Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Today, the Board of the NAACP issued the following statement after voting to support marriage equality.

The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the “political, educational, social and economic equality” of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.  Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment.

This is a very good thing and will, hopefully, help us dispell the myth that black Americans are inherently homophobic and/or opposed to marriage equality.

What must also happen is a frank discussion within the LGBTQ community about racism. It is the necessary next step – to acknowledge privileges many of us do enjoy regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity – to advance the equal rights of all marginalized persons in our society.

Are you willing?