Earlier this year, prominent Maryland civil rights crusader Elbridge James, stepped up to defend the rights of gay people. Challenging convention, Elbridge believed that black society need not be homophobic. In a ground breaking move, he committed the Maryland Black Family Alliance to embrace the gay black community. His decision represented a sea change for African American civil rights establishment.

Elbridge's bold, ground breaking  move has begun to pay dividend for gay people of color. Notably, Rev. Al Sharpton's organization recently decided to support a bill in Arizona which would provide equal rights to gay people. Elbridge has shown leadership, foresight and courage. Hopefully more African American rights organizations will follow Elbridge's lead.

This is a black man that Gay America needs to get to know. Mr. James graciously agreed to an interview with GBMNews. You will find him to be thoughtful and refreshing man. Please proceed to the full story.

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Justin: Where were you born and raised?

Elbridge: Philadelphia, PA.

Justin:Was it a diverse community?

Elbridge: No, primarily a Black community; I helped integrate the elementary school I attended that was out of my community, but primarily Black middle and high schools.

Justin: Growing up, did you have any gay friends?

Elbridge: No (and I wouldn't know. When and where I grew up parents controlled much of your life. Planned your activities and steered you away from any sexually oriented activities/ behavior/atmosphere. We had chaperoned dances from age 12 to 16; and boys were steered towards girls - but parents stopped you at the kissing stage.)

Justin: When you were growing up, how did your community, church, family, and yourself receive/perceive homosexuals/gay people? Were you aware of any "gay community"?

Elbridge: Remember, I grew up in the late 50's and early 60's. Whereas, there were always gay and lesbian individuals in our community; no one spoke about sexual orientation (especially around the children and teenagers).

Justin: How do you think your community, church, and family have influenced your current perspective on LGBT people?

Elbridge: All the above did little to provide any knowledge about LGBT people. The Black church has traditionally denied your legitimate right to exist; and the Black community in the 60's and early 70's talked about LGBT people in whispers and innuendo. In some circles we were told that gay men preyed upon boys and young men, taking them "home" against their "will". However, by the early to mid-80's a broader image of gay men and lesbians found its way into Black life. "Aunt so and so" or "cousin you know" were acknowledge and tolerated, but LGBT folks were always seen as isolated/singular figures without any real ties to the community. In retrospect, this was disgracefully because Black and White gay men and lesbians played important roles in the development of the Black civil rights struggle and suffered great hardships for their efforts.

Justin: I heard through the "Young Gay Activist Rumor Mill" that one factor that influenced you to support gay marriage is someone who is a personal friend of yours. Would you care to comment on this?

Elbridge: Yes, but not someone -- SOME PEOPLE -I now have friends in Va. and Maryland (gay males and lesbians) that I care about who are in committed relationships that have stood the test of time. Most want civil marriage; all want to legitimize their relations. They are true friends that I call for counsel and to share good times.

Justin: Mr. James, have you always supported gay and lesbian issues? In the past, your organization hasn't supported LGBT issues. No

Elbridge: My attitude towards the LGBT community began to change in the early in the 80's, when I began a career change to human resource management and was seeking to change the climate/relationship with supervisors and their employees. A pivotal moment occurred when we hired another black man on the management team. I was at first leery on why he was hired and I later learned that he was gay (which had nothing to do with his hire). We worked in different areas but everyone on staff said that I needed to get to know him. He would call and I kept putting it off until one day I told myself that I was being silly or worse. When I reached out to him, he was already on sick leave suffering from the AIDS disease and he died shortly thereafter. I felt like SHIT for my behavior and I vowed to change. I am in several organizations (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Progressive Maryland, NAACP, etc). The NAACP supports most LGBT issues (although the national organization and Maryland State have not taken stances on "civil marriage"). Progressive Maryland supports all LGBT issues. However, the fraternity, as a whole, continues to project homophobic behavior and attitudes. It is like the Black church with a "don't ask, don't tell" mentality. However, many in the fraternity are not homophobic and have signed on to the Maryland Black Family Alliance (MBFA). Things change with time and knowledge……

Justin: Since you've spoken out in support of gay marriage, have you encountered difficulties in the community/politically? Have you been harassed in any way?

