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DREAM DEFERRED NO LONGER
FemmeNoir
A Web Portal For Lesbians Of Color
A
DREAM DEFERRED NO LONGERThe legacy and dream of Martin Luther King Jr. lives on today but for so many African-American same- gender loving people that dream has been deferred. However, it's a new year and it's time for Black gays to reclaim their dreams and celebrate King's legacy.
When Martin Luther King Jr. marched in the 60s for the civil
rights of African-Americans, he wasn't marching for the civil rights of some, he
marched for all Blacks. Side by side, straight Blacks marched with gay blacks
and it's important that the contributions of gays to this movement do not
continue to be downplayed and overlooked.
The gay rights movement has been compared to the 60s Civil Rights Movement
repeatedly and questions surrounding King's views on homosexuality are
constantly being asked. We will never know for sure what King thought about
homosexuality, but we do know that he apparently had no issue with working with
gays because one of his closest personal and political advisors was an openly
gay man, Bayard Rustin. Rustin is best known for being one of the driving
forces behind the march on Washington in 1963.
The fact that King worked with and trusted an openly gay man during this
critical moment in African- American history says a lot. King must not have
found Rustin's sexual orientation to be a hindrance to the movement and he
didn't allow the fact that Rustin was gay to supersede his being Black and
having an active role in the movement.
At a time when there were very few voices for their own causes willing to stand
up, Rustin and other Black gays and lesbians had to put aside gay rights issues
for the cause of the greater movement, the Civil Rights Movement and their
contributions should not go forgotten or unnoticed.
When Blacks were drinking out of colored only water fountains and forced to use
separate bathrooms from that of whites, the signs didn't read "Straight Colored
Only" and "Gay Colored Only." No. They simply read "Colored Only." Black gays
and lesbians suffered the same mistreatment of Blacks in general and still had
no voices of their own.
Flash forward forty years later to the vision of the youngest daughter of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. leading a march in Atlanta to denounce marriage rights to
gay couples. Attempting to further divide the Black community on the issue of
homosexuality, Reverend Bernice King blatantly ignored the contributions of
thousands of Black gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to the Civil
Rights Movement. If that wasn't enough, Rev. King and mega church pastor Bishop
Eddie Long purposely chose King's gravesite to bring attention to the march and
their hateful message. It's unfortunate that there are those in the Black
community that find bigotry acceptable towards gays and use misguided ideologies
to convey their message.
However, today is a new day and King's dream lives in all of us, straight or
gay. King's dream will no longer be deferred for Black gays. We will continue to
fight discrimination, homophobia and bigotry in our own communities, whether it
be the Black or gay community. The gay rights movement does share common ground
with the Civil Rights Movement, discrimination. Blacks suffered discrimination
at the hands of whites because of their skin color while gays continue to be
discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and identity.
Gone are the days of silence in the Black community around issues of sexuality,
we played that game and it cost some of us our lives.
We will never know for certain what Dr. King thought about same gender loving
people. The closest person to him, his wife, has already publicly stated that
King would have supported gay rights if that were any indication on what his
views might have been. But you know, I am not so much worried about what King
would have thought about me being a Black lesbian as I am about the direction of
our community on this issue. Our community has far more important issues that
need our attention and resources than discrimination.
I dream that one day I will be able to legally marry my girlfriend and have our
union protected by the 1,049 federal benefits and privileges afforded to
heterosexual couples. I have a dream that one day gay youth will no longer be
kicked out of their homes and displaced from their families simply because they
are attracted to the same sex. I have a dream that our community will address
the issues of HIV/AIDS head on and stop this disease from claiming another
precious life. I have a dream that one day my same gender loving brothers and
sisters will be able to free themselves from the chains of internalized
homophobia and that our community can move past the issue of homosexuality to
focus on the more pressing issues of today like the never-ending war, access to
education, jobs, healthcare and social security.
I have a dream that will no longer be deferred thanks to the vision and effort
of Dr. King, Bayard Rustin and the few same gender loving voices that dared to
stand up back when they could find no one to stand up for their own rights.
That's what we should be celebrating on King's holiday, not only the man, but
the dream and it does live on.
About Jasmyne Cannick
A frequent presence on television and radio, Jasmyne Cannick has appeared on
numerous media programs, including Black Entertainment Television News, the
Tavis Smiley Show, Fox News and the Bev Smith Show. She has also been featured
or quoted in articles in the Associated Press, New York Times, Los Angeles
Times, Washington Post, St. Petersburg Times, Africana.com and Bet.com. Cannick
at 27, is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, a board
member of the National Black Justice Coalition and co-producer of the new cable
series Noah's Arc, America's First Black Gay Series. Cannick is the Director of
Public Relations for the Black AIDS Institute. She lives in Los Angeles and can
be reached via www.jasmynecannick.com
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Bio:
http://jasmynecannick.com/biography.htm
Jasmyne Cannick
email:
jasmynecannick@hotmail.com
phone: (213) 249-0739 / (323) 839-0216
Jasmyne Cannick © 2004 All rights reserved.