The California chapter of the NAACP under President Alice Huffman has been a steadfast and courageous supporter of marriage equality since 2004. But Huffman took some heavy criticism from the national organization which – despite having the extraordinary pro-gay civil rights icon Julian Bond as Board Co-chair – refused to endorse full equal rights for LGBT people, including same gender-loving African Americans.
Having a prominent national civil rights organization dedicated to justice and equality hold a “neutral” position on discrimination against same sex couples was a disconnect that came to the fore post-Prop 8 when another prominent civil rights group – the Southern Christian Leadership Conference – reportedly wanted to fire SCLC/LA head Rev. Eric Lee over his strong stand for marriage equality. Were the NAACP and SCLC “neutral” over inter-racial marriage in the case of Loving v. Virginia?
I raised the issue of “neutrality” with SCLC’s General Counsel Dexter M. Wimbish when I interviewed him about Lee’s situation. Wimbish said:
“I personally understand that position. I imagine that in the 1960s the same argument was made about why some organizations were ‘neutral’ about segregation, for instance. But this organization is not at a point where it will take a public position on the issue. It just means that inside the organization and outside, we have work to do. This is Dr. King’s organization and personally, I would hope that we can come together to dialogue and address those issues.”
It appears the NAACP is ready to have that dialogue. On July 25 at 2:00pm at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the NAACP will hold its first-ever town hall meeting to discuss LGBT issues. The event will be moderated by recently out CNN anchor Don Lemmon and include married comedienne Wanda Sykes. The town hall meeting is one of several panels and workshops the NAACP is having at its convention that starts Friday and runs through Thursday, July 28 Here’s a link to the day-by-day schedule. Also – please note that AIDS at 30 will be the topic of the luncheon speakers on Saturday.
Here’s a reminder of how extraordinary iconic NAACP civil rights hero Julian Bond talks about LGBT rights as civil rights when he was honored by the Human Rights Campaign in March 2009 in Los Angeles:
In a press release, pro-gay NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous said:
“Black members of the LGBT community share a common history and continued struggle to address issues of bigotry, yet their identities, talents and leadership are often times diminished because of homophobia and fear of physical violence. It is important that we address these issues head on.”
The press release says that the LGBT forum
“will examine the significant contributions of black gay leaders within the Civil Rights movement, the role of black straight allies in addressing homophobia, and how we can collectively overcome LGBT discrimination within the black community.
Panelists also include Professor Beverly Guy-Sheftall of Spelman College, actor Daryl Stephen and writer, scholar and activist Kenyon Farrow.
Here an earlier schedule with highlights for the convention. Please note that the LGBT town hall does not appear here – but has since been posted.
102nd Annual Convention: “Affirming America’s Promise”
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2011
9:00 am – 11:30 pm ACT-SO Workshops
9:00 am – 11:30 pm ACT-SO Science/Visual Arts Viewing
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm KICKOFF PRESS CONFERENCE
JW Marriot, Plaza 1-3
NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock
NAACP President & CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous
SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011
9:00 am – 9:00 pm ACT-SO Competitions
9:30 am – 11:40 am Health Symposium
NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock
US Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin
Former Surgeon General Dr. Jocelyn Elders
Former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher
Noon – 1:30 pm HIV/AIDS Lunch
Dr. Gail Wyatt, UCLA AIDS Institute
1:00 pm Commerce & Industry Show- GRAND OPENING
SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2011
10:30 am – 12:30 pm WIN Empowerment Forum/Brunch
Donna Richardson Joyner
Kemba Smith Padia, Author
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm ACT-SO Awards Ceremony
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm First Public Mass Meeting
Senator Diane Feinstein
Representative Maxine Waters
Chairman Emeritus Myrlie Evers-Williams
Keynote Address
Keynote Address: Roslyn M. Brock
Chairman, National Board of Directors
MONDAY, JULY 25, 2011
5:45 am – 6:15 am Morning Fitness/Boot Camp
9:30 am – 12:00 pm First Plenary Session
Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles
Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, Los Angeles County
Eric Garcetti, City Council President, Los Angeles
Judge Greg Mathis, NAACP National Board Member
Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker: Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO NAACP
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Clarence Mitchell Memorial Lecture Luncheon
Kamala Harris, Attorney General, California
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Concurrent Workshops:
Legislative
The NAACP’s Federal Legislative Strategy for Affirming America’s Promise
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Ohio
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas
Congresswoman Laura Richardson, California
Congressman Bobby Scott, VA
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California
Health
Health Reform: Truth About The Law One Year Later
Climate Gap
The Air WE Breathe: Taking Action Against Toxic Exposures in African American Communities
Education
An Education Agenda for the NAACP’s Second Century
Economic Justice
Protecting Our Wealth and Restoring the Trust
Criminal Justice
Impact: Understanding the Collateral Consequences of the Criminal Justice System on Communities of Color
Labor
The Economic Crisis: The Impact on the Working Family
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm Youth Community Service
Serving meals to the homeless at the Midnight Mission
TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm National Membership Luncheon
Hill Harper, Actor & Activist
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Armed Services & Veterans Affairs Dinner
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Youth Night Public Mass Meeting
Michael B. Jordan, Actor Friday Night Lights
Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, Singer
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2011
9:30 am – 12:30 pm Special Plenary Session
“No Turning Back: Redistricting, Protecting Our Voting Rights and the Road to 2012”
Barbara Arnwine, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Melanie Campbell, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Judith A. Browne-Dianis, Advancement Project
Anita Earls, Southern Coalition for Social Justice
John Payton, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Labor Luncheon
Councilman Herb Wesson, 10th District, Los Angeles
Senator Curren Price, 26th District, Los Angeles
Maria Elana Durazo, Los Angeles AFL-CIO
Michael Mulgrew, President, UFT New York, NY
Arlene Holt-Baker, Vice President, AFL-CIO
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Plenary Session: “Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of The Youth & College Division”
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Plenary Session: “Artists and Activism”
Hill Harper, Artist & Activist
Louis Gossett Jr., Actor
Blair Underwood, Actor
Harry Belafonte, Artist & Activist
Tatyana Ali, Actress
Robert Townsend, Actor
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Movie Premiere – “The Help”
Viola Davis, Actor
Octavia Spencer, Actress
Tate Taylor, Filmmaker
Kathryn Stockett, Writer & Director
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Youth Freedom Fund Dinner
Amber Riley, Actress, GLEE
Tristian Wilds, Actor
THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011
Press Office Open 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
9:30 am – 12:30 pm Final Plenary Session
“The Plight of the African American Male-
Saving Our Men-Saving Our Community”
Robert Townsend, Actor
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Freedom Fund Banquet/Spingarn Award Presentation
Frankie Muse Freeman, Spingarn Medalist
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I’m not sure what they’re trying to say or not say by “married comedienne Wanda Sykes.” According to a google search, she seems to be married to another woman.