Statement on Passage of Recent Anti-Family Laws in California, Florida, Arkansas and Arizona

From MBFA Director, Elbridge James:

To members of the Maryland Black Family Alliance and supporters of equal rights for all our families, I write to express a deep sense of disappointment and frustration with the outcome of the votes in California, Arizona and Florida denying lesbian and gay male families the right to marry. Equally disheartening and cruel was the vote in Arkansas that forbids adoption by same sex loving families.

My frustration stems from the notion that, encouraged by some politicians and policy makers, a majority of individuals in this society believe they have the right or power to deny rights of a minority of its citizens; especially when recognition of these rights do not harm or diminish the rights of the majority. The anti-family propositions in California, Florida and Arizona are reminiscent to acts against Black slaves to marry and maintain strong family bonds; and are akin to segregationist laws of the late 1800’s through 1950’s that forbid inter-racial marriage and adoption. As Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) has stated:

"It is time to say forthrightly that the government's exclusion of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters from civil marriage officially degrades them and their families. It denies them the basic human right to marry the person they love. It denies them numerous legal protections for their families.... This discrimination is wrong." (Boston Globe, 11/25/03)

Equally frustrating is the reality that in these states many voters who have previously felt the sting of racism or have been the subject of government sponsored discrimination, now fail to understand the consequences of their placing personal preference or prejudice above a commitment to equal protection for all under the law. Their support for propositions denying civil marriage opportunities and the rights of adoption betrays a long history of understanding and compassion for others. It evokes a time in the struggle for Black and Latino Civil rights, when outside forces would come into white communities to spread lies and falsehoods about Black or Latino people and our drive for equal and civil rights. Under the pretense of religion and conservative values, fear mongers evoked religion and family as reasons to deny us voting, housing, employment and marriage opportunities. In the past it was a racial majority who fought to deny or delay the civil rights and protections of the Black and Latino/a minority. On Tuesday November 4, 2008 it was members of our extended family who helped cause harm to our other brothers and sisters.

As the late Coretta Scott King stated:

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people." (Reuters, 3/31/98)

"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. 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." (Chicago Tribune, 4/1/98)

In the upcoming weeks and months I ask each of us to renew our support for same sex loving people. We must also be vigilant against any effort to malign those that who have shown only love and respect for us, themselves and their family members. Let us hope and pray that society comes to value and respect all people and families as we, the Maryland Black Family Alliance.

The Maryland Black Family Alliance is a coalition of Black families, leaders and straight allies. We are people of many faiths. We stand for fairness, justice and equality for all families - including those lead by same-sex households.

Elbridge James, MBFA Director (elbridge@marylandbfa.org)
Lea Gilmore, Program Director (lea@marylandbfa.org)