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Edited on Tue Oct-30-07 12:18 PM by Skidmore
and asked about Obama's position on GLBT issues, invited them to read the threads here at DU, and to respond. I received an immedate response with the following statement regarding GLBT issues and the issue with that minister and am passing it on to DU reders. I am posting it for the interested. Note: This was a response to a question I asked in an e-mail.
Barack’s STATEMENT ON MCCLURKIN "I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country. I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."
JOINT STATEMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CLERGY AND LGBT SUPPORTERS As Barack Obama supporters from the African American religious community and the gay community, we are issuing a statement together for the first time. Our letter addresses the recent issue of Pastor Donnie McClurkin singing at Senator Obama’s “Embrace the Change” concert series. In the midst of division, we hope and believe that this is a moment to bring together communities that have been divided for far too long. A few things are clear. First, Donnie McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied. At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin’s beliefs. This also cannot be ignored. Finally, we believe that the only way for these two sides to find common ground is to do so together. Not at arms length. Not in a war of words with press and pundits. Only together. It is clear that Barack Obama is the only candidate who has made bringing these two often disparate groups together a goal. In gatherings of both gay Americans and African Americans of faith, Obama has stated that all individuals should be afforded full civil rights regardless of their sexual orientation, and that homophobia must be eradicated in every corner of our nation. If we are to end homophobia and secure full civil rights for gay Americans, then we need an advocate within the Black community like Barack Obama. At the same time, while Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Pastor McClurkin's comments, he will not exclude from his campaign the many Americans including many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin. We believe Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for gay Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who have deep theological concerns with homosexuality. And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree. We also ask Senator Obama’s critics to consider the alternatives. Would we prefer a candidate who ignores the realities in the African American community and cuts off millions of Blacks who believe things offensive to many Americans? Or a panderer who tells African Americans what they want to hear, at the expense of our gay brothers and sisters? Or would we rather stand with Barack Obama, who speaks truth in love to both sides, pulling no punches but foreclosing no opportunities to engage? We stand with Senator Obama. We stand with him because of the solutions he is proposing for our nation. We stand with him because of his character and his judgment. But the most important reason we stand with him is because today, as he has done all along, Barack Obama is causing us to stand together. That's the kind of President we need, and we are proud to support him. TAKING THE EQUAL RIGHTS MESSAGE TO AUDIENCES THAT AGREE AND THOSE THAT DON’T
BARACK SAID PUBLICALLY THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS TO OVERCOME TRADITIONAL PREJUDICE AGAINST GAYS Barack Said, “I Would Add...One Of The Things That We’ve Got To Overcome Is A Stigma That Still Exists In Our Communities...It Has Been An Aspect Of Sometimes A Homophobia.” When asked what his plan to stop and to protect young people from the scourge of HIV-AIDS by Michel Martin of NPR, YOU said, “I would add the issue of prevention involves education and one of the things that we've got to overcome is a stigma that still exists in our communities. We don't talk about this. We don't talk about in the schools. Sometimes we don't talk about it in the churches. It has been an aspect of sometimes homophobia, that we don't address this issue as clearly as it needs to be. I also think there's a broader issue here. This is going to be true on all the issues we talk about.”
BARACK HAVE SAID IT TO BLACK MINISTERS Barack Visited Black Ministers in Tennessee, Addressed The Issue Of Homophobia In The Black Community. When asked how Barack would address homophobia in the black community. Barack said, “I have already done so...I was with Harold Ford. He organized a forum of black ministers in Tennessee. And I specifically talked about the degree to which the notion of gay marriage in black churches has been used to divide, has been used to distract. I specifically pointed out that if there is an pastor here who can point out a marriage that has been broken up as a consequence of seeing two men or two women holding hands, then you should tell me, because I haven't seen any evidence of it.”
AND IN FRONT OF THE GAY COMMUNITY Barack Said That The Black Community Has “Got To Stop” Using Homosexuality To Divide, That Civil Rights Must Apply To All People. Barack said, “And the black community, I think, has a diversity of opinion, as you and I both know. There are people who recognize that if we're going to talk about justice and civil rights and fairness, that should apply to all people, not just some. And there are some folks who coming out of the church elevated one line in Romans above the Sermon on the Mount. So my job as a leader, not just of African Americans, but hopefully, as a leader of Americans, is to tell the truth, which is this has been a political football that has been used. It is unfortunate. It's got to stop. And when it stops, we will then be able to address the legitimate and serious concerns that face the black families.”
BARACK’s POSITIONS ON LGBT POLICY ISSUES
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported. Obama co-sponsored legislation to expand federal hate crimes law to include crimes perpetrated because of sexual orientation or gender identity. Fight Workplace Discrimination and Promote Rights Obama believes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Obama sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples, including the right to assist their loved ones in times of emergency as well as equal health insurance, employment benefits, and property and adoption rights. Obama also believes we need to fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples. Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell Obama believes we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure we accomplish our national defense goals. Fight AIDS Worldwide Obama has been a global leader in the fight against AIDS. He traveled to Kenya and took a public HIV test to encourage testing and reduce the stigma of the disease. Obama worked to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act, one of the largest sources of federal funds for primary health care and support services for HIV/AIDS patients." --
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