Can Barack Obama Read Bayard Rustin's Barometer on Human Rights? (Yes, Another Gay Rights Thread)

[CorpGovActivist]

"The barometer of where one is on human rights questions is no longer the black community, it's the gay community. Because it is the community which is most easily mistreated." -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayard_Rustin">Bayard Rustin, a year before his death in 1987

Bayard Rustin was the mastermind of the March on Washington. He was spied upon by Herbert Hoover, who tried to make the case that the Reverand Martin Luther King, Jr. and he were "more than friends."

Can Barack Obama - who benefited from the much greater experience of Bayard Rustin - read Rustin's Barometer?

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

1. February Is Gay History Month...

... in the UK. Here, it's African-American History Month.

Progressives on both side of the pond who don't know about http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pink+history+bayard+rustin">the extraordinary life of Bayard Rustin are urged to learn more.

- Dave

[bigtree]

2. I have his book,'Strategies for Freedom' beside my computer

1976

from the book:

. . . while the Democrats were generally thought to favor programs that would effect social progress, the party had no sustaining vision of how this would be accomplished . . .

[CorpGovActivist]

3. Coming from the Man...

... who did more than anyone else to organize the March on Washington, those are powerful words of indictment.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

4. Any Other Appropriate Quotes? n/t

[bigtree]

11. well, let me finish this one . . .

from the book, continuing the earlier quote:

"On an ad hoc basis, the Democrats had a good record for supporting progressive measures. But they had little idea of the society they wanted to build, and so their plans were carelessly conceived. The failure of the Democratic party to develop such a vision, or, if you will, class analysis, was to have dire consequences for the civil rights movement, and, as we shall see, for the broader arena of liberalism as well."

[CorpGovActivist]

13. Bayard Rustin Was a True Mastermind...

... and this rebuke should be hanging on the main DNC conference room wall.

- Dave

[PervezClinton]

5. How is Rustin viewed in the Civil Rights Movement?

Is he embraced in influential pulpits?

[CorpGovActivist]

7. "Is he embraced in influential pulpits?"

Not as much as he could/should be, in my view.

- Dave

[NMMNG]

8. .....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayard_Rustin
http://www.rustin.org/about.html
http://www.abbeville.com/civilrights/washington.asp

[CorpGovActivist]

12. Great Pics/Links! Thanks! n/t

[originalpckelly]

9. Have you ever been convicted of PWF?

[PervezClinton]

10. No

[CorpGovActivist]

17. Keep Striking Those Matches...

... they shed light.

- Dave

[readmoreoften]

6. Huey Newton was vocally and militantly pro-gay rights as well. /nt

[CorpGovActivist]

15. Wasn't Familiar with His Story, Thanks! n/t

[Radical Activist]

14. Yes. Obama's record speaks for itself.

He sponsored the bill adding sexual orientation to the Illinois human rights code and has marched in the Chicago Pride Parade.

[CorpGovActivist]

16. When Obama Spoke for Himself at the VisibleVote Forum...

... I was less than enthusiastic about what I http://visiblevote08.logoonline.com/">heard.

I'd like to see a more definitive progressive stance from him.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

18. His "Have It Both Ways" Statement on "Pastor McClurkin"...

... certainly http://pride.barackobama.com/page/content/lgbthome">speaks for itself.

- Dave

[sandnsea]

19. Which is why he tells the black church to stand with the gay community

Unlike the other candidates who don't say a word unless somebody corners them and makes them answer a question.

[CorpGovActivist]

20. See His Campaign's "Joint Statement"...

... linked to in #18, upthread.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

21. "To Whom It May Concern:"

As representatives of Barack Obama supporters from the African American religious community and the gay community, we are issuing a statement together for the first time. Our letter addresses the recent issue of Pastor Donnie McClurkin singing at Senator Obama’s “Embrace the Change” concert series. In the midst of division, we hope and believe that this is a moment to bring together communities that have been divided for far too long.

