* From a press release…
Leaders of the African American Clergy Coalition (AACC) are expressing disappointment in the LGBT’s attempted 2 million Dollar Purchase of the black community and black legislators in return for a “yes” vote on SB 10. This comes after years of racism and the lack of diversity within the Gay and Lesbian community against Black Gays and Lesbians. However with the recent setbacks on the attempted passage of SB 10 in the Illinois General Assembly, the LGBT now wants to “forget the racist past” and engage in “purchasing” the black community.
“It is mind blowing that the LGBT community has a poor track record of embracing its own Black Gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters, but now wants to purchase every African American they come across,” says Bishop Lance L. Davis, Co Chairman of the AACC.
Just two months ago, the vast majority of black legislators in the Illinois House of Representatives refused to vote” yes” on the pending Same Sex Marriage legislation(SB10). Now a renewed effort by the LGBT community is targeting the Black community in an attempt to have SB10 approved in the near future.
Davis adds “I appeal to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to be mindful of the LGBT’s tactics to get them to ignore the voices of their community that are strongly against SB10. This attempt to buy the black community is disrespectful and speaks to a louder issue concerning racism and the lack of respect for those minorities within the LGBT community.”
Recently, Illinois State Representative Monique Davis was quoted saying that by a ratio of 15 to 1, voters were voicing their opposition to SB10. Other African American legislators have expressed the same opposition within their respective districts.
The LGBT needs to be reminded that it cannot “buy” marriage in Illinois. They cannot “buy” the African American community and any effort to do so will work against them. They should be reminded that any effort to purchase votes of legislators in the African American community will be carefully scrutinized and any apparent violation of Illinois’s bribery laws will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for investigation.
The LGBT community continues to remain tight lipped on Trayvon Martin…..but wants to purchase the black community in the most disrespectful manner.
Um, wow.
- Northsider - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 10:57 am:
Wow, indeed.
Without knowing anything in particular about how the pro-marriage equality (belated) outreach effort is going, that’s the sort of screed I’d expect to hear from anyone or any group that has just realized that they’ve been outflanked.
- Demoralized - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 10:58 am:
Ok. So wait a minute. It was Ok for them to do this big anti-gay marriage campaign but when the other side does it they are trying to “purchase” black legislators? They are trying to “buy” gay marriage? Give me a break. And I won’t even comment on their ridiculous racism comments. I question these people if they are supposed to be religious leaders.
- Belle - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:07 am:
I am pretty sure that African Americans are gay in the same proportions as other racial groups—Is the point that there are more African Americans pretending that that they are not and that they do not want to marry their gay partner?
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:08 am:
The rhetoric is not so surprising; it is par for the course if they believe an organization or community has engaged in discriminatory and exclusive practices or biased behavior.
The real surprise would be whether there is any truth to their claims that the LGBT community in Illinois suffers from a lack of diversity and a history of discrimination or exclusive practices.
- dave - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:08 am:
Is ISRA writing these press releases?
- State worker bee - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:09 am:
This is the most desperate and hateful ploy I have ever seen. Bishop Davis should be ashamed.
- siriusly - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:12 am:
Surely Monique and can hide behind whatever excuse she wants, but gay people are people. This sort of desperation is way more sad than it is ironic.
- PRO-2nd Amendment - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:12 am:
@Dave, Even I thought that comment was hysterical.
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:19 am:
The Coalition is attempting to personify the LGBT community into a single person and then label that person as racist. How is the LGBT supposed to comment on the Travon Martin issue? Is every ethnic, or social group supposed to register their dissatisfaction with the verdict? If so, what about the “Amateur Bowlers Association?” What do they have to add about the verdict?
- walkinfool - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:20 am:
@Dave: bravo
- Fed up - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:26 am:
When in doubt whip it out. ” The race card”
- Yossarian Lives - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:31 am:
If there is a problem with marginalization of Blacks within the LGBT community, then that should be addressed. But I have no idea why that allegation, even if true, would mean that civil rights - for gays and lesbians of all races - ought to be denied. If gay marriage is a benefit, then Black LGBT people would benefit from SB 10 as well.
“The LGBT community” isn’t a single entity that, as a whole, comments on social or political issues, as far as I know. But I know many people who are not African-American, including gays and lesbians, who have been very vocal about the case and about the racial double standard underlying it. This is a dishonest, badly-written and illogical press release.
- Yossarian Lives - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:33 am:
That said, the various groups lobbying for SB 10 did, unwisely, leave themselves open to this kind of attack by not hiring an African-American lobbyist with House ties until May 31 - as Rich has reported.
- Cheswick - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:37 am:
Now we’re talkin’!
Wow.
- wishbone - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:37 am:
The Bishop’s point seems to be that if anyone is going to discriminate against black gays and lesbians it should be their fellow bigoted blacks. Nice guy.
- MrJM - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:39 am:
“Leaders of the African American Clergy Coalition (AACC) are expressing disappointment in the LGBT’s attempted 2 million Dollar Purchase of the black community and black legislators in return for a ‘yes’ vote on SB 10.”
And I am deeply disappointed in the multiple errors of capitalization and grammar found in this opening sentence.
– MrJM
- Soccermom - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:40 am:
Where exactly in the Bible does Christ endorse this type of rhetoric? I can’t find it in mine.
It is beyond vile to talk about “purchasing” African-Americans. I am outraged.
- FoxValleyPride1 - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:41 am:
First, the LGBTQ activist community gets run through the wringer for not doing enough to reach out to the black community. Now they’re reaching out too much? Gimme a break.
- FoxValleyPride1 - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:44 am:
I will say though, that this is much more about money than I’m comfortable with. If I get hit up for more donations to be used to convince my legislators to do the right thing…
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:45 am:
According to the AACC webiste, Rev. Meeks is doing robocalls now bankrolled by Family PAC.
