Welcome to AfterElton.com!

Enter your AfterElton.com username.
Enter the password that accompanies your username.
News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media
Home » Blogs » Brian Juergens's blog » NAACP officially calls for repeal of Proposition 8. Quietly.

NAACP officially calls for repeal of Proposition 8. Quietly.

by
Brian Juergens


Benjamin Todd Jealous, NAACP CEO

Here's an interesting bit of news that probably deserves more attention that I've seen it getting: The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) has officially gone on record urging the repeal of Proposition 8, and further, has stated their desire for the California state legislature to go on record in opposition to the proposition as well.

According to the Advocate, NAACP CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous wrote a letter on behalf of the civil rights organization to the state's legislative leaders that read:

"The NAACP's mission is to help create a society where all Americans have equal protection and opportunity under the law. Our mission statement calls for the 'quality of rights of all persons.' Prop. 8 strips same-sex couples of a fundamental freedom, as defined by the California state supreme court. In so doing, it poses a serious threat to all Americans. Prop. 8 is a discriminatory, unprecedented change to the California constitution that, if allowed to stand, would undermine the very purpose of a constitution and courts -- assuring equal protection and opportunity for all and safeguarding minorities from the tyranny of the majority."  
 

Um, what he said.

So that's clearly awesome. What's slightly less awesome is the fact that despite communicating this support directly to the legislators, the organization has as of yet made no mention of their support on their website, four days later. While the website has a page featuring their recent press releases, this particular press release is not there.

Pam's House Blend has the full press release, which, from the looks of it, was only sent to (or at least was only picked up by) gay political sites. It's definitely a heartening step toward harmony, but is it wrong to wonder why it's being done on tiptoes?

  • Brian Juergens's blog
  • Login or register to post comments
    • Submitted by
    Brian Juergens
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 08:54.
    TAGS :: 
    Whitetee's picture

    That`s a strange last name...

    Submitted by
    Whitetee (3088 points) (667 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 10:02.
    Is it just me or is he cute? ;)
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Nukely's picture

    NAACP on the Down Low?

    Submitted by
    Nukely (3426 points) (1195 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 10:40.
    It's like the chiefs of the NAACP finally took their heads out of their asses, but when they looked around they could see that the rank and file still had their head's firmly planted. Not wanting to wake anyone up, they whisper, "Hey, I can see the light."

    So, when they announce a conference on ending homophobia and invite out gay leaders of color to tell their stories, well, nobody can complain. Then they can say, "We announced this a long time ago." I don't know. Why the whispering, though?

     

    Average (1 vote):
    see individual ratings
    Cadence's picture

    Do the research

    Submitted by
    Cadence (599 points) (132 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 11:27.

    Nukely, I think you need to do a search of how vocal the NAACP has been about homophobia, before you make comments about people having their heads up their asses.  Various presidents of the organization have routinely spoken out about homophobia, Julian Bond has been a steady ally.  This is not the first time that the NAACP has spoken out against Prop 8, they were one of the groups that was involved in the campaign against the ammendment.   In November, the national NAACP and the CA NAACP joined with other groups to petition the CA Supreme Court not to enact Prop 8.  So while it's nice that Brian/AE and others are recognizing the NAACP, they have been in this fight for a long time.

    Also for Brian and anyone else who cares about telling the truth, the NAACP was part of the original group that lead the effort to legalize same sex marriage in CA, they were a part of the groups that sued for the right for marriage equality.  http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2008/05/california-supr.html  So, before we start talking about how quiet the NAACP is being, why not get all your facts straight.

    While we are talking about groups that have their heads up their asses, why don't we talk about the non-work that most gay groups are not doing in regards to racism in the gay community.   Or how about the ignorant people who throwing out false stats regarding Prop 8.

     

    Average (5 votes):
    see individual ratings
    Cadence's picture

    Here's a link to help

    Submitted by
    Cadence (599 points) (132 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 11:56.

    Here's a link to help Nukely and Brian

    The NAACP filing suit to have Prop 8 overturned: http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=984417&boardname=off&boardid=2

     

    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Brian Juergens's picture

    The NAACP Legal and

    Submitted by
    Brian Juergens (1205 points) (6471 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 12:33.

    The NAACP Legal and Educational Defense Fund is not actually affiliated with the NAACP (it was once the legal arm of the organization but split from it decades ago). Yes, the California NAACP was involved in a petition along with the Legal Defense Fund but much like the subject of this post, you won't learn this on the NAACP's website.

    Again, my question is why this national organization would be targeting the announcement of this news to the gay media while maintaining neutrality on their official website.

