Julian Bond, national chairman of the NAACP, spoke March 14 at HRC’s Los Angeles Gala Dinner. Here are a couple of highlight comments, and the YouTube video of the full speech is below:
“When someone asks me, ‘Are gay rights civil rights?’ my answer is always, ‘Of course, they are.’ Civil rights are positive legal prerogatives: the right to equal treatment before the law. These are the rights shared by everyone. There is no one in the United States who does not, or should not, enjoy or share in enjoying these rights. Gay and lesbian rights are not special rights in any way. It isn’t ‘special’ to be free from discrimination. It is an ordinary, universal entitlement of citizenship.”
And:
“Black people, of all people, should not oppose equality. And that is what gay marriage is. … No people of good will should oppose marriage equality.”
“Like race, our sexuality isn’t a preference. It is immutable; it is unchangeable. And the constitution protects us against prejudices and discrimination based on immutable differences.”
Julian Bond is a tireless worker for equality for all American’s. I first met Mr. Bond when I was in college, back sometime before the earth’s crust cooled. Both of us were still young and idealistic. I am glad to see he has not lost that idealism.
It truly is special to find civil rights activist icons like Julian Bond to take a stand for marriage equality, Bond’s feelings correlate with another activist of his own right, George Freeman at themonastery.org, also a civil rights leader. It would be nice to see a collaboration of the minds in coming up with new ways to promote and encourage activism in society. It seems now more than ever the public needs to take a stand to protect their individual liberties.
i agree with julian bond 100%