Shara Perkins Murphy, executive
director of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, is straight.
Murphy, who took over the reigns in
January, says her sexual orientation is not relevant.
“For most of my adolescence lots of
folks didn't think I was black enough. So I haven't always felt like
I had a community,” Murphy
told CNN on Sunday as she worked the crowd at Sacramento Pride
2012. “People here are just so accepting and loving.”
She suggested civil rights are
essentially the same for all people.
“I think there's a lot of parallels
between the civil right struggle of African-Americans and the civil
rights struggle of the LGBT community. People should care about this
because prejudice somewhere is prejudice anywhere.”
She received lots of support from those
attending the festival.
“I think anybody can be a good voice
for the community that really believes in love and marriage,” Rob
Turner told the network.
“I'm as gay as they come,” Kerry
Freeman said. “Works for me. The more the better straight folks
that get it.”