COMING OUT FOR GAY RIGHTS

Often at a gathering such as this one there is a natural tendency to focus on the issues facing our own communities. Speakers at a discussion on gay and lesbian issues might discuss topics such as AIDS, the rights of domestic partners, or ways to eliminate sexual orientation discrimination. Speakers at a discussion focusing on African-American issues might discuss affirmative action, black unemployment, or the problems of drugs in the black community. However, rarely does either community discuss issues of common concern such as the unique problems faced by Black gays and lesbians, or of the need to eliminate hate violence directed at both communities.