Last week the NAACP hosted it's first ever town hall discussion on LGBT issues in the black community at their annual convention in Los Angeles. The discussion was moderated by newly out CNN anchor Don Lemon and panelists included civil rights legend Julian Bond, actress/comedienne Wanda Sykes, filmmaker Patrik-Ian Polk, scholar and activist Kenyon Farrow, Spelman College professor Beverly Guy Shefall, and NAACP President Benjamin Jealous.
Our friends at No More Down Low TV was present at the discussion and has posted the only video currently available of the discussion despite most of the sessions from the convention being available on NAACP's official website.
The exchange turned heated when NAACP President Benjamin Jealous was confronted by Earnest Winborne, creator of No More Down Low TV about the anti-gay rhetoric of NAACP board member Rev. Keith Ratliff. Ratliff, an Iowa minister is famous for asking the LGBT community to "stop hi-jacking the civil rights movement."
The town hall discussion also came under fire from members of the transgender community for excluding transgender voices from the panel.
Watch No More Down Low TV's report in the clip below.
Thanks Darian.I knew this was going to be showing up on No More Down Low TV site and been waiting for it...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Darian!
ReplyDeleteThis was a wonderful report...thank you, Darian.
ReplyDeleteYes, gay firsts are great to have and is a big step towards gaining solidarity with in the Black community somewhere in the future. Having said that, panel after panel, after panel, year after year can give you a "feel good" feeling because someone is listening but I rather see action. The Black gay community shouldn't continue to spend a lot of time and energy asking for permission of civil rights groups to be let in but create our own or get behind the ones who are working on our behalf like the National Black Justice Coalition. Black Prides like Atlanta have their community luncheons and State of the Gay Union Summits over the years with high profile gays and allies on their panel to talk about the same things. However, Gay marriage happened because the discussions moved beyond panels and into action.
ReplyDeleteYes, well said Cleon. I completely agree with you.
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