There has been plenty of talk about whether the black community would vote for Prop 8. Yesterday the Jordan/Rustin Coalition and Equality For All/No held a news conference featuring leaders in the community who spoke eloquently about the discrimination in this ballot initiative.
The participants were:
* Rev. Eric Lee, President, Southern Christian Leadership Council of LA.
* Rev. Arthur Lawrence Cribbs, Jr. United Church of Christ
* Rev. Vanessa Mackenzie, Church of the Advent
* Willie Pelote, Assistant Director of Political Action, AFSCME Int.
* Doug Spearman, Actor from Noah's Arc and on the board of Equality California Institute and the Finance Committee of the No on Prop 8 campaign.
Remarks by the group, passed along by journalist Karen Ocamb, are below the fold.
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Left to right: Doug Spearman, Rev. Lee, Rev. Vanessa Mackenzie, Rev. Cribbs, Willie Pelote.Ron opened with the purpose of the news conference - to let people know that "African Americans will vote No on Prop 8."
Rev. Lee:
"The Southern Christian Leadership Council is the only organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The entire core of SCLC is about fighting for justice for all people and against discrimination... As a result of that - this issue about marriage equality requires that we speak out against this proposition because anytime any group of people are denied the right afforded to another group of people, it is an issue of the violation of civil rights. And we need to be clear about that.
The difficulty is that you have many who are considered to be clergy, considered to be Christian, that are not understanding the rights of people for free choice. And to have the same benefit that any other people are afforded. The disappointment is that there is an attempt for people to impose a narrow theological view on relationships upon every body in every situation. And no one has the right to do that.
So because of that, I, along with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference - I also spoke with Rev. Lawson who is one of the foremost theorists and teachers of non-violent opposition to injustice - who adamantly said this is the right thing for us to do. So we stand on your side, we will stand with you until justice is rendered until you are ensured that your rights will never be denied by any group of people for any discriminatory reason. So God bless you and I'm with you."
Rev. Cribbs:
"..... If I simply based my decision on television commercials, I would be for Proposition 8. But those commercials lie. The information that's being presented on television, even from a law professor at Pepperdine University, are all based on lies, not facts.
First of all, this is not about children and protecting children. The language in Proposition 8 that is put on the ballot has to do with marriage between a man and a woman. I'm opposed to Proposition 8 because to put discriminatory language in the California constitution....(garbled on my tape, sorry)...Although we have discriminated against persons because they're Chinese, Japanese, Latinos, we have not put discriminatory language in the state constitution. And in the 21st century, it is not a move forward to begin putting discriminatory language in the state constitution. So I oppose Proposition 8 on that.
I personally oppose Proposition 8 because I know what it feels like to have someone else tell me who I should be married to. I know the pain of that. I know the suffering that comes with that. I do not believe it is right for a third party detached and not involved dictating who should love whom and how that relationship should be formed. I oppose Proposition 8 on its face.
And then, finally - theologically. My faith tells me to treat people the way I want to be treated. To do no harm to anyone. I have heard people say, 'I am hurt by the language of discrimination that is being proposed for the California state constitution.' If don't want to feel the pain, then I am obligated not to impose pain on someone else. And so I oppose Proposition 8.
The United Church of Christ opposes Proposition 8 ....there is no reason for any one to support Proposition 8 if they have a concern for others and if they do not want someone to dictate their relationship - that it is inappropriate to legislative the dictation on someone else."
Rev. Mackenzie (who's from South Africa):
"I moved to this country eight years ago and I am horrified that now they want to put into the constitution that it is right to discriminate....We are all human, created in the image of God and all of us, in our own unique ways, reflect that image. And if we say yes to Proposition 8, we are distorting and destroying the image of God in our gay brothers and sisters."
Willie Pelote:
"....Let's be clear. What Prop 8 is designed to do is to take away the rights that gays and lesbian have worked for over the years and should be guaranteed under the constitution, not denied...
[It's important to] get word out on how people should vote on Prop 8 - it s no on Prop 8 . it's discriminatory. Its un-American, it's unpatriotic. It's against the will of the people in the great state of California. And let's think of the Mormon Church - and if God was given the right to protect everyone of his children and if you're against that, you're against god and we're against you....
Prop 8 is bad for California...Prop 8 is about outsourcing people's rights and discriminating against them in everyday life. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - the largest public union in this country - and 175,000 strong in the state of California - will stand with you until justice prevails. We will never, ever give up and allow someone to put in the constitution discriminatory langue against anyone in our society."
Doug Spearman:
"....We can now get married in the state of California. But we have to be vigilant and protect that right. And be constantly awake and aware and fight for something the state constitution is built to protect. They want to dismantle that in order to take away something from us.
When the Supreme Court authored its opinion, it effectively wiped away not just discrimination against gays and lesbians. They wiped away discrimination in the state of California in a way that it had ever been addressed before. They did a brave and beautiful thing, making our lives safe making our lives accountable, our lives worthy, making our lives important in this state. We held up a light in California that shines on the entire nation. We held up a light that is a beacon for truth and honor and dignity and respect so that every other state has a responsibility to turn towards or turn away from.... This isn't just the right to marry....this is a civil right. It is the beginning. So if they're going to take away this right, what right other rights are they going to take away?,,,, "
Asked about the concern that African Americans who show up to vote for Barack Obama, especially young people who haven't voted before, will vote Yes on Prop 8 - the participants all said that the youth must be told that "Barack Obama would vote No on Proposition 8 - so you should, too."
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