Just out ▼ O ctob er 3. 1997 ▼ 9
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A shining night
Political stars come out for NGLTF event;
Coretta Scott King receives ‘Honoring Our Allies9 award
▼
by Bob Roehr
.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy’s rousing in­
King also acknowledged the contributions gay
troduction, Coretta Scott King’s mov­ men and lesbians have historically made to the
ing acceptance, or Vice President Al
civil rights movement.
"Many of these courageous men and women
G ore’s “surprise” appearance—
which was the highlight? The Na­ were fighting for my freedom at a time when they
tional Gay and Lesbian Task Force certainly
could had
find few voices for their own, and I will
always remember and honor their contributions,”
much to choose from during its recent “Honoring
she said. "It has been encouraging to see the
Our Allies” gala held in Washington, D.C.
growing participation of people of color in the
“We work to build a progressive movement,
leadership ranks of the lesbian and gay freedom
one that respects and celebrates the diversity of
human expression and identity. We of the gay,
struggle, and I urge you to continue making this
lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are
movement a model of diversity.”
part of a broader movement for social justice and
King is the founder and former chair, presi­
freedom,” Kerry Lobel, NGLTF’s executive di­ dent and chief executive officer of the Martin
rector, told the crowd of more than 200 during the
Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social
Sept. 15 gathering.
Change in Atlanta.
“The heart of our work is a federation of over
Lobel said, “Mrs. King has stood shoulder to
30 statewide organizations, representing the fact
shoulder with us as we work to envision and
that the center of gravity has shifted
from Washington, D.C.—in fact it was
never here—to the states,” she said,
pointing to New Hampshire and Maine
as the latest states to enact legal pro­
tection for lesbians and gay men. “Now
25 percent of the people living in this
country are covered by such laws.”
Kennedy, the longtime Democratic
senator from Massachusetts and co­
sponsor of the federal Employment
Non-Discrimination Act. brought up
the anti-gay Jesse Helms and the Chris­
,
%
tian Coalition to rouse the crowd. The
mere mention of those names—
coupled with his booming voice—did
the trick and energized the room.
Kennedy’s role, meanwhile, was
to introduce the main recipient of the
evening’s awards.
í‘:'S3¡
‘Tonight we honor a person who
111
carries forward her husband’s dream
that injustice anyplace threatens jus­
tice anywhere—[a person] who un­
derstands completely that you cannot
Coretta Scott King
separate discrimination. When dis­
crimination is there in any form and in any shape,
create a world based on social justice. She em­
it must be rooted out,” he said in introducing
braces the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
Coretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights
transgendered people as part of the continued
leader Martin Luther King Jr.
legacy of Dr. King’s brave work. Her progressive
In accepting her award, King said, “It’s hard to
vision of peace and justice echoes around the
believe that in 1997,1 still get criticism for speak­ world.”
ing out against discrimination and bigotry to­
Kennedy and King departed and the crowd
wards people because of their sexual orienta­ grew restless waiting for Gore to show. During
tion.. .. All I can do is tell these folks that the civil
the interim, Lobel stepped to the microphone and
rights movement that I believe in thrives on unity
said, “As you know, [NGLTF] has not always
and inclusion, not division and exclusion.”
agreed with everything the administration does.
King’s niece, Alveda King, made a series of
But I can say with all candor and sincerity that we
anti-gay comments during media appearances in
deeply appreciate the willingness that Vice Presi­
mid-August, in which she compared gay men and
dent Gore has shown to hearing our concerns.”
lesbians to “liars, thieves, murderers [and] child
When he got there. Gore was effective in
molesters” and warned that protecting gay men
warming up an audience liberally seeded with gay
and lesbians from discrimination would “give a and lesbian members of the administration.
death sentence to civil rights.” She also claimed
“It is time for all Americans to recognize that
her late uncle would have opposed lesbian and
the issues that face gays and lesbians in this
gay rights legislation.
country are not narrow special interests, they are
Coretta Scott King, however, countered that
matters of basic human and civil rights,” he said.
notion.
“It is not enough for you to have a seat at the table.
“I accept this award as a reaffirmation of my
Everybody has got to realize that as full members
commitment tocarry forward the unfinished work
of the American family, it’s your table too.”
of my husband, Martin Luther King Jr. My hus­
Gore added that he and the president are “very
band understood that all forms of discrimination
strongly committed” to doing what they can with
and persecution were unjust and unacceptable for
respect to gay issues. He was short on specifics,
a great democracy.... I want to reaffirm my deter­ however.
mination to secure the fullest protection of the law
“Let’s face it, some of the greatest challenges
for all working people, regardless of their sexual
that we face are not challenges of law but chal­
orientation.... It is right, just and good for
lenges of the heart,” he said.
America,” she said.
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