Julian Bond Addresses National Equality March Attendees

NAACP Chairman Julian Bond gave the keynote address at the National Equality March (NEM) Sunday endorsing the queer civil rights movement and encouraging the tens of thousands of participants to continue in their efforts to gain the rights he said were afforded to them by the constitution.

“I believe gay rights are civil rights,” Bond declared. “We know that good things can come and they don’t come to those who wait but to those who agitate.”

Bond went on to acknowledge the tension that arises when the African-American Civil Rights movement is compared to the queer rights movement.

“For some people, comparisons between the African-American Civil Rights movement and the movement for gay and lesbian rights seems to diminish the long black historical struggle; with all of its suffering, sacrifices and endless toil.”

The debate on whether the two movements could or should be compared gained national attention when the Advocate declared “Gay Is the New Black” on its cover last December.

Bond suggested that no two struggles are the same and that the experience of blacks had a unique place in U.S. history.

“No parallels between movements is exact, African-Americans are the only Americans who were enslaved for two centuries.  And people of color carry the badge of who we are on our faces.”

Yet, despite these differences, the chairman argued that blacks and persons of color had no monopoly on being discriminated against.

“But we are far, far, far from the only people suffering discrimination,” Bond said.  “Rights for gays and lesbians aren’t special rights in any way.  It isn’t special to be free from discrimination.  That is [an ]ordinary, universal entitlement of citizenship.”

Bond went on to offer a candid critique of homophobia in the black community and the harm its done.

“In Black America, homophobia spreads from our churches to our homes and schools.  Our inability to talk about sex, and more specifically homosexuality, is the single greatest barrier to HIV transmission in our community”

Invoking the memory of Baynard Rustin, the black openly gay activist who organized the 1964 March on Washington, Bond closed his speech with his pledge to work with the queer community in its efforts to gain equal rights.

“Gays and lesbians worked side by side with me then; just as you stood with me then I am proud to stand with you now.”