Black Ministers Targeted Dayton Mayor for Gay Rights Law

On Tuesday, the media and gay community's attention was focused on the ballot issues in Kalamazoo, Maine and Washington state. But another gay rights-related issue played out in Dayton, Ohio. Two-term incumbent Mayor Rhine McLin lost her re-election bid because her once solid support in the black community had slipped. One possible reason: The city's leading black ministers refused to endorse her because she supported the city's gay rights ordinance, reports the Dayton News.

“In a close race, everything is a factor,” said her campaign manager, Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Mark Owens. “It is very ironic that they denied the endorsement because she took the stance that gays shouldn’t be discriminated against because of sexual orientation. She’s concerned about human rights for everyone — blacks, whites, gays.”

In announcing the alliance’s decision, the Rev. Wilburt Shanklin, its president, pointed to factors other than McLin’s stand on the ordinance. “The economy is still in turmoil in the city and we don’t see a lot of relief coming from the City Commission,” said Shanklin. But he also said that when McLin was elected, “we thought we had an agreement” that she wouldn’t support a gay-rights ordinance.

Given the IMA’s past history on this issue, it’s hard not to draw the conclusion that this is the gist of the matter. In 2007, Shanklin made the through-the-looking glass argument that in considering a gay-rights ordinance, the Dayton City Commission is “trampling on the blood of Martin Luther King Jr. and on the blood of the suffragettes.” Alliance fliers implied that after granting “special rights” to gays and lesbians, specials rights for sexual predators and pedophiles wouldn’t be far behind.

McLin lost the election by less than 900 votes out of 29,000 cast. The new mayor, Gary Leitzell, who is white, is a community activist with little executive experience. "I just think voters chose for change,” McLin said on Wednesday.

The outgoing mayor says she is "proud" that Dayton now bans discrimination on sexual orientation and says the stand was worth the political cost.

Once again, it was much easier for many of the community's black churches and so-called black "leaders" to focus on gay rights than the real problems in Dayton's hard-hit black community, such as gang violence, HIV/AIDS, and foreclosures.  And "trampling on the blood" of Dr. King? Really. Some of the so-called ministers should have asked Coretta Scott King what her husband would have fought for.

Comments

[Alton C]

She was also a crappy mayor, who oversaw some of the greatest hemoraging in the private sector EVER! But, knowing many of those members personally, that doesn't surprise me a bit!

[Derrick from Philly]

This really saddens and angers me. It also points out that even at my age, I can be so naive. I actually believed that when bigoted black preachers go up against a respected and progressive black elected official--the preachers would loose.

Somebody from Dayton, please tell us that something else was going on here. Also, what are the racial demographics in Dayton. Could Mayor McLin still have received the vast majority of black votes but still lost?...that these ignorant-ass preachers simply siphoned off enough black votes to cause her defeat.

Oh, and I'm sure she received the votes of many progressive white Daytonians too (don't want to sound like a bigot here).

[Ohio Player]

@Alton:

I think all of the country is suffering from the economy and Rust Belt cities like Dayton are hardest hit.

The fact remains the black ministers opposed her not because of the economy (not entirely her fault) but on the human rights ordinance.

[Anderson]

here we go again black people. what are the priorities in our community? and why do so many so called christians, black or white, oppose anti discrimination laws?

[fneh]

Perhaps these ministers would like to pay the cotton fields a visit for a few years to see how it is to be a second class citizen.

[T'realist One]

Don't worry. This is gonna bite us back in the ass sooner or later.
The moment we as Blacks cry out for rights or equality on an issue, I want to see who is going to take us seriously based upon our stances when it comes to fighting discrimination and promoting equality as well.

But wait! This quote absolutely sets this thing for what it is

“WE THOUGHT WE HAD AN AGREEMENT”
(that she wouldn’t support a gay-rights ordinance.)

There ya go... what else is there?

[alicia banks]

dear jesus:

please deliver me from those goddamned "christians"!!!

shame!!!!!!!

