Civil Rights Groups United to Stop Enactment of Proposition 8
November 16, 2008
Civil Rights Groups Petition California Supreme Court to
Stop Enactment of Proposition 8
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 14, 2008) – Civil rights groups today filed a petition with the California Supreme Court to stop the enactment of Proposition 8 because it would mandate discrimination against a minority group and did not follow the process required for fundamental revisions to the California Constitution.
Wanda Sykes Officially Comes Out As A Proud Black Gay Woman
November 16, 2008
I have always been a fan of comedienne, voice and TV actress, and author Wanda Sykes. For those of you who don’t know who Wanda Skyes is, she is well known for her “take no prisoner” observations on current events. She has received multiple prime time Emmy-awards and has been called “one of the funniest stand up comics” by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America.
In response to the passage of a same-sex marriage ban -Proposition 8- in California, Sykes has recently come out as a proud Black gay woman. Here is a clip of Skyes’ surprise appearance at a rally in Las Vegas. She was in town performing at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
Challenging Racism in White Gay Communities While Challenging Homophobia in Black Communities
November 13, 2008
Addressing Multiple Oppressions Simultaneously
I can’t believe that in response to the despicable racism of the mainstream White LGBT community that (some) Black queer folks are trying to say that marriage “isn’t our issue”… Sun Dawtah’s response (please read below) addresses this insanity…
I get that Black folk only make up 6.7% of California’s population; and as a result are not responsible for the passage of Prop 8. I feel strongly that, once again (and again and again) White LGBT folks must be CALLED OUT and CHALLENGED on their ongoing and relentless racism. And yet, if we, Black folks (regardless of our sexual orientation), don’t CALL OUT and CHALLENGE homophobia and heterosexism in our non-monolithic communities, then Black LGBT folks will still not be safe.
Celebrating Obama While Mourning Proposition 8
November 13, 2008
Celebrating Obama While Mourning Proposition 8…
I still find myself pinching myself to see if this is in fact real. I haven’t felt this way since I was an international observer for the elections in 94 (exactly 30 years after my mother, Gwendolyn Robinson/Zoharah Simmons, at the age of 19, went to Missisissppi in 1964 where for 18-months she was the project director of the Laurel Project) when Nelson Mandela became president. I turned 25 during that his/herstoric time in South Africa. While I will never ever forget what I experienced (consistently overwhelmed with emotions)/witnessed there…I must share that this feels just as if not all the more special and I know it is because I am an African-American woman.
I am also very reminded that as a Black feminist lesbian I must work very hard, in concert with so many others, to dismantle patriarchy and heterosexism in both my own non-monolithic community as well as in the world. I’m a bit alarmed about the (community) conversations about Black manhood… Black masculinity (in the absence of Black womanhood) as it relates to President-Elect (love it!) Obama.
