Marriage Equality-Supporting President Of MLK Organization Chapter Ostracized By Members!!
Filed under: Gay Gay Gay
Awful!!!
Reverend Eric Lee is the president of the LA chapter of Martin Luther King Jr.'s organization, The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and also a strong ally in the fight against marriage equality. Rev. Lee, a supporter of No on 8, is now being ostracized by his own community.
The reverend, who attended rallies, gave inspirational speeches at protests and even wrote a book, Proposition 8: The California Divide, could lose his job as president of the MLK organization if its members have anything to do with it.
According to The New York Times, "The Southern Christian Leadership Conference — the 50-year-old civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others — is seeking to remove the president of its Los Angeles chapter in response to his support of same-sex marriage in California."
The members of the organization were originally neutral when it came to Rev. Lee's stance on the hot topic, but after the Rev.'s public appearances, including a compelling speech at the Meet In The Middle For Equality rally in Fresno, CA, in May, they quickly changed their minds.
What would Martin Luther King Jr. think of this atrocity????
Rev. Lee has a good idea!
Said Lee to the NY Times: "Dr. King would be turning over in his grave right now."
Agreed!
[Image via WENN.]
amifirst is obvously Perez whoring for more viewers.
A strong ally in the fight against marriage equality? Shouldn't that be the fight against (same sex) marriage INequality?
I hope that shit NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR passes!!
What's the big deal? He is being "strong… in the fight against marriage equality." ISn't that good for us gays? oh wait it's a typo.
the members in that organization obviously don't know anything about dr. king and what he stood for. his wife coretta scott king was a big supporter of gay rights and spoke at many rallies before she died.
Martin Luther King, like Obama, like a lot of blacks in America think that marriage is between a man and a woman. You lost in California because latins also think like blacks in the subject…
WE R NOT FREE….
FREE
UNTIL
PEOPLE CAN DO WTF THEY WANT…
FREE?????????????? RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
blacks are more bigoted than any other group
Who the hell do people think they are, when they "speak" for the dead? MLK never ONCE said he believed in gay marriage - he championed for blacks to be able to use the same bathrooms, restaurants, use the bus like everyone else… he NEVER said a word on gay marriage. I hate jackhats who put words into people's mouths. For all we know - MLK could have been a raging homophobic man… he's not here to speak for himself - and stop speaking for him!!! And I'm sick to death of black rights being compared to gay rights - as I've said before - when you round up gay people, force them to work for the "right" to live in a shanty and have people raped for your own amusement en masse - then compare… otherwise, keep your mouth shut about comparing the two. Last time I checked, gays aren't sold into slavery, being eaten up by police dogs and have the right to vote and go to the same restaurants as the rest of us.
What would MLK think? King's "I have a dream" speech had nothing to do with gay rights, but about racial equality. I'm not a historian, but I'd be interested in hearing how gays had to attend separate schools and drink from separate water fountains like African Americans; King probably used the f word to describe gays, just like other blacks of his generation did.
If King were alive today, he'd feel the same was as most of the black community who voted against gay marriage in CA. People need to stop latching on to King for things that he would not support. When that late-term abortion doctor was killed a few months ago, his supporters compared him to King…while King's family was appalled at the comparison of their relative to someone who KILLED babies at full term. People seem to forget that King was a CONSERVATIVE and a REPUBLICAN.
It's quite sad.
Coretta Scott King was a strong LGBT rights supporter and commented that gay and lesbian people were involved with MLK Jr in the civil rights struggle for racial equality, marching in Selma and fighting to make the US a more inclusive place.
What a surprise! A Christian organization doesn't support homosexual unions. Are we surprised? No. Goatherder…I mean Reverend Eric Lee should read his Bible and look at the penalties for false teachers in 2nd Peter Chapter 2.
Re: Bitchacho – Coretta Scott King isn't Dr. King. If she was among those comparing the homosexual "struggle" to that of black people, she's also a moron. imsoregistered and tiggerchick are right. Homosexual people have no idea what oppression and discrimination is.
how very typically Christian of them.
Re: wonderwoman – I know ur fucking kidding you dirty bitch prostitution whore.
I am not against gay unions where they have all the rights as straight unions but to call it marriage. marriage separate from the churh is defined in any dictionary as a union between a man and a woman. so if two men get together and have such a union it can never be a real marriage it might be something very similar but by definiton alone it cant be marriage. if that were the case we should just start calling blue, green and cats, dogs.
Re: PerezSux2 – thank you. well said, these stupid gay ppl think there is such a huge bias against them but they never had to sit in the back of the bus or not able to attend certain schools or be looked at weird in affluent neighborhoods.
