RENWL

Rev. Eric Lee in front of the Mormon Temple on Santa Monica Blvd. How 'bout the Crenshaw Christian Center, bro'?

In addition to the upholding of Prop 8 by the Supreme Court it saddens me DEEPLY that the 2 African American men who participated in this morning’s press conference at Lucy Florence coffee house in Leimert Park (Ron Buckmire and Rev. Eric Lee) neither one of them has had or willing to have direct dialogue/direct action with members of the African American community IN the African American community about the issue of same-sex marriage and the evils of Prop 8.

Yet they are repeatedly called upon by gay non-blacks in leadership to represent African Americans as leaders in marriage equality in the African American communities of Los Angeles.

THIS HAS TO STOP NOW.

IT IS AN INSULT TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND THOSE AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO REACH OUT TO THEIR AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES IN SEEKING SUPPORT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

IT IS AN INSULT TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT AFRICAN AMERICAN AND YET REACH OUT TO AFRICAN AMERICANS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

IT IS AN INSULT TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS ACROSS THIS STATE.

WE DON’T NEED POSERS—–WE NEED LEADERS.

Below is the press release for the latest insult:

Prop 8 Challenge Legal Team to Hold Press Conference Following Supreme Court Ruling

(Los Angeles, May 22, 2008) — The California Supreme Court has announced that it will rule Tuesday, May 26, 2009, on whether Proposition 8, passed by a slim majority of voters on November 4 and eliminating the right of same-sex couples to marry, was a valid amendment to the California Constitution.

At 10:30 a.m. — approximately a half-hour after the expected posting of the ruling — attorneys for plaintiff couples and community leaders will hold a news conference to discuss the ruling and what it means for California’s same-sex couples and their families, communities of color, and the future of LGBT rights in California. Clergy members will deliver an invocation at 9:45 a.m., shortly before the ruling is announced.

WHEN:
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
9:45 a.m. Clergy Invocation
10:30 a.m. News Conference

WHERE:
Lucy Florence Cultural Center
3351 W. 43rd Street, L.A., CA 90008

WHO:

• Ron Buckmire, Jordan Rustin Coalition
• Jenny Pizer, Lambda Legal Marriage Project Director and Co-counsel, Strauss v. Horton
• Mark Rosenbaum, Legal Director, ACLU of Southern California
• Rocky Delgadillo, City Attorney of Los Angeles
• Nancy Ramirez, Western Regional Attorney, MALDEF
• Rev. Eric Lee, President/CEO, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California
• Marc Solomon, Equality California (organizational plaintiff in Strauss v. Horton)
• Jorge Amaro, Latino Equality Alliance
• Doreena Wong, API Equality
• Lorri L. Jean, CEO, L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center

Gay rights groups filed Strauss v. Horton, challenging Proposition 8, on November 5. The National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal and the ACLU, representing six couples and Equality California, argued that the radical change attempted by Proposition 8 amounts to a “revision” of the California Constitution that cannot be accomplished by a simple majority vote of the electorate unless first approved by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature. Civil rights groups representing people of color and other minority groups joined the challenge because of a shared concern about protecting the constitutional guarantee of equality.

Local couples and community leaders will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean for one-on-one interviews.