President Obama made powerful,
significant statements at the June 29th LGBT Stonewall reception, but
I fear that the most telling words have been lost by the mass media.
Obama’s words relate to the intersection of sexuality and race, and
they foretell the difficulty in moving the agenda forward—a mission
the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) was founded upon and been
advocating ever since our inception five years ago.
Many gay and lesbian people wonder how
it can be that a Black President has not moved more quickly on LGBT
rights. They ask out loud how it can be that President Obama does
not see gay rights as the next frontier in our nation’s civil
rights struggle. What many of my white gay brothers and sisters need
to realize is that Obama absolutely understands the intellectual
argument that equates advancing gay rights to America’s civil
rights struggles. He said as much in his speech. But he is a
President whose constituency—and I do not mean white, Middle
America, but his constituency of Black Americans—does not stand
with him or follow his argument on civil rights encompassing LGBT
rights.
Obama’s enlightened perspective on
the gay rights struggle is seen in his admonishment to himself: “It’s
not for me to tell you to be patient anymore than it was for others
to counsel African Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a
half century ago.”
This understanding of the LGBT
disinclination towards patience—just as Black civil rights heroes
could wait for justice no longer—was neither welcomed nor accepted
by many in the Black community. The initial reaction to this
argument was demonstrated by the popular radio personality Tom
Joyner, who immediately took offense to the comparison the morning
after Obama’s speech. During the debate on marriage equality on
the Connecticut House floor, I personally heard murmurs and invective
from an African American colleague who bemoaned the mention of civil
rights heroes and struggles as the case was made for marriage
equality. Some people take offense personally that white gays and
lesbians would take inspiration from civil rights icons, as many have
a feeling of ownership and personal attachment to the civil rights
struggle and its philosophy.
Are these feeling legitimate? Or do
they point to a wider incidence of homophobia in our Black community?
President Obama noted in his remarks that that we need to open the
hearts and minds of those that don’t fully embrace their “gay
brothers and sisters.” He goes on to say that he has “…spoken
about these issues not only in front of you, but in front of unlikely
audiences—in front of African American church members…”
This statement is telling and
provocative. It demonstrates that President Obama is clearly aware
that a disproportionate number of African Americans are not ready to
embrace gay rights. Who is willing to bridge this divide to make the
demographic shifts necessary for politicians, the media and the
country to move progressively on LGBT rights?
NBJC believes that President Obama is
ready to do the hard lifting and we are prepared to assist him in
this effort. We are also willing to challenge the homophobia that
exists in our community. For example, we will be working with the
NAACP at their centennial convention and encouraging their members to
recognize that one of their own, Bayard Rustin—a leader and
organizer of the 1963 March on Washington—was a gay Black man.
This is something the NAACP has yet to do.
In addition, we call on our white gay
brothers and sisters—just as President Obama did—to recognize
that they have work of their own to do in communicating with
communities of color. All too often, Black LGBT people extend our
hand to work with our white colleagues, as we did in California on
Proposition Eight, and all too often our white brothers and sisters
stay frozen in a black/white construct that is still too separate and
unwelcoming.
Many don’t recognize that this is the
next battle. We believe President Obama will move the agenda
forward, and NBJC will be just as diligent as other LGBT leaders in
prompting our President towards action. We also look to Michelle
Obama. She was at the reception as well, and many of us noted her
presence and facial expressions that told it all; Michelle may be our
fiercest ally.
It is the responsibility of all of
us—Obama, Black leaders and White LGBT leaders working together—to
persuade the President’s closest and most loyal constituency,
communities of color, towards real progress.
[Editor's Note: Jason W. Bartlett is the
deputy director of the National
Black Justice Coalition, a group that lobbies on behalf of LGBT
people of color. He is also an openly gay Connecticut state
representative.]
Copyright 2009 Jason W. Bartlett