Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center
Date: Wednesday, 16 Dec 1992 20:31:39 EST
From: <SECBH@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: alt.politics.homosexuality
Subject:    "Playing the Race Card"

(Submitted this yesterday, but it seems not to have shown up yet...
 so here goes again.)

The following excerpt is the entire last half of an article from
_Right Wing Watch_, Dec. 1992, Vol.3, #3.  It is a publication
of People for the American Way.

(article headline:) PLAYING THE RACE CARD

The article begins by discussing the lack of appeal which the Christian
Right has had for most African-Americans and then goes on to discuss
how the Christian Coalitian and other groups have sought to attract
black Americans to Christian fascism.

The controversy over the Clarence Thomas nomination provided a singular
opportunity to exploit class and economic divisions within the black
community and to attract some parts of the black community to the
Right Wing.  The Anti-Choice movement has never expected nor had much
support from the African-American community, but that too is changing.
Taking advantage of abortion conspiracy theories promoted by some
blacks an increasing number of African-Americans are being targeted
and successfully recruited into the ranks of the traditionally white
Christian Right.  The section on the anti-choice issue ends with this
sentence:

"...But, attempts to use abortion as an access issue (to the African-
American community) are dwarfed by the appeal of anti-gay rhetoric.

"Religious Right activists, many of whom, like Bauer (of the Family
Research Council and formerly Ronald Reagan's top domestic advisor
and a prime mover in the campaign against the 1988 Civil Rights
Restoration Act), actively opposed civil right protections for black
Americans, are now trying to enlist African-American support in their
anti-gay crusade.  The struggle against discrimination based on
sexual orientation is characterized as an aggressive battle for
'special rights,' and they denigrate any comparison of discrimination
based on 'sexual choice' with discimination as a result of racial or
ethnic difference.  Traditional Values Coalition's Lou Sheldon has
sought black support for his organizing efforts.  In 1990, he warned that
gays can't compare themselves with blacks.  "Don't you understand
that the Freedom Train to Selma and the blood that was shed going
for that Freedom Train did not end in sodomy."  Again, in 1991, Sheldon
came back to the theme.  At a Sheldon rally in Sacramento, California
he showcased several local black ministers and said:  "Very clearly
the black community realizes that the homosexual agenda is a parasite
within the true civil rights movement.  Black ministers...are now
thrilled that I can work with them."

"The minority wedge tactic was also employed in a local anti-gay campaign
in Louisville, KY.  In his successful efforts to get the Louisville
aldermen to overturn their own anti-discrimination ordinance, Dr.
Frank Simon said, "the black churches were extremely important to our
winning effort.  Blacks were offended by the idea of extending civil
rights protection to a form of sexual behavior.

"Some Right-wing activists have high hopes for their outreach efforts.
Paul Weyrich, president of the Free Congress Foundation, wants to
develop an "activist, grassroots network within the black community."
One of the ways he plans to do this is through National Empowerment
Television, his fledgling interactive satellite network designed to
promote grassroots cooperation between conservative groups.  The network
has three monthly broadcasts devoted to social issues, economic policies
and now, black Americans.  The producer of the 'black segment' is
Phyllis Berry Myers, a former aide to Clarence Thomas who testified on
his behalf during last year's confirmation hearings.  Weyrich hopes
to provide an altenative voice "in response to the traditional black
leadership."

(end of excerpt)

People for the American Way is solidly behind extending anti-
discrimination legislation to gay, lesbian and bisexual people.
For more information on the organization, write to:

People for the American Way
P.O. Box 96200
Washington, DC 20077-7500
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jack Carroll
<SECBH@CUNYVM>