Pointing out that Black unemployment, lack of access to health care, enduring racist discrimination and inequality, and a racist criminal justice system are serious concerns for all of us, Flunder asked, "Why aren't Lou Sheldon and James Dobson having conferences about this?"
She suggested that when Republicans invoke the names of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, Jr. to attack gay people or to speak about a civil rights agenda they have never supported, their hypocrisy is evident.
Flunder called for a dialogue within the African American community to talk about LGBT issues and to build unity for the issues that truly concern most African Americans.
Alexander Robinson, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, a civil rights organization of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people and allies, echoed Flunder's comments. "We've been tricked," Robinson said. "We've been bamboozled, by people who have never had the interests or well-being of the African American community at heart."
"This report should be a wake-up call to all Black advocates for racial justice and social equality, Robinson commented, adding, "We can ill-afford having our voices dissipated by those who would exploit our differences over issues of sexual orientation for their own sinister political gain. Now that their thinly disguised attempts to render our votes meaningless has been revealed, it is up to us rebuild our coalition for change.
"Poll taxes, literacy tests and lynching didn't stop us, and I am confident we will prevail against this new tactic," said Robinson.
Robinson called for African Americans to work together and with their allies to fight the bigotry that is at the heart of the Republican machinations.
Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, described the organized Republican effort as part of "a long-standing record of using fear and bigotry to set Americans against each other for its own gain."
Comparing the new Republican push to past Republican campaigns, such as Nixon's "Southern strategy" of appealing to white supremacists in the South, Reagan's racist attack on Black women whom he called them "welfare queens," and George H. W. Bush's use of racist "Willie Horton" ads, an NGLTF press statement described the Republican tactics as using "LGBT equality as a wedge issue."
"There are a variety of views," Robinson noted, "in the African American community." By advancing the idea that gay equality is a civil rights issue, he believes there can be greater unity to fight for protections from all forms of discrimination.
Joel Wendland is managing editor of Political Affairs magazine and a member of UAW Local 1981. Contact him at jwendland@politicalaffairs.net.
She suggested that when Republicans invoke the names of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, Jr. to attack gay people or to speak about a civil rights agenda they have never supported, their hypocrisy is evident.
Flunder called for a dialogue within the African American community to talk about LGBT issues and to build unity for the issues that truly concern most African Americans.
Alexander Robinson, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, a civil rights organization of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people and allies, echoed Flunder's comments. "We've been tricked," Robinson said. "We've been bamboozled, by people who have never had the interests or well-being of the African American community at heart."
"Poll taxes, literacy tests and lynching didn't stop us, and I am confident we will prevail against this new tactic," said Robinson.
Robinson called for African Americans to work together and with their allies to fight the bigotry that is at the heart of the Republican machinations.
Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, described the organized Republican effort as part of "a long-standing record of using fear and bigotry to set Americans against each other for its own gain."
Comparing the new Republican push to past Republican campaigns, such as Nixon's "Southern strategy" of appealing to white supremacists in the South, Reagan's racist attack on Black women whom he called them "welfare queens," and George H. W. Bush's use of racist "Willie Horton" ads, an NGLTF press statement described the Republican tactics as using "LGBT equality as a wedge issue."
"There are a variety of views," Robinson noted, "in the African American community." By advancing the idea that gay equality is a civil rights issue, he believes there can be greater unity to fight for protections from all forms of discrimination.
Joel Wendland is managing editor of Political Affairs magazine and a member of UAW Local 1981. Contact him at jwendland@politicalaffairs.net.
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