2004: HRC calls on Bush: Do not feature Donnie McClurkin at your convention!

[Bluebear]

Naturally, Bush did not find it in his heart to comply.

======

Gay Leaders Call on President to Reject Inflammatory Speakers

8/30/2004

Anti-gay speakers should not be featured at convention, say Jacques and Robinson

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign and the National Black Justice Coalition called on President Bush today to repudiate anti-gay speakers at the Republican National Convention. HRC’s Cheryl Jacques and National Black Justice Coalition’s H. Alexander Robinson sent the following letter to the president today:

Dear Mr. President (G W Bush),

As advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Americans, we are writing to you on a matter of grave concern.

We are deeply disturbed to learn that Donnie McClurkin, Sheri Dew and Bishop Keith Butler, who have made deeply offensive comments about GLBT Americans, will be featured at the Republican Convention and we urge you to repudiate their divisive and appalling comments.

Mr. McClurkin, who will be entertaining from the convention stage on Thursday, has accused gay Americans of "trying to kill our children" ("The 700 Club," Sept. 23, 2003) and has called homosexuality a "curse" (Charisma Magazine, June 2002).

In an article about same-sex marriage, Ms. Dew, who is speaking before the convention on Monday, called for "a comparison between the atrocities of Hitler and what is happening in terms of contemporary threats against the family" (Meridian Magazine).

In talking about the "gay lifestyle," the Bishop Keith Butler, who is appearing on the convention stage on Thursday, has claimed that it "endangers family, children, and the core of society" (October 2003 press conference).

Mr. President, featuring individuals on the stage of your convention who compare a group of Americans to Hitler and accuse them of killing children is divisive and irresponsible. The American people abhor discriminatory, false and inflammatory language against any group of Americans.

Uniting America comes with helping families, not by promoting those who want to divide us. We urge you to immediately repudiate these comments.

Sincerely,

Cheryl A. Jacques, President of the Human Rights Campaign

H. Alexander Robinson, Strategic Director of the National Black Justice Coalition
____________________________

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

The National Black Justice Coalition is an ad hoc coalition of black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered leaders who have come together to fight against discrimination in our communities.

http://www.hrc.org/issues/2031.htm

[terrya]

1. Kind of hard to argue with the facts, eh?

This little nugget of info is something some of the people around here don't seem to acknowledge.

[elizm]

13. self delete

[William769]

2. Well I guess Obama's in good company now.

:sarcasm:

[terrya]

3. How in the world can anyone defend "Donnie" knowing this?

Hell, surely all of us are more than a bit troubled that this guy performed for BUSH. :eyes:

BTW: thanks, Bluebear, for posting this. :thumbsup:

[Bluebear]

4. It's OK, he was just singing, not preaching anti-gay rhetoric.

:sarcasm:

[terrya]

5. Oh, right...ok.

Oh well, yes of course. That makes it different then.

:sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

6. "Why is the LGBT community singling out Obama? Because he's black!"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3643822&mesg_id=3645865

[terrya]

8. One just doesn't know how to respond to crap like that.

[Eric J in MN]

7. The problem with using "HRC" in a thread title is that it also stands for "Hillary Rodham Clinton,"

...which is who I initially thought this was about.

[Bluebear]

9. You seemed to have sorted it out though. :)

[IndianaJones]

10. this is an exercise in futility. even I am shocked at the reactions I've seen. nt.

[DemFemme]

11. Is HRC Giving HRC a Pass?

'Following is the text of the email letter I sent to the Human Rights Campaign, after reading the news this morning that the HRC has threatened
the Obama campaign that it will publicly denounce Obama if he does not disinvite black gospel singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin from singing in
his upcoming gospel concert series in South Carolina:

You're Threatening Obama Now? (subject line)

This is unspeakably short-sighted and counterproductive.

I've always admired and supported the work of the Human Rights Campaign, But do you honestly believe that any other candidate in this race has
greater potential than Barack Obama to move this country further along the path toward being a pro-diversity society -- a society that creates more
acceptance and opportunity for everyone, including lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people?

I urge you in the strongest possible terms to take a deep breath, then take a good, long look at the forest -- instead of the trees.

Of course, if you insist on going down this misguided path, you might consider exercising a little fairness in the matter.

Ever hear of Harold Mayberry? He's a black preacher, too. Like Donnie McClurkin. And he uses his giant 2,800-member Oakland, California, pulpit
to preach against homosexuality.

When asked about this in 2004, Mayberry gave the classic "love the sinner, hate the sin" defense:

I'm comfortable in what I believe in. I'm not rejecting people. As God loves, we love. I don't reject thieves, I reject thievery.

But just this past August, Hillary Clinton met with Mayberry and thanked him for his "commitment to fighting for civil rights and equality."

Ever hear of Darrell Jackson? Another black preacher. Like Donnie McClurkin. In South Carolina. Like Donnie McClurkin. He's a State Senator, too.
And a political consultant. Busy guy.

In fact, just after Jackson endorsed Clinton in February, he admitted that he's also negotiated a $10,000-a-month consulting contract with
her campaign.

Turns out Jackson's not a big fan of gay people, either. Although Jackson abstained from voting on a 2005 bill for a constitutional amendment
banning same-sex marriage in South Carolina -- two of Clinton's South Carolina co-chairs, John Matthews and Linda Short, voted for the
bill -- he indicated in remarks on the Senate floor that an amendment was a moot point, since most people in South Carolina -- himself
included -- already opposed same-sex marriage.

Now, we know how we feel on this issue, and I've allowed my position to be known more than anybody else. I stand here
as someone who is a pastor to a congregation of a whole lot of people, and I've said it to them and I'll say it to anyone else.
My personal moral position is what I believe and what I subscribe to. I don't have to come here and try to legislate it...There
is little doubt in this body what will ultimately happen with that issue. That is a forgone conclusion.

How many times do you think Jackson has uttered -- or will utter -- anti-gay sentiments while Clinton is paying him?

Are you going to publicly denounce Hillary Clinton for her association with -- and endorsement by -- these people?

Or is she getting a pass, because she's "your girl"?'

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/10/24/162436/74

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

12. Entirely different circumstances because... because... because... Gobama!