[DeShawn]

Rhine McLin did the right thing in signing the anti-discrimination ordinance.

[Ronnell]

@Alton

What do you really know...I like in Dayton and I can't tell you how pissed I was when she lost. We now have a man in office who is quoted as calling Dayton, "toxic wasteland", he has no experience of any kind and have never held a real job. I'm seriously thinking of moving to one of the outlying townships until she can run again this is just very stupid and for our black ministers to do some outlandish *ish like that makes me sick. My pastor is one of them and I'm so glad he is leaving.

Mclin is leaving a very good legacy in my book she has done more for this city than people see. I wish her all the best.

@Derrick

It's 53% white or ~88000 and `43% black or ~71000, but those numbers to me seem skewed. Although they might count some of these outlying townships under us.

Thats 159000 ppl and only 28000 voted that only 17% of the population

[QH]

As a young, gay & black Daytonian myself, the fact she lost this election wasn't based on her performance, but other shallow issues.

Personally, to the commenter above, Mike Turner did more to damage this city than any major. I think Rhine cleaned up Dayton, specifically downtown and has helped make it far more accessible and marketable than it ever was in the '90's.

But yeah, sometimes my people sadden me about the way they vote. Que sera, sera...

[Will Brooks]

I live in Dayton. She has been an embarrassment to the city for years. She is also a very weak leader who lost support in all communities on many other issues besides this one. I think that this is a red herring to draw attention away from her lackluster record. I wish her all the best and I do believe that she cares for Dayton on some level. Her campaign was financed by big money backers and I believe she has always held special interests as a priority.

[Lori Turner]

I'm so grateful that this woman is no longer in office. There are so many kiss (@*!) & ignorant african americans. I happened to be a victim of this mayors failure; I voted for Gary Leitzell & I am african American; He is right; These people work for us, not the other way around. This city is in disarray & Mayor Leitzell can do no further harm to it; Mayor Mclin was for the special interst groups, as well as many of the commisioners that now sit & should go as well. CONGRATULATIONS, Leizell!!!!

[Faison]

Wow. Who knew there were so very many black gay men who read Rod 2.0 in the Dayton area? Who we have never heard from until now?

Wait. Maybe these comments from Dayton aren't from black LGBTs. Lori surely isn't a black gay man and Will doesn't sound like one either. SMH

Regardless of McLin's performance, the black ministers were most upset about her support of the human rights bill. That is a FACT they don't even try to hide. And in typical black folk fashion, the dittoheads come on this blog and talk about everything but the black ministers targeting her over gay rights.

I don't live in Dayton. But thankfully you have a human rights ordinance now and have joined (somewhat) the 21st century and the rest of the country. Hopefully if you have gay brothers or sisters that are discriminated against they can use that.

Black folks. We know we are a piece of work... smh

[David Esrati]

This is an excuse/ a smokescreen- they didn't back her because of many reasons. The fact is- they backed Nan Whaley, who also voted for it.
The reality of Dayton is that the African American democratic voter has been used by the party to control elections- until the AA Dems wake up and see that they've been used and manipulated for years- things won't change.
The Party had the gall to put Issue 3 (casinos) on the same approved ticket they hand out like candy to voters- the preachers should have stormed Dem HQ and called for a beheading.
The quoted article (which should be attributed clearly) is the paper trying to explain how they backed the losing horse.

[Ronnell]

@Faison

I agree none of them sound like blacks to me and for Will you are what I like to call and Uncle Tom Str8 up. Rhine McLin is a close personal friend of mine and even with that in mind I see some things she could have been better at. But the things she did do for the city are leaps and bounds ahead of Turner. I'm really hoping for whatever his name is to screw up and people see the real him.

[Ronnell]

@David

What the hell is up with everyone and issue 3. If you can't handle gambling don't go. That is all there is too it. I bet you back Debra...I was with Mary and bull on AA Dems needing to wake up. And self respecting black and gay male that votes Republic has signed your rights away.