I agree with IMSOREGISTERED!! Perez, did you even take a US history class from about 1945-present because you make statements as if they're fact, when in actuality you have nothing to base your statement on. I believe that's called IGNORANCE. Also to those who say Christians are so horrible… yes, some Christians are horrible people so do you think deep down they're actually in tune with God? Probably not. Just because you give yourself a title doesn't mean you are one. Just like all Muslims aren't strapping bombs to themselves. I'm a Christian and I don't believe homosexuality is right. Do I hate gays, act rude to them, or treat them any differently than any other person I encounter… NO because the true definition of being a Christian is loving everyone. Just like God loves everyone but doesn't love their sin (whether that is homosexuality or being an awful person and using God's name as a front).
you're all a bunch of idiots. Since when are gay people comparing their denial of rights to what black have gone through? I have yet to hear that comparison. The argument is that they're being denied a basic right in this country. All citizens deserve EQUAL RIGHTS. End of fucking story.
All you bitchy ass Christians need to mind your own and quit worrying about the "plight" of marriage. Take a look at the fucking divorce rates in this country before you jump on two people in love who want to get married. Against gay marriage? Then don't get one and shut the fuck up.
Because chapters of the leadership conference operate autonomously and presidents are picked by local boards, it is not clear that the national organization has the authority to remove Mr. Lee from his post, which he has held for two years.
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In April, Mr. Lee attended a board meeting of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Mo., and found himself once again in the minority position among his colleagues on the issue of same-sex marriage, but he was told, he said, by the group’s interim president, Byron Clay, that the organization publicly had a neutral position on the issue.
Re: imsoregistered – Mrs. King spoke often to gay rights groups and always spoke out strongly for gay rights. In 1998, just a few days before the 30th anniversary of her husband's assassination, she noted the obvious similarities:
"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."
She also noted that her husband believed that all struggles for equal rights were bound together and that it was necessary to fight against bigotry in all forms, not merely the form that affected you personally:
"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny…I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be," she said, quoting her husband. "I've always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy."
Re: imsoregistered – And she pointed out that many gays and lesbians had fought for black civil rights, demanding that blacks return the favor:
"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," she said. "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."
But perhaps her most eloquent statement on the subject came in 1994, again invoking the words of her late husband in support of equal rights for all:
For too long, our nation has tolerated the insidious form of discrimination against this group of Americans, who have worked as hard as any other group, paid their taxes like everyone else, and yet have been denied equal protection under the law…I believe that freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience. My husband, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." On another occasion he said, "I have worked too long and hard against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concern. Justice is indivisible." Like Martin, I don't believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others.
Re: imsoregistered – For you to suggest for the sake of conversation Dr. King was homophobic is grossly offensive to his memory. How dare you defame someone who by the construct of your own arguement cannot defend himself.
Wow, can't disagree with the lefty communists. They're a bunch of haters!!!!!!! MLK WOULD be rolling over in his grave. Adg guess what — the president of the U.S. (B. Hussein Obama) is ALSO against gay marriage. African Americans vote overwhelming against gay marriage. I guess they're all haters too. I reiterate — can't disagree with the crazy, immature lefties who need a nanny state to take care of them because they're too immature to take on any personal responsibility.
its hilarious how blacks who have been persecuted against so much throughout history feel the need to deny gays and lesbians basic rights. Shame on them!
I live by Fresno and was fortunate to hear the Rev. speak at Meet In the Middle. He was moving and passionate, articulate and brought tears to my (Christian, conservative and heterosexual) eyes. How troubling that other people cannot see that equal marriage rights are clearly a CIVIL RIGHTS issue and that all Americans should be coming together to fight for their fellow countrymen, just as Dr. King would have wanted!
**And after reading the other comments, i would like to respectfully ask you to not conveniently forget the work his widow did for gay rights before her passing…
MESS WITH MARRIAGE, MESS WITH GOD!! GOOD LUCK.
Re: tiggerchick5 – Look up BAYARD RUSTIN.
I think it's funny how, in some people comments, Black people are being pin pointed as "homophobic" or bigots for not supporting gay marriage, when obviously a lot of people feel the same way. Just because one doesn't share the same ideas as you doesn't mean they are homophobic. And to make the argument that Blacks should know how it feels to be discriminated against thus should support gay marriage is completely w/o merit. The 2 issues are completely different. That said, under the LAW everyone should have the same rights, but if this organization feels Rev. Lee doesn't represent their ideals, that is their prerogative.
