Farrakhan Meets With Black Gay Leaders
Howard University Student Among Gay Leaders In Attendance
From: http://thebigblackblog.blogspot.com
In a conference call with Minister Louis Farrakhan, black gay leaders from
New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago asked that two gays — one man and
one woman — speak on the stage at the Millions More march on Oct. 15.
“No one can discuss homophobia or talk about the experience of being a double minority like we can,” Sterling Washington said. Washington, co-chair of the D.C. Coalition and co-founder of the Howard University gay and lesbian student group, BLAGOSAH, participated in the call.
“[Farrakhan] started off by saying the march was to address problems in the black community as a whole,” Washington said. “We said homophobia was a major issue in the black community and there was a need to address it from the platform.”
On Oct. 15, the Millions More Movement plans to hold a march in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Million Man March. According to the Millions More Web site, issues to be addressed at the march include unity, spiritual values, education, economic development, political power, reparations, the “prison industrial complex,” health, artistic and cultural development and peace.
Shining a spotlight on homophobia at the Millions More Movement has been a top priority for gay rights activists, especially in light of an anti-gay sermon delivered in July by D.C.-based Rev. Willie Wilson, who Farrakhan appointed as executive director of the Millions More Movement. Wilson accused lesbians of attempting to “take over” the black family and made
disparaging remarks about s*xual acts among gays.
Millions More Movement officials were not available for comment by press time.
Keith Boykin, National Black Justice Coalition president, brought up Wilson’s sermon on the call but Farrakhan did not directly respond, Washington said.
According to Washington, Farrakhan was evasive and non-committal in response
to almost all of the gay leaders’ requests. Rather than offering to allow gay speakers to address the crowd, Farrakhan said he would ask the Millions More executive committee to weigh in, Washington said. When the community leaders asked if they could present the issue to the executive committee themselves, Farrakhan “said no without saying no,” Washington said.
Farrakhan, Washington said, was “passing the buck.”
“Going to the executive committee sounds nice, but you’re the one who really
makes the decision,” Washington said they told Farrakhan. “We said, ‘You
don’t have to rely on the executive committee, they’ll do what you want them
to do.’”
‘Nothing concrete’
While Boykin said the meeting was historic and a “huge leap forward,” substantive results did not emerge.
“His tone was very conciliatory, cordial and friendly,” Boykin said. “But he
didn’t really commit to do anything.”
According to Boykin, Farrakhan told them the October program “has not been
set yet.”
The leaders also asked Farrakhan if the National Black Justice Coalition could be a full participant at the national level and if the D.C. Coalition of Black Lesbians & Gays could be local level organizers. Again, Farrakhan refused to answer their requests directly, according to Washington.
“He never gave us anything concrete,” Washington said.
Farrakhan invited the National Black Justice Coalition to become one of about 100 co-conveners of the Millions More Movement march in August. In a letter dated Aug. 15, Farrakhan invited the National Black Justice Coalition to take on the duties of a co-convener.
By ELIZABETH WEILL-GREENBERG | Sep 8, 12:30 AM
From: http://thebigblackblog.blogspot.com
In a conference call with Minister Louis Farrakhan, black gay leaders from
New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago asked that two gays — one man and
one woman — speak on the stage at the Millions More march on Oct. 15.
“No one can discuss homophobia or talk about the experience of being a double minority like we can,” Sterling Washington said. Washington, co-chair of the D.C. Coalition and co-founder of the Howard University gay and lesbian student group, BLAGOSAH, participated in the call.
“[Farrakhan] started off by saying the march was to address problems in the black community as a whole,” Washington said. “We said homophobia was a major issue in the black community and there was a need to address it from the platform.”
On Oct. 15, the Millions More Movement plans to hold a march in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Million Man March. According to the Millions More Web site, issues to be addressed at the march include unity, spiritual values, education, economic development, political power, reparations, the “prison industrial complex,” health, artistic and cultural development and peace.
Shining a spotlight on homophobia at the Millions More Movement has been a top priority for gay rights activists, especially in light of an anti-gay sermon delivered in July by D.C.-based Rev. Willie Wilson, who Farrakhan appointed as executive director of the Millions More Movement. Wilson accused lesbians of attempting to “take over” the black family and made
disparaging remarks about s*xual acts among gays.
Millions More Movement officials were not available for comment by press time.
Keith Boykin, National Black Justice Coalition president, brought up Wilson’s sermon on the call but Farrakhan did not directly respond, Washington said.
According to Washington, Farrakhan was evasive and non-committal in response
to almost all of the gay leaders’ requests. Rather than offering to allow gay speakers to address the crowd, Farrakhan said he would ask the Millions More executive committee to weigh in, Washington said. When the community leaders asked if they could present the issue to the executive committee themselves, Farrakhan “said no without saying no,” Washington said.
Farrakhan, Washington said, was “passing the buck.”
“Going to the executive committee sounds nice, but you’re the one who really
makes the decision,” Washington said they told Farrakhan. “We said, ‘You
don’t have to rely on the executive committee, they’ll do what you want them
to do.’”
‘Nothing concrete’
While Boykin said the meeting was historic and a “huge leap forward,” substantive results did not emerge.
“His tone was very conciliatory, cordial and friendly,” Boykin said. “But he
didn’t really commit to do anything.”
According to Boykin, Farrakhan told them the October program “has not been
set yet.”
The leaders also asked Farrakhan if the National Black Justice Coalition could be a full participant at the national level and if the D.C. Coalition of Black Lesbians & Gays could be local level organizers. Again, Farrakhan refused to answer their requests directly, according to Washington.
“He never gave us anything concrete,” Washington said.
Farrakhan invited the National Black Justice Coalition to become one of about 100 co-conveners of the Millions More Movement march in August. In a letter dated Aug. 15, Farrakhan invited the National Black Justice Coalition to take on the duties of a co-convener.
By ELIZABETH WEILL-GREENBERG | Sep 8, 12:30 AM
I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to take the side of Farrakhan. I may not have used his method of communication, but my decision would have been the same.