Yes, this is a big struggle for the GLBTs as a group; but, the community has to make it our fight as the black community made civil rights due to race their fight.

Being a gay black male I have seen discrimination in all forms. I even have been discriminated by my own GLBT brothers and sisters because of my color. So, when I hear this type of comparison I am afraid what this could lead to. I believe we need to work hard as our own group. We need to give strong and VALID reasons why we deserve what we deserve and make sure our house is order in the process. Now, I am not saying that we should not fight and give analogies. Yes, please let us fight this and any discrimination. Again, we need to be careful how you approach something like this. This is what I am trying to convey.

Also, I have to say that many of my GLBTs sisters and brothers will never know what it will be like to walk a mile in my shoes as an African American and the African American community if very sensitive to these type of comparisons. Some of us can hide our sexuality very well, where as I and many of the African American men and women in the community cannot hide our color. If we want to fight, come out and fight.

I am so proud that we are having healthy dialog about this issue. I have always said this is the key to get anywhere and make progress on any issues that one may not be fully aware of or would have never though about. Great job everyone!

Which provided the backers of Arkansas Adoption Act with the perfect cover for their bigotry.

It was a triple hypocrisy for them to claim that they were “protecting children”:

1) No child was helped by the act;

2) Single persons that were otherwise qualified were barred from adopting;

3) Unmarried couples, gay or straight that were otherwise qualified were barred from adopting.

Absolutely no child that is a ward of the state of Arkansas or in foster care there benefitted from passage of this act. The only effect was to allow those that favored it to conceal their bigotry while enshrining it in law.

Absolutely disgusting, and repugnantly selfish bigotry, the very worst there is. One group supporting the ban had the audacity to claim that “The Arkansas Adoption Act will increase the number of homes for adoptive and foster care children.” That anybody would fall for this is no credit to the voters of the state, unless they were relentlessly lied to and just didn’t know what was the truth.

@Jim: I was not aware of those statistics and it certainly changes my perceptions as well. Thank you for sharing them with me . . . with us.

I’ve learned a lot from this discussion. I’m happy I chimed in despite the fact that I made myself sound like a horse’s ass in doing so. I like to think of myself as a good person despite the fact that I might not have presented that picture here. I hope you all will forgive my trespass.

Very interesting. That changes my perception substantially.

1) One of the many, many complaints against the No on 8 campaign was a lack of outreach to the AA community. There were Black leaders and ministers who sought No on 8′s help and others who offered their voices, influence, and expertise to No on 8. But many reported that No on 8 either didn’t get back with them, or said no thanks, we don’t need your help.

It’s axiomatic in politics that you cannot expect someone’s vote unless you ask for that vote. No on 8 did not ask for their vote, and so it should not surprise anyone to discover that they didn’t get it.

2) In Arkansas, where Amendment 1 banning adoption by gay couples was passed, Blacks and Whites both voted FOR the measure. But more Blacks voted against it (46%) than did Whites (42%).

I don’t dispute the numbers. But I caution you from statements of this sort: “They are disgusting individuals who are not deserving of my respect nor are they deserving of my compassion.”

Regardless of your anger, I think in a calmer moment you might consider that ALL people – even those with whom you disagree – are deserving of respect and compassion.

And consider the 31% that voted with us when you write off an entire demographic of the population. Just a few short years ago we would be delighted if we had 31% support for marriage from ANY group. That it is taking the African American community longer to get there is not a reason for disdain or for considering this population as “disgusting individuals”.

I’m encouraged that you intend to – when less angry – return to the fight. Remember, our support for racial equality is not because of what we can get out of it but because it is right. Even if blacks never come to support our equality, we should not let that effect our belief in a world with equal standing. To do so only hurts ourselves.

Gay is the new married.

The statistics on the numbers of black voters who voter to approve Prop 8, however, remain. People have made every excuse for these numbers: uneducated, religious, the lack of opportunities of whites and the list goes on.

By that logic, I should hate everyone and want to deny those different from myself ever civil right. I didn’t go to college; my family was poor white trash and could barely afford the clothes we wore (which were usually bought at the good will). I didn’t have the opportunities that many of the people around me had – I watched my friends go off to college and succeed while my father drank himself into a stupor and my mother died in denial. I was drug through the Baptist church for my entire childhood and up until about eight years ago (after about twenty thousand dollars in therapy) I couldn’t go outside my apartment if I saw the number 666 pop up for fear the devil was breathing down my neck. I’ve fought for everything I have and that includes the person I am. But I digress. My point is, the oppressed have become the oppressors and it is thoroughly disgusting regardless of how my liberal brethren would like to spin the reasons behind the numbers on Proposition 8.

And please don’t mistake my anger as only being directed at black people who voted for the proposition. Those numbers were just the most shocking. I feel the same about any minority who would seize and opportunity to deny another minority a civil right. They are disgusting individuals who are not deserving of my respect nor are they deserving of my compassion.

Will that change? I’m sure it will. It always does and I always go back to the fight because its what I believe is right. But right now, at this moment, in front of this computer, I don’t have any fight left in me. I’m using my hard earned white middle class status for everything its worth and that makes me sick to my stomach to think that I’ve allowed myself to sink that low. But anger is a powerful driving force and I’m very, very angry. And my heart is hurting because of it.

I’ve seen the same thing said in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Times and on numerous websites.

I’m all for being educated so if you can show me something that contradicts everything I’ve read, I’ll be happy to apologize and rescind my comments. Until then, I maintain my stance: to hell with them.

I’ve fought my whole life for equality and done my best to stamp out stereotypes of black people even when I knew I was in the minority fighting against everyone from my Southern Baptist family to some of the bigoted jerks I work with. This was slap in the face that I cannot forgive.