    Average (2 votes):
    see individual ratings
    Joey's picture

    Some gay people are just

    Submitted by
    Joey (1066 points) (229 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 11:56.

    Some gay people are just obsessed with making black people out to be the enemy.  Shame on you.

    As Cadence posted, the NAACP (along with the other major minority organizations) have a strong record of supporting gay rights.  But b/c they don't do it perfectly, this "recognition" by Brian is like a back-handed compliment.

     

    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Craig Young's picture

    This post is inaccurate

    Submitted by
    Craig Young (1247 points) (350 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 12:01.
    Cadence is correct. The NAACP has advocated against Prop 8 for quite sometime even during the period in which people like Andrew Sullivan, Dan Savage, John Avarosis and others were claiming that African Americans (as if we are a monolith and none of us are black and gay) were not supportive of gay rights. Much of the NAACP leadership has publically supported gay rights. The problem is not in my mind that there is no support. It's the decreasing NAACP influence versus increasing Christian extremism which has moved away from traditional liberation theology toward the theology practiced by white counterpart fundamentalist churches. This combined with gay, mostly white, groups not interacting with communities of colors produce the results you see. Essentially, gay groups for a period of over two decades isolated itself from the rest of the country. If you want a comparator- look at how Milk suceeded in SF in the 70s versus how we now think of gay rights. In fact, if you look historically, you would find that African Americans were a strong component of defeating the Briggs Initiative. So, the problem has not always existed as deeply as it does now. If it did, you would not have had people like Coreta Scott King supporting marriage equality. The problem is our perception.
    Average (1 vote):
    see individual ratings
    Brian Juergens's picture

    Actually, it isn't

    Submitted by
    Brian Juergens (1205 points) (6471 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 12:23.

    The NAACP Legal and Education Defense Fund is an organization entirely independent of the NAACP, having split from it half a century ago. The NAACP did NOT file suit against the state of California, the Defense Fund did. Added to correct myself: The California NAACP was involved in a petition with the Defense Fund, but again, the national organization has been overwhelmingly silent. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

    If you do a search of the NAACP website for "Proposition 8", you don't get a single result. While I applaud their targeted efforts, there is a glaring lack of transparency in regards to the image that they are publicly presenting.

    That is the only question that this post raises. 

    Average (3 votes):
    see individual ratings
    Craig Young's picture

    I believe this is still inaccurate

    Submitted by
    Craig Young (1247 points) (350 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 12:36.
    The California NAACP came out against the Prop 8 sometime ago joining in the brief to the CA S. Ct. Not just the Legal Defense Fund. Here's Julian Bond discussing it in Oct 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoIlHTIq8BQ I did not google this,but I know they were also supportive of the No on 8 campaign. Like others, they were limited in the ways in which the No on 8 asked them to help. If you listen to the black representatives from the state, they discuss directly how No on 8 did not engage them at all. If your point is that this is not in MSM (about the NAACP supporting gay rights), then I would put it to you in a different light. Are you sure it's the NAACP's fault for how their positions are covered? Where are gay groups on using this when they are in MSM? The MSM had his take on the narrative, and they ran with it. Facts are rarely a factor in their narrative. When I see someone like Dan Savage on Larry King Live or even a show like DL Hugley- I don't see him mentioning the NAACP support although as you say gay groups do know it. Why? I am all for asking more of organizations, but this is not about the NAACP.
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Joey's picture

    The NAACP Legal & Education

    Submitted by
    Joey (1066 points) (229 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 12:38.

    The NAACP Legal & Education Defense Fund may be independent of the NAACP, but the HEAD OF THE NCAAP IS PUBLICLY AGAINST PROP 8 & IS CALLING FOR ITS REPEAL.  What do you want, a robo call to every black household in America announcing the NAACP's opposition to Prop 8???

    I have been on this site for a long time.  You have a tendency to harp on minorities (especially black people) for their transgressions, but are quick to forgive whites.  I'd expect more from a NYC resident.

    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Brian Juergens's picture

    Sorry, but no

    Submitted by
    Brian Juergens (1205 points) (6471 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 12:46.
    I'm asking why this press release isn't on the organization's website with all of their other press releases, and I'm not a racist for doing so. This could be about the Screen Actors Guild and I would raise the same question.
    Average (2 votes):
    see individual ratings
    Craig Young's picture

    I don't understand your questioning of them

    Submitted by
    Craig Young (1247 points) (350 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 13:01.
    If an organization supports you, why are you not required to do anything with it? Why is it their job if they have sent out press releases and said as much to anyone who ask them in the public? The problem you cite seems extremely minor compared to the bigger problems of a) gay groups and/or spokes person (a la Dan Savage) failure to use this information in marketing campaigns to the general public and b) the main stream media's attempt to make it about us versus them. I don't see how your point matters to the big picture. How is NAACP hiding their support of us other than you saying they don't have it on their website? In my mind, the brief is the proof of real support because its the thing that will affect outcomes.
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Joey's picture

    I never called you a

    Submitted by
    Joey (1066 points) (229 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 16:48.

