one.

Maybe I shouldn't have supported those "secondary" issues. I understand our political system. We build our coalitions early through the primaries. If some people really, honestly, truly, want to break the Democratic coalition right when it finally achieves its greatest victory in nearly 50 years, then I can't stop them.

[Zuiderelle]

63. "Luxury of gay marriage" My god, that piece makes me angry.

[bluedawg12]

65. An example of dangerous, pernicious RW propaganda

and how a black, lesbian has been affected by the RW theofascist rhetoric and ends up shilling, consciously or not, for white RW anti-civil rights movmements.

Is she crazy? Doesn't she realize that she herself is at risk when they "try" to come for gays, she too will be on the list!

[bluedawg12]

64. The Op Ed reflects the ability of the white RW to reach across politics

and unite people in a cause greater than their party.

How else would you get Democrats voting for a basically white RW fundy, theofascist, ballot?

They use the cultural wars to create a supra-party, one that is over arching and defies even party politics.

It worked with the division of Dem's when I saw bumper stickers such as anti-Kerry campaigns: Catholics don't vote for Catholics who vote for abortion.

Now it's, Dems don't vote for gay right issues that "threaten our families."

Old tactics, but the joke is on us! :sarcasm:

[closeupready]

68. Who is she and why should I respect her opinion? I also have an opinion.

Everyone has an opinion. Not interested in hers at all.

[mitchtv]

71. Is there a gay version of Uncle Tom?

Besides Log Cabin repub, that is

[closeupready]

74. I know. The bio says only that she is a writer in LA. Well, I'm a writer in NY. So what.

Guess that qualifies me to write op-eds for the LA times. ;)

[QC]

81. Yes, but she's a "contrarian."

The corporate media love minorities who speak out against their own people--gay homophobes, blacks who oppose affirmative action, etc.

Andrew Sullivan built a career on it.

[Ellen Forradalom]

82. So did Camille Paglia

Such a distinction :eyes:

[QC]

83. Yep. You gotta be self-loathing if you are in a minority and want a media career.

Did you ever read Richard Goldstein's Village Voice piece on "attack queers"?

[closeupready]

84. wouldn't you know, Paglia also came to mind - though Paglia is reasonably eloquent;

a little wordy and narcissistic, but her stuff is at least interesting. Not so here, at least not with the essay linked to in the starting post.

[cboy4]

69. Yea, I posted this in GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4413150&mesg_id=4413150

Unbelievable, ha?

[Ellen Forradalom]

72. Sapphocrat blew a gasket over this

"Who Dropped Acid in Jasmyne Cannick’s Coffee?"

http://news.lavenderliberal.com/2008/11/08/who-dropped-acid-in-jasmyne-cannicks-coffee/


edit to correct Sapphocrat's name

[closeupready]

75. Wow. That is bizarre. Reading how, pre-election, she claimed to support gay marriage and

post-election, of course, she didn't understand why it was supposed to be a priority for blacks -

Is that like Sybil or what?

[NorthernSpy]

76. Jasmyne Cannick has spent years campaigning against blackface drag acts...

... such as the grotesque "Shirley Q Liquor". So have various black ministers.


She's never gotten anywhere with that. "Shirley Q Liquor" -- really a gay white man named Chuck Knipp -- remains popular at gay pride events and at clubs frequented by other white gays.


In fact, I've seen people here at DU reciting bits of his routine.


So yeah, her priorities aren't yours, and your priorities aren't hers. That's been a reality for quite some time.

[jonnyblitz]

77. she is fucked in the head. nt

[NorthernSpy]

78. So's Shirley Q Liquor and his socially-retarded fanbase.

:shrug:

[bluedawg12]

87. Then attack a comedy act and not an entire community (GLBT)

comedy is pretty raunchy these days. I am sure we could all dig up offensive acts.

For what it's worth, I thought "black face" went out decades ago and I do not approve and I never have seen or heard of Shirley Q, but this is still like apples and oranges as the Shirley Q fan base does not represent the totality of GLBT's across the nation.

[closeupready]

79. Does that make her an expert on anything? Why does her incomprehensible screed get an op-ed

in the LA Times? Obviously, the LA Times can print what they want, but I repeat, who the freak IS she? Why is she someone who anyone should be listening to as some kind of cultural sage? Why is her opinion more valuable than, say, Coretta Scott King's, who was a fervent supporter of gay marriage?

[mondo joe]

80. It's more than a different set of priorities to oppose civil rights.

And hurt feelings are a lousy reason to oppose civil rights.

[jmg257]

86. Hoy sh!t - So equal rights is now a "luxury"?? Let's hear it for ignorance,

selfishness, jealousy, and religous bigotry!

:puke:

[QC]

88. No, *your* equal rights are a luxury.

Hers are a matter of earthshattering importance, I am sure.

[MNBrewer]

89. It's not like it took tremendous effort to select NO on the ballot.