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By: DYANA BAGBY
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An upcoming Atlanta march demanding the “protection of marriage” led
by a prominent African-American church drew fire Wednesday from the National Black
Justice Coalition, a group supporting same-sex marriage.
“The march isn’t solely about gay marriage, but it is the driving
force. Our position is people should march for better jobs, better education,
better healthcare and not target marriage,” said Jasmyne Cannick, a board
member and spokesperson for the Washington-based coalition.
Bishop Eddie Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia will
lead marchers from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social
Change to Turner Field, beginning at 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 11.
A spokesperson for the church could not immediately be reached for comment
late Wednesday.
According to New Birth’s Web site, the first focus of the “Reigniting
the Legacy” march is “protection of marriage,” including “strategic
policy direction for a constitutional amendment to fully protect marriage between
one man and one woman.”
The group aims to “establish a presence with the state and local government”
and pledges, “we will not be silent!” on this and other issues,
according to the Web site.
Cannick said she is working with organizers from In the Life Atlanta, sponsor
of the city’s annual Black Gay Pride, to protest at the march.
But Zandra Conway, ITLA board co-chair, said Wednesday night no counter march
was planned, although ITLA would issue a statement disagreeing with New Birth’s
stance on gay marriage.
“We want to respect their right to march, but also we want to say we
object to one of their focuses, about marriage,” Conway said. “We
agree with their other points.”
Georgia Equality, a statewide gay rights group, also criticized the march’s
focus on marriage.
“Bishop Long is continuing to mislead his congregants as to what marriage
equality is all about,” Chuck Bowen, Georgia Equality executive director,
said in a press statement. “We are simply seeking the recognition by civil
authorities — state and federal — to enjoy the same rights and privileges
as other couples. This has never been a religious issue and it never will be.”
New Birth’s Web site lists three other focuses for the march: “wealth
creation,” including such issues as home ownership for minorities and
small business support; “education reform,” which addresses goals
like lessening drop-out rates and charter schools; and “health care”
that affordable and “acknowledges the higher disease and mortality statistics
in minority communities.”
The march’s Web site also cites King as an influence.
“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period
of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the
appalling silence of the good people,” the Web site says, quoting the
late civil rights leader.
But linking the event to King’s legacy drew special criticism from Cannick
and Keith Boykin, president of the National Black Justice Coalition, who noted
that one of King’s closest advisers, Bayard Rustin, was openly gay.
“Dr. King said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,”
Boykin said in a press release. “But Bishop Long seems to think that injustice
against gays and lesbians is perfectly fine.”
King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, has spoken out in favor of gay rights,
and is scheduled to speak to the Atlanta Executive Network, a gay business group,
on Jan. 13.
“I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s
dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay
people,” King said in a 1998 press interview.
The march is followed by a corporate prayer at 7 p.m. at New Birth.
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