    I never called you a racist.

    I do, however, think that you have racial issues that are so ingrained, you don't realize it.

     

    Average (1 vote):
    see individual ratings
    Brian Juergens's picture

    Last note

    Submitted by
    Brian Juergens (1205 points) (6471 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 18:00.

    Your claim that I "constantly harp on people of color who screw up" with "never-ending disdain" is wildly untrue. And FYI, it IS calling me a racist.

    Perhaps you could back up your accusations with facts rather than launching vague and personal attacks - while you're trying to find examples of my defaming people of color you'll instead find hundreds of examples of my celebrating their contributions and successes, and hundreds more of my taking whites to task.

    Please get your facts straight before spreading unfounded and defamatory attacks on someone's personal and journalistic integrity.

    Average (1 vote):
    see individual ratings
    Michael Jensen's picture

    I have to object to that charge 100%. We have called

    Submitted by
    Admin
    Michael Jensen (2510 points) (7113 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 13:15.

    out all sorts of folks for their questionable decisions from NBC for their handling of the gay character on Heroes to their handling of Matthew Mitcham's Olympic dive. We recently covered HBO's coverage of the Gene Robinson prayer during Barack Obama's inauguration, Disney's discrimination against gay couples, Richard Simmons being used in ads with anti-gay humor, Ross the Intern's Superbowl shtick, the WWF's fake wedding ceremony, Jimmy Kimmel and Jay Leno's homophobic antics and the list goes on.

    Average (4 votes):
    see individual ratings
    Craig Young's picture

    In each case that you mention it was a group

    Submitted by
    Craig Young (1247 points) (350 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 14:20.
    or person doing something negative against gays rather than something postive for them. The underlying conversation here is about the NAACP supporting gays against prop 8. but that praise was watered down by discussions of "but its not on their website." I don't agree that this is racism, but I also do not understand the faint praise about the support given is not good enough. They didn'thave to give it at all.
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Michael Jensen's picture

    The criticism I responded to was that we harp

    Submitted by
    Admin
    Michael Jensen (2510 points) (7113 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 14:26.
    on minorities and go easy on white groups.
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Joey's picture

    I think that you have done

    Submitted by
    Joey (1066 points) (229 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 16:45.

    I think that you have done a commendable job being equal in your criticism.

    However, I don't think the same can be said for Brian.  He has constantly harped on people of color who screw up, even after they offer an apology.  In contrast, the same never-ending disdain doesn't seem to apply to whites from his POV. 

    This blog post is just the latest example.  The NAACP doesn't include its OPPOSITION TO PROP 8 in its news release, so they must be slammed???  Okaaaaayyyy.

    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Cadence's picture

    I don't think the problem

    Submitted by
    Cadence (599 points) (132 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 12:12.

    I don't think the problem isn't that the NAACP's support isn't perfect, as I said, they were one of the groups who sued for marriage equality.  The problem is that some people will never see the world or others beyond they own narrow view.  In his mind, Nukely has a Masters degree on how Black people think and act, and nothing that anyone says will change that.

     

    Julian Bond as well as the head of CA NAACP, have received a lot of flack for their work on defeating Prop 8, and Bond has been very vocal about advocating for gay rights, but because these people don't fit a certain stereotype, their work has no meaning to someone like Nukely.

    Average (1 vote):
    see individual ratings
    Nukely's picture

    I'm impressed by the gang bang

    Submitted by
    Nukely (3426 points) (1195 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 13:55.

    I got the responce I was looking for, and then a smack down.

    But I do thank you for the information to correct the view I developed because I am not a menber of the NAACP. Seriously, I am happy to hear the responces. I want to believe that the NAACP are out about their support of gay rights and I want to see GLBT groups work harder to be inclusive of minorities.

    And I am not afraid to be called a racist, because I believe we all are to some degree (because we are raised in a racist society) but the only way we can get over that is if our friends are willing to call us out on it. That's the lesson, I believe. So, I gotta thank the tuff luv.

    I am going to hazzard a guess here and please correct me if I am wrong Craig, but the membership of the NAACP is vastly larger than the membership of the HRC. So, by deffinition gays are the minoity, black white or otherwise. You earn your selfrightious badge of honer by extending your hand to the minority, not the other way around, is how I figgure. What people are saying here is that the NAACP have extended that hand to the GLBT community and deserve kudos.

     

    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Craig Young's picture

    A few points

    Submitted by
    Craig Young (1247 points) (350 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 14:08.
    a) You are talking to Cadence, not Craig so I am not sure why my name comes up. b) I haven't called you racist. c) About the only thing I can say about your arguments are that they are mostly sophistry.
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Nukely's picture

    I need people

    Submitted by
    Nukely (3426 points) (1195 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 14:41.
    to introduce organization into my thoughts. thanks.

    a) I was composing my response while I was reading these posts. I would read a post then write a response. I decided that rather then leave several comments after each post, that I would group them. I wish I had explained my comments better.

    b ) I know you haven't called me a racist. But others see me that way and I thought this was the right time to explain my view on the subject of how I believe an individual can overcome racism. That is something I feel I know a bit about, sad to say.

    c) First, I don't know that I was presenting an argument. Second, even if I did I still want to encourage everyone who can to go to hulu and watch Able Raises Cain about the media personality who probably influenced me more than any other. Not saying I am anything like or aspire to be, I'm just saying influence.

    ps. for those who don't know this, hulu also has the Harvey Milk Documentary, The times of Harvey Milk, a must see for every GLBT and our friends (IMHO).
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    snicks's picture

    AM I MISSING SOMETHING????

    Submitted by
    snicks (12423 points) (4758 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 13:05.

    From what I read, Brian was asking why this particular PRESS RELEASE was not on the group's site.

    How did it go from there to end up with personal attacks on Brian and a claim that AE is racist?

    Seriously?

    Average (4 votes):
    see individual ratings
    calacarando's picture

    Not really.

    Submitted by
    calacarando (270 points) (54 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 13:18.

    Because in their own minds, some people have Master's degrees in how other people think and act--and why!--and nothing in the world will change that. 

    Gar vethed e-chunen; go hon bedithon na meth.

    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Janet's picture

    Well, because....

    Submitted by
    Janet (2386 points) (465 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 13:23.

    ...some people are quick to jump to the conclusion that any challenge or dispute must BECAUSE of colour. Who's calling who racist.

     

     

     

    I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.

    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Craig Young's picture

    Because it acts as faint praise rather than

    Submitted by
    Craig Young (1247 points) (350 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 14:15.
    just praise. The NAACP did something that they did not have to do and have been doing it for quite some time. This is the recent history of the reaction of black groups doing anything for gay groups. It's never quite good enough. Were this discussion in isolation, I doubt many would care. Because it is not, it creates a concern. That some criticism will always be leveled.
    Average (2 votes):
    see individual ratings
    Jay's picture

    Erm...'the advancement of

    Submitted by
    Jay (1644 points) (440 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 13:40.
    Erm...'the advancement of colored people'? That is surely a non-politically correct usage of the term 'colored', as was pointed out to me a while ago on this site. Ay, Dios mio...why minority groups refer to themselves with these 'slurs' is beyond me *rolls eyes*.
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    moviechicka's picture

    Um...

    Submitted by
    moviechicka (104 points) (26 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 14:22.
    The NAACP was formed when the term "colored" was the PC term.  It has gone out of favor but the organization kept their name the same.  It has nothing to do with defining oneself with a slur.  The organization has gone on the include and represent all people of color not just African Americans.
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    Mister 2's picture

    I imagine it's kept on for

    Submitted by
    Mister 2 (749 points) (148 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 14:37.
    I imagine it's kept on for 1, the historical role it's played over the century it's been around and 2, it's basically an acronym nowadays
    no votes
    see individual ratings
    db's picture

    Erm

    Submitted by
    db (3165 points) (658 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 15:14.

    The NAACP has a long and respected history.  You could easily google it before you make this kind of a statement.

    no votes
    see individual ratings
    db's picture

    NAACP

    Submitted by
    db (3165 points) (658 posts)
    on Thu, 2009-02-26 15:00.
    I'm really confused by some of the responses here (and the title of the original post) the NAACP was always against Prop 8 and joined the "No on 8" campaign.  They didn't have to make a statement on Prop 8 at all considering it isn't explicity a part of their mission statement.  The idea that there is any criticism of the group on this count seems pretty ignorant IMHO.   I think it's great that they are adding their names to those who want it repealed.
    Average (2 votes):
    see individual ratings

    Home » Blogs » Brian Juergens's blog » NAACP officially calls for repeal of Proposition 8. Quietly.