Activists from the Black LGBT community, as well as their allies and supporters, gathered Nov. 25 for a celebration of the passage of marriage equality in Illinois. But while the evening was marked by congratulations, many participants said they were already looking ahead to take on other challenges facing LGBT communities of color.
Activist Michael O'Connor spoke of the marriage vote being the result of an enormous collective effort, "from Adams County to Downstate to Decatur to Jefferson County … all the 103 counties that we have in the state of Illinois. This coalition and a bunch of individuals and our allies all got together when they said it couldn't be done. … We made sure that those legislators understood that's what happens with 60 votes."
Rev. Benjamin Reynolds, faith director for Illinois Unites for Marriage, said the coalition successfully sent the message that "Black folks are not monolithic on this issue" by speaking with, and enlisting support from, members of the Black clergy. "All of our work was done because we stood on the shoulders of folks who were willing to share their lives, their livelihoods, their churches [and put] their positions on the line to stand up for us and marriage equality."
Inclusive Community Project founder Marquell Smith, speaking alongside Ebonie Davis, incoming president of Affinity Community Services, was discharged from the military under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 2006. He said that before his dismissal he had no interest in politics. When Smith's congressperson refused to offer him any help, he quickly changed his mind, he said, and realized how the course of politics affects people's lives every day.
"Don't think just of the highest level," Smith said. "Think about how everything impacts you down to the lowest level. That is why it is important that we as a community get involved. Every day, people are making decisions on behalf of us, and we don't get involved to ensure that they're doing the right things for each of us."
Keron Blair, field director for Illinois Unites for Marriage, said that he'd been instructed to devise a campaign that targeted representatives would be afraid of. "Together we changed the course of history," Blair said. "…Our reps did not simply turn over and do the right thing. They were made to do the right thing."
"This is definitely a win for our community, but it hasn't come without a cost," added Kim Hunt, executive director of Affinity Community Services. "Earlier this year, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights made a public statement in support of marriage equality, and its members were defunded by the Catholic Campaign for Development. Fortunately, Crossroads is housing the Solidarity Fund, which is set up to help their defunded members get funding back.
"The majority of members of the Illinois Black Legislative Caucus voted for this bill, despite what people said, and we need to support us who supported our community. They stepped up against significant odds," said Hunt.
State Sen. Emil Jones III said that the vote for him was easy, but he received a great many vitriolic phone calls and emails about his support for marriage equality. He nevertheless has no regrets.
"When I got into office, I told the organizations that your voices in Springfield are not going to be heard unless you band together," Jones said. " … This is just the beginningthere are many, many issues we need to work on together."
State Rep. Ken Dunkin added, "I told my colleagues, 'Look, you matter, they matter, we're all in this together. … Us straight guys can support all kinds of good people.'"
In her remarks, Hunt acknowledged that "marriage equality is not necessarily the top priority for many people in our communitywe get that. It wasn't even a top priority for Affinity. But we're in it because of the economic implications for families, and we need to recognize our families."
Craig Johnson, interim chair of Chicago Gay Black Men's Caucus, said that organization officials are now thinking of what comes next for the Black LGBT movement.
"Marriage is what brought many of us together to form a coalition, and, when we went to down to Springfield, one of the things we heard was, 'Wow, this is what it takes to get you guys to work together,'" Johnson said. "We heard the message, and I think it's important to stress we recognize the value in numbers, the power of community and the strength and the power of working together."
A meeting will be held at Chicago Urban League, 4510 S. Michigan Ave., on Dec. 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., to consider what comes next.
"We can get together and begin conversations on umbrella topics, including criminal justice and safety, health and economics. We in this room live at that very unique intersection, and this provides us an opportunity to address those,"
The event was at The Shrine on South Wabash and DJ. Lora Branch entertained the crowd.
Photos by Hal Baim
VIDEOS By Tracy Baim:
LGBTQ Black Marriage Victory Celebration in Chicago Part 1 at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .
LGBTQ Black Marriage Victory Celebration in Chicago Part 2 at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .
LGBTQ Black Marriage Victory Celebration in Chicago Part 3 at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .
LGBTQ Black Marriage Victory Celebration in Chicago Part 4 at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .
LGBTQ Black Marriage Victory Celebration in Chicago Part 5: www.youtube.com/watch .
LGBTQ Black Marriage Victory Celebration in Chicago Part 6 at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .