Black Church Denounced
For Staging
Anti-Gay March
by Peter Hacker 365Gay.com from the Web. December 9, 2004
Atlanta, GA -- The nation's only national black LGBT civil rights group is condemning plans by a black minister to lead an anti-gay march this weekend in Atlanta.
The National Black Justice Coalition issued a statement today against the pastor the New Birth Church -- the Reverend Eddie Long -- to hold the march on Saturday.
The march is being planned to oppose the right of gays and lesbians to marry.
New Birth is one of the biggest black churches in America.
The march is scheduled to start at the King Center in Atlanta at 9:45 a-m and travel to Turner Field.
"To march from the King Center against the rights of gays is a slap in the face to the legacy of Dr. King," said NBJC Board president Keith Boykin.
Boykin also noted that one of King's closest advisers, Bayard Rustin, was an openly gay man.
"Dr. King said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," added Boykin, "but Bishop Long seems to think that injustice against gays and lesbians is perfectly fine."
Coretta Scott King, Julian Bond, John Lewis and many other civil rights veterans have spoken out in favor of marriage equality.
Rev. Long announced the march on the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show and encouraged African Americans from across the country to join the march.
The National Black Justice Coalition also expressed concern that the anti-marriage issue was distracting the black community from more pressing priorities.
"Black ministers should be marching to help garner more HIV/AIDS funding from the Bush Administration as a way of protecting the family instead of pushing a right-wing agenda designed to divide the black community," said NBJC spokesperson and Board Member Jasmyne
Cannick.
(Emphasis Added)
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