Queer Notes

Since the TN Democratic Party has basically forfeited the 2012 U.S. Senate to Republican Bob Corker, I'm offering my name as a write-in candidate to those who want their write in vote counted. (Paperwork is being filed with the TN Election Commission to make the write-in votes count.)

I'm a 48 year old gay, humanist, democratic socialist activist in Memphis, Tennessee. I've been fighting for economic and social justice, LGBT equality, separation of church and state my whole adult life. In 2004 and 2006, I ran a write-in campaign against Harold Ford Jr., who betrayed the Tennessee LGBT community and progressives, and ran for Congress as a right-wing Democrat, opposing LGBT civil rights and siding with Republicans on many issues.

I have no illusion of winning this election. Neither does the Tennessee Democratic Party, which could not find and support a viable candidate to oppose Republican Bob Corker, and allowed an unknown anti-gay right-wing nut to "win" the primary. The TNDP has urged everyone to write-in a "candidate of your choice," I offer my name if you want to stand up to the right-wing Tea Party Agenda of Bob Corker and the Republican Party, and if you want your write-in vote to be counted.

TN Dems Nominate Anti-Gay Conspiracy Nut for U.S. Senate
TN Democratic Party Disavows Senate Nominee

Jim Maynard Write-In Candidate for U.S. Senate 2012
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Wendi C. Thomas: Same-sex marriage an issue of equal, civil rights » The Commercial Appeal

Good column by Memphis CA columnist Wendi Thomas on the reaction of African-American leaders and the black community to marriage equality for gays & lesbians.

New polls show that there is a growing acceptance of LGBT equality among African-Americans, including marriage, and evidence that President Obama's support may be helping African-Americans accept civil marriage rights for gays and lesbians.

And civil rights hero John Lewis made another strong statement of support of equality and equal rights for LGBT people today on MSNBC:

"My position is very, very simple. That I fought too long and too hard against discrimination based on race and color, not to stand up and fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation. If you’re going to provide civil rights and equality for everybody, you cannot draw a line, you cannot build a wall. We must respect the dignity and the worth of every human being whether they are gay or straight." ~ Congressman John Lewis - Freedom Rider and Civil Rights Activist.

For more on LGBT civil rights and African Americans check out National Black Justice Coalition