Among the big hitters for Family Pac are Cummins-Allison and Richard Uehlein. Smaller contributors include the House Republican Leadership Committee, plus Dillard’s, Oberweis’ and Reis’ campaign committees, according to ISBE.
Family PAC’s website promises to put out a scorecard soon on “pension reform, comprehensive sex ed, gambling expansion, medical marijuana, same-sex marriage and more.”
Pension reform — how did that get to the top of the list, lol?
- Lobo Y Olla - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:45 am:
—This comes after years of racism and the lack of diversity within the Gay and Lesbian community against Black Gays and Lesbians.–
This is utter nonsense. Stop by Center on Halsted and see for yourself who the gay community welcomes. The sad truth is, the Center on Halsted has many minority visitors because those visitors are disrespected/mistreated/hurt by thier “home” community. Really uninformed drivel.
- ck - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:48 am:
Yah, they are so tight lipped on Trayvon Martin..that they have been blogging about it, and did a group letter demanding justice. It was hard to find too, I had to google HRC+Trayvon Martin.
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/standing-up-for-trayvon-martin
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hrc-signs-onto-letter-calling-for-justice-for-trayvon-martin
http://www.queerty.com/35-lgbt-organizations-call-for-justice-for-trayvon-martin-20130717/
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:56 am:
Does this mean war is declared? Sure sounds like it.
This rage is way over the top. It’s not just marriage, it’s the complete rejection of another culture. May their God forgive them.
- David Ormsby - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:57 am:
–This is a dishonest, badly-written and illogical press release.–
It was no doubt written by the PAC’s “media consultant” Sean Howard who was even bounced from Todd Stroger’s campaign.
That should tell you something.
- Soccermom - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
David. boom.
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:02 pm:
–That said, the various groups lobbying for SB 10 did, unwisely, leave themselves open to this kind of attack by not hiring an African-American lobbyist with House ties until May 31 - as Rich has reported. –
Wait a minute — if you hire a favored lobbyist you don’t get called racist?
- MrJM - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
“Really uninformed drivel.”
Actually, it’s deliberately dishonest drivel. (But your larger point still stands.)
– MrJM
- Amalia - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:15 pm:
20 years ago this stuff was ridiculous….tried to get African American community groups involved in some HIV supportive services…response in the main, our community does not need that, we don’t have gay men. it’s 2013 for the love of …… so it’s still ok for the AACC to do heavy duty and money lobbying but it is not ok for the LGBTQ community to do that?
wrong. just say what you mean, that you are prejudiced AACC. That you discriminate AACC. that you should not be listened to is what I say.
- Waldi - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:39 pm:
Maybe I’m naïve, but I would have hoped that a group who suffered and continues to suffer unjust persecution would not have been so eager to inflict, or so reluctant to alleviate, a similar injustice on another group. It’s sad really.
- AFSCME Steward - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:41 pm:
{I am on the Bishop’s side on this issue, but I cannot support his rhetoric. After reading his comment I was not even clear what he was saying. Was he implying that legislators were being bribed to change their votes ? If so he needs to come forward with evidence and provide it to the appropriate authority. I am not sure how you “buy the black community”. Is someone passing out money in the streets ?
While I am opposed to SSM, I do recognize that groups that do not agree with me have a right to lobby and advocate their cause. I think these comments are way over the top and do not serve the best interests of the position he supports. Spending money to gain support for your issue is how we do things in a democracy.
“Leaders of the African American Clergy Coalition (AACC) are expressing disappointment in the LGBT’s attempted 2 million Dollar Purchase of the black community and black legislators in return for a “yes” vote on SB 10″
- Soccermom - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:52 pm:
To make a statement like this, in the same week that the President honors Bayard Rustin — shame. Shame.
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/8/12/black_gay_and_a_pacifist_bayard
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 2:01 pm:
This might not be the best place to give it a shout out, but I’d recommend everyone read Phil Hersh’s story in yesterday’s Trib about Chicago’s awesome Jackie Robinson West Little League team and the very good people of Beardstown.
Long story short, an inner-city Chicago team was making an unexpected Cinderella-run through the Little League World Series tourney and was going broke after eight days in Beardstown (believe me, travel baseball ain’t cheap).
The folks in Beardstown brought them groceries, helped with the lodging, gassed up their cars and more. Some of them went to Indy as the tourney progressed to cheer on the Chicago kids.
In a state seemingly always torn on race and city/downstate lines, this story will do your heart good.
It’s beyond the pay wall, but grab a Sunday Trib if you can. It’s well worth it.
- Lobo Y Olla - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 2:20 pm:
-Actually, it’s deliberately dishonest drivel-
I’ll accept that critique any day, MrJM.
- Yossarian Lives - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 3:03 pm:
Thanks for sharing, Wordslinger. Having visited Beardstown a number of times, I can believe it. I’ll definitely look for the story.
- Joan P. - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 3:04 pm:
“The LGBT community continues to remain tight lipped on Trayvon Martin”
Now there’s a non sequitur if I ever saw one. It’s also a clear indication that these folks don’t read the Windy City Times.
- whatever - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 3:59 pm:
So a group who’s stratagy has been to label anyone who disagrees with them as bigots is now upswept that they are being called bigots? Amateur hour.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:50 pm:
OTOH, Bernard Jakes is pro-equality and a minister.
- Wow... - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 6:25 pm:
Since when is the LGBT community racist? The entire point of the community is to embrace anyone and everyone who is or is an ally to the group…this is religious propaganda at its finest. I urge any and all people to disregard this hateful target at an attempt for equality.