Black History Month is a good time to remember that the LGBT community and the "black community" are not separate groups and that we have common interests. Same-gender-loving people come in all colors and cultures.

After the November, 2008, election, early reports and analysis of the voting said that African-Americans provided the margin for the passage of California Proposition 8 to revoke California's protections for same-sex marriage. Widespread "analysis" claimed that Obamas presence on the ballot brought out African-Americans who also voted in favor of Prop 8.

The reports turned out to be false, but for many people, including many LGBT advocates, the reporting was received as truth because we've been acculturated to believe in the divide between African-American and LGBT interests. The strategy to divide us is part of an effort from the political right wing to dilute the power of joint efforts of African-American and LGBT communities. The portrayal obscures the fact that many LGBT folks are people of color.

More accurate reporting on the California vote showed that people voting FOR Prop 8—voting in favor of limiting the right to marry—were more closely similar by age and frequency of church attendance than by color.  The measure was passed largely mostly by older voters who frequently attend religious services. The favorable vote tracked to age and religiosity rather than to race or color. Among Asian Pacific Islanders, the voting also fit this behavior.

One commitment we can make in Black History Month is for skepticism and close analysis of any reporting that suggests that African-Americans and LGBT people are entirely different groups of people or that we don't share interests and aspirations. When groups are described as having no people in common, we are less likely to see the connections among us, more likely to believe what other people tell us about who we are, and therefore less likely to work together on common goals.

Some African-Americans are not supportive, but a significant share of white people are not supportive, either. If we generalize that African-Americans are not supportive of LGBT inclusion, we fail to look for issues where we can work together. In addition, white LGBT people will be less likely to listen for issues on which African-Americans seek support, whether they be issues of immigration, HIV/AIDS, employment, housing, or whatever is named by local and national groups.

Instead, we can look for ways to work together, asking some of these questions:

Where in your community are African-Americans seeking political or religious support? What leaders can help you find the answer to the question? How can white-dominated groups be more supportive of people of color?

Our work of community and advocacy is year-round. Black History Month is a great time to start.

Ruth Garwood
Executive Director

Registration is now open for our 2009 National Gathering, Growing BOLD. It will be a celebration of Open and Affirming, an exploration of what ONA can be in its fullest expression, and an opportunity for worship, fellowship, celebration and engagement.

Join us June 22–25, 2009, in Grand Rapids, MI, to kick-off the week of General Synod. Many more details are available online, including registration (online or by mail) and hotel/accommodations: www.ucccoalition.org/programs/gathering/

Please spread the word about this event!

Hector Lopez, retired Conference Minister for the Central Pacific Conference and the first Latino ordained in the UCC.  He helped design the Council of Racial and Ethnic Ministries.  His extensive history of justice in the church spanned to many settings, both academic and in local churches in California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.  He has long been an advocate for LGBT people and the Open and Affirming movement. His keynote address will be Tuesday, June 23, 2009, during the morning plenary session.

The UCC Coalition's Board of Directors met on February 5–7, 2009, for our Spring board advance (i.e. retreat) and welcomed our newest member MacArthur Flournoy.

We spent all of Friday working with a consultant (more details below) on the beginning of a strategic plan for our future. We will be telling you all more about that as we go forward. Our next steps involve some fact-finding, with which the consultant is going to help us by working with a small group from the Board.

We are all getting excited about Growing Bold, our meeting June 22–25, 2009, in Grand Rapids, MI. The focus is on the Open and Affirming (ONA) program, which is where we are placing our interest at present. We hope that we can get people interested in the ONA movement, either revitalized or excited for the first time. Encourage folks from your area to attend for a good time!

Kathy Church
Moderator
Board of Directors

Beth Zemsky, MAEd, LICSW, currently works as a consultant specializing in multicultural organizational development with organizations working toward social change and movement-building. She has 25 years experience as a community organizer, educator, and organizational leader, including serving as the founding Director of the GLBT Programs Office at the University of Minnesota and former co-chair of the Board of Directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. Beth is also adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota were she teaches a course in social-movement theory and history.  In 2000, Beth was awarded a Bush Leadership Fellowship to study organizational development of social movement organizations. Beth is the co-author the recently published article, "Building Organizations in a Movement Moment" (Social Policy, Summer, 2008).

UCC Executive Council member, Barbara Satin, recently wrote an article about a new curriculum being offered by the Institute for Welcoming Resources:

To read more of Barbara's article and learn more about the curriculum, please visit http://www.welcomingresources.org/iwrblog.htm?tr=y&auid=4527175.

By Bishop John Selders

To read the full article, please visit http://www.theroot.com/views/more-infection.