A few things are clear.

First, Pastor McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many Americans, most especially to gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied.

At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin’s beliefs. This also cannot be ignored.

Finally, we believe that the only way for these two sides to find common ground is to do so together.

Not at arms length. Not in a war of words with press and pundits. Only together.

It is clear that Barack Obama is the only candidate who has made bringing these two often disparate groups together a goal. In gatherings of LGBT Americans and African Americans of faith, Obama has stated that all individuals should be afforded full civil rights regardless of their sexual orientation, and that homophobia must be eradicated in every corner of our nation. If we are to end homophobia and secure full civil rights for gay Americans, then we need an advocate within the Black community like Barack Obama.

At the same time, while Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Pastor McClurkin's comments, he will not exclude from his campaign the many Americans including many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin.

We believe that Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for LGBT Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate and treasured part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who believe that their religion prevents them from fully embracing their gay brothers and sisters. And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree.

We also ask Senator Obama’s critics to consider the alternatives. Would we prefer a candidate who ignores the realities in the African American community and cuts off millions of Blacks who believe things offensive to many Americans? Or a panderer who tells African Americans what they want to hear, at the expense of our gay brothers and sisters? Or would we rather stand with Barack Obama, who speaks truth in love to both sides, pulling no punches but foreclosing no opportunities to engage?

We stand with Senator Obama. We stand with him because of the solutions he is proposing for our nation. We stand with him because of his character and his judgment. But the most important reason we stand with him is because today, as he has done all along, Barack Obama is causing us to stand together.

That's the kind of President we need, and we are proud to support him.

***************************************************

Bill Clinton at his finest couldn't have built a better triangulating dodge.

- Dave

[eridani]

23. Nobody is suggesting ignoring homophobes

Why not bond with them about education and health care instead of doing slimy dogwhistle politics that validate bigotry?

[CorpGovActivist]

25. I Can Find Common Ground...

... with most, including those who hold deep religious convictions about LGBT issues.

- Dave

[eridani]

27. Yes, but on other grounds, right?

You don't go out of your way to publicly validate their bigotry, I presume.

[CorpGovActivist]

29. Nope...

... but I do try very hard to persuade them, show them Scriptures they might not be aware of (if they're Christian), and keep the door open to further discussions down the road.

- Dave

[eridani]

22. Right. There just can't be any black church members who are also LGBT

LGBT is white only, dontchaknow. Obama needs to change his rhetoric to acknowledge black LGBT people.

[CorpGovActivist]

24. Living and Volunteering in the DC Area...

... I see a lot of people who struggle with this double discrimination.

- Dave

[eridani]

26. Do you like it that Obama just said that the LGBT community is white?

Look, I know Obama favors gay rights. That makes the McClurkin thing worse, not better. We EXPECT that kind of crap from asshats like Huckabee.

[CorpGovActivist]

28. Can You Provide a Link?

"Obama just said that the LGBT community is white"

*low whistle*

In those exact words? I'll suspend judgment until/unless I can view the video myself, but yikes.

"Look, I know Obama favors gay rights."

I am less concerned with any given candidate's beliefs and words, and much more concerned with their likely actions as President.

"That makes the McClurkin thing worse, not better."

Yup. I think he's fumbled the ball on this one.

"We EXPECT that kind of crap from asshats like Huckabee."

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

- Dave

[mondo joe]

30. I agree. That's what made Obama's choices SO cynical and insulting. NT

[CorpGovActivist]

31. No Doubt about It...the McClurkin Matter Rankles...

... but did he actually say that the LGBT community doesn't include people of color?!?

- Dave

[mondo joe]

32. I don't know about that quote. Though I have heard similar statements from

some even on DU about gays. (Like the "Gays don't care about poverty" posts.)

[CorpGovActivist]

33. Well, I'm Suspending Judgment...

... until I hear the words coming out of Obama's mouth.

- Dave