For the second year in a row, many observances of Martin Luther King Day will include tributes to Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, who died almost a year ago on January 31. Until she was impaired by stroke, Coretta Scott King frequently spoke out in favor of LGBT civil rights. This morning there is actually a very nice tribute to Coretta Scott King's gay rights activism on Queerty.
“Like Martin, I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others", she would tell black civil rights leaders angered by gays and lesbians comparing their struggle to their own. She would quote her husband and say, “I have worked too long and hard against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concern. Justice is indivisible."
She also fought off bigots who would co-opt MLK's message and try to make it their own. In 2002, anti-gay advocates sought to repeal Miami-Dade County’s equal rights law by sending out fliers saying that King would be outraged at its gay-inclusive nature. Coretta responded through a statement put out by the King Center for Nonviolent Change saying, "I appeal to everybody who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbians and gay people."
When George W. Bush came out on the White House lawn and, in a bid for reelection, told the press he supported a Constitutional ban on gay marriage, Coretta again spoke up and reminded America of King's legacy: "Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."
It's remarkable how Dr. King's message of peace, love and fairness for all has been co-opted by the social conservatives and prominent anti-gay voices such as Rick Warren, who is speaking today at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Many old guard black pastors were angered by Mrs. King's words—including her younger daughter, the rabidly anti-gay Rev. Bernice King—but she called her critics "misinformed" and said that her late husband's message was one of equality and inclusion. Mrs. King and civil rights leader Julian Bond often reminded critics the 1963 March on Washington was organized by Bayard Rustin, an openly gay man. Coretta Scott King's longtime personal assistant was also an openly gay man.
What Would MLK Said About Gay Rights? [Queerty]
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"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights [R20]
Live Blog: Coretta Scott King Funeral [R20]
Gay-Bashing" at Bermuda Mega-Church [R20]
MLK Observances Will Include Coretta [R20]
It is sad Bernice King decided to send a stay away message to gays in regards to her mothers funeral by having queen bishop Eddie Long preside over it.
That family has "disfunctional" screaming from every headline written about them.
Posted by: gurlene | 19 January 2009 at 10:46
welcome back rod!
amen...preach brother!
those church folks in atlanta, like so many holy homohaters everyhere, are brazenly and repulsively disgracing the kings today....shame!!!!!!!!
no evil warren ally shall ever be forgiven by me...none!
peace
ab
Posted by: alicia banks | 19 January 2009 at 11:23
Coretta Scott King was America's Queen.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 19 January 2009 at 11:30
It should be noted here that Coretta was not always so sympathetic to gay rights. In 1983, when the King family oversaw an event in Washington celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the March on Washington, the NCBLG (National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays) struggled mightily to get some kind of gay rights presence at the event. Gil Gerald, NCBLG’s director, found Coretta quite opposed to any connection with the fight for gay rights.
Something happened, though, between 1983 and the early 1990s. I don’t know if it was having Lynn Cothren, who became a chair of Queer Nation in Atlanta, as her personal assistant for many years. I don’t know if it was the influence of her daughter, Yolanda. Or maybe it was having a flaming metrosexual son named Dexter. But whatever caused the change, I suspect it was further proof that the more of us come out, the more allies we acquire.
Posted by: Jim | 20 January 2009 at 01:02
Jim,
thank you so much for pointing out some history that many of us either didn't know or forgot or put behind us. What happened with Mrs King is what CAN happen with many black folks: if they get educated on who and what we black gays are, more of them will rethink their opposition to gay civil rights...and I aint no optimist, but I believe this. More of us need to "come out". For many of us, being "out" in the black community has simply meant not pretending or attempting the "DL"--that may not be enough. Being gay or sgl (or both) must something known about us to our family, neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members. It aint easy, and for some of us it will take more time.
I'm not saying that all black folks can be brought into the 21st Century on this subject, but many many will see how cruel it is to persecute your own sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, students, choir members, etc.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 20 January 2009 at 12:36