Ben Jealous: LGBT and Civil Rights Groups Must Work Together
Bridging the gap between LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and civil rights organizations was the overarching motif as NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous helped kick off the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change, the 24th National Conference on LGBT Equality, in Baltimore Thursday night.
"Unfortunately, the national media tends to exaggerate divisions between civil rights and LGBT institutions," Jealous said to conference attendees during his keynote address at the Hilton Baltimore. "But more damaging than the media's failure to recognize our common struggles is our own failure to come together on issues of common interest."
In July 2009 the NAACP introduced its own LGBT Equality Task Force, in conjunction with the National Black Justice Coalition. And last year the organization hosted its first LGBT town hall, featuring prominent black LGBT figures such as comedian Wanda Sykes and CNN anchor Don Lemon…