Re: kissmyassobama – what does that even mean?
Re: sleezy*e – (don't encourage him, please)
Re: lalalady09 – Yes, it was very wrong of imsoregistered to suggest Dr. King was homophobic, wasn't it?
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However it is accurate to characterize someone who does not want homosexuals to have the same rights as heterosexuals as 'homophobic' because homophobia is prejudice against homosexual people and homosexuality. It's NOT like the definition does not apply because 'obviously a lot of people feel the same way.'
holy shit-fucking-retarded none-sense.
No one should care about his except those apart of the this chapter.
For starters, MLK didn't care for gay marriage. He had bigger civil rights problems to attend to.
Second, homosexuals should be enslave, sold off, killed, and exploited because honestly, your bitchy whiny assault on prop 8 and all that oppose gay marriage is too much energy to a lifestyle you are allowed to live and expose freely. STFU already.
Third, Perez, step back for a second. Re-approach this situation from the very start. Why do Gay's need to get married? What is marriage? and why do you get the right to impose your beliefs on the church, but it's been wrong for the church to impose there's back?
Im sure he would not be turning in his grave. Black people and gay people are not the same. dont evn get me started on 400 years of slavery!
I guess they prefer to keep these kind of things on the down low. Are they persecuting this man in the name of something?
Re: sleezy*e – It means God will never approve of it.
I agree!!! MLK is turning in his grave!!! He was for equal rights!!!! The members need to refresh their MLK history lesson. Another example of those who want racism and prejudice to end being hypocrites!!!
I'm black and know my own people. They are ome of the most bigoted people you will meet. From hating on Latinos, to being THE FIRST to judge interracial couples and belittling black men with "white bitches" to being the most homophobic people on the planet…it disgusts me, and makes me often ashamed to share anything with them. The thing with black people, especially those in my family, is their civil rights struggles trumps everyone elses. You look at them the wrong way, and my Aunt will pull the race card and try to get you fired. According to them, NO ONE has been through adversity except fro blacks…guess what black community? you cried wolf too much. All those years of opression, instead of turning you all into compassionate, considerate, understanding people have turned you into the persecutors, haters, and intolerant ones. It makes me not be able to look back ON MY OWN PEOPLES struggles and feel remorse seeing how their time of being hated only breeded hatred on their part.Gay rights isn't going anywhere, and neither are gay people! We're getting louder, stronger, and more united…so to the black community, my own community, get over yourselves! You're NOT the only people on this planet.
The only words that made this whole thing make sense.
"Southern Christian"
Sorry but it's true.
More power to you Rev. Lee.
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On April 1, 1998 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Mrs Corretta Scott King called on the civil rights community to join in the struggle against homophobia and anti-gay bias. "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", King stated. "This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group."
In 2003 Mrs King was invited the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to take part in observances of the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech. It was the first time that an LGBT rights group had been invited to a major event of the African American community.
On March 23, 2004, she told an audience at Richard Stockton College in Pomona, New Jersey, that same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue. King denounced a proposed amendment advanced by President George W. Bush to the United States Constitution that would ban equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. In her speech King also criticized a group of black pastors in her home state of Georgia for backing a bill to amend that state's constitution to block gay and lesbian couples from marrying. King is quoted as saying "Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriage."
Oh, so when it goes the other way - you're upset. After the way you and the media goons treated Ms. California? - it's OK - but heaven forbid a Christian organization wants nothing to do with someone promoting and advocating SODOMY.
SO yes, promote, advocate sodomy or you're labeled a hater.
Nice coming from someone who preaches tolerance.
Just look at the Micheal Stipe photos you have posted - yeah - it's a “normal” lifestyle - SICKO Sodomites!
Ahhhh Perez, ever the man to link the GLB&T movement to American greats like MLK.
Problem is, MLK never spoke about GLB&T rights….but nice try anyway.
If I wasa black man living in these times, I'd be insulted…no INCENSED, that you're robbing a great historic victory for equality of it's intent, for your narrow self-serving agenda.
Ironically, African-Americans, particulary those "of the cloth", are some of the most prejudiced and homophobic people around. Of course, it's obvious from the zeitgiest in this country, that AA's are not the only ignorant, brainwashed homophobes. The fight against same sex unions is ABSOLUTELY BASED ON IGNORANCE, HATE, FEAR AND STUPIDITY.
what an irony, christians who think different is wrong
GAYS NEVER HAD IT LIKE THE BLACKS W/ SEGREGATION. UR GAY ASS DRESSED IN HOT PINK CAN SIT ON THE FRON OF THE BUS.