Elbridge: Yes - allies of mine in western Maryland and on the eastern shore have distanced themselves from me (because of this stance); the Baltimore Sun article was cut out and passed around when I was campaigning for a top position in an important state organization. (I lost by one vote.) I have been called a F - - lover and almost got into a fight in Baltimore over this issue. (I don't back down.)

Justin: How has your own family responded to your taking up the cause in support of passing a gay marriage law?

Elbridge: My father and immediate family have been very supportive. My wife has become an additional set of eyes and ears alerting me to activities, opportunities and challenges. My children are part of the new generations that embraces differences and supports this effort.

Justin: How do you plan on working with organizations such as Equality Maryland, The National Black Justice Coalition, and/or the Human Rights Campaign to help legalize civil marriage for gay and lesbian Marylanders?

Elbridge: We work in partnership to advance the argument for civil marriage and to "educate" the public (especially the Black community), our political allies and elected officials on the legitimacy of civil marriage as a civil right. Each of these organizations bring complimenting strengths that, when optimized, provide a broad platform to launch this campaign.

Justin: Do you think that the issue of gay marriage is perceived as a "white gay thing"?

Elbridge: In most of the Black community - YES - but this is because other important LGBT issues have not been addressed in the Black community. The Black community is still operating a "don't ask, don't tell" mode. We love our Black gay men and lesbians for what they contribute to our richness, but we continue to deny their legitimacy (right to be who they area). Housing and employment discrimination are still higher for Black gay men and lesbians. AIDS continues to devastate our community, and they are harassed by bigots and fools without little protection from the police. Marriage is important because it speaks to the legitimacy of their relationship with their long time partner. It is a stabilizing force that all must recognize, whether they like it or not. Those same individuals don't have to like me or my family, but they have to respect my rights.

Justin: Alvin Williams and Nigel Simon are one of the first same-sex couples to apply for civil marriage in Maryland. [With that exception,] Why do you think there isn't more support [for same-sex marriage] from the black gay community in Maryland?

Elbridge: SEE THE ANSWER ABOVE - in addition, for many people (gay or straight) who choose the "single life", marriage is not a priority. Other issues (see above) present immediate and greater changes.

Justin: Does your support of gay marriage include gay adoption?

Elbridge: Yes

Justin: In your interview with the Baltimore Sun, you stated: "There is a scarcity of information on this issue in the black community. The black press doesn't cover it; talk radio doesn't cover it…We have this sort of 'don't ask, don't tell' policy in our community." What do you think can be done to address this problem?

Elbridge: The MBFA will be working with Equality Maryland, The Nations Black Justice Coalition and others to expand the "conversation" in the Black community. The Press Conference in Baltimore was the first of several public "opportunities" that we will be initiating through the 2007 -2008 year(s). We will be pushing for mainstream and black press coverage about all Black LGBT issues (including civil marriage). We are planning several forums and public meetings to expand the dialog.

Justin: When interviewed by the Baltimore Examiner, you said that "the black community is not homophobic. Civil rights belong to everyone. We are saying 'no' to those who want to bigot us, divide us". Why do you think the black community has been stereotyped as discriminating against the gay community?

Elbridge: I t may not have been slightly misquoted OR what I meant was - - the Black community is no more homophobic that than the majority (White) community. What we are - is less informed and divided by old fears and inaccurate information. The fact is that there are greater issues in the black community that demand our attention and action (high unemployment and under-employment, lack of access to affordable health care, poor housing, high juvenile crime and poor educational opportunities, children exposed to high levels of lead paint, police harassment and no police-community cooperation) --- get the point!!!! With little or no dialog on the existence of a Black LGBT presence in our community(ies), the average Black person cannot talk about Black LGBT issues. Black gays and lesbians are still the "invisible people" in the Black community; but then so are neglected and homeless children/families.

Justin: Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr., a Baltimore County Democrat and pastor at Rising Sun Baptist Church in Randallstown, one of the Assembly's more outspoken opponents of same-sex marriage, has said this. "I get really bent out of shape when you talk about gay and lesbian rights as a civil rights issue….whites can hide their gayness; I can't hide my blackness." How do you respond to that statement?

Elbridge: In that statement Del. Burns has shown that he has a narrow view of the world, his community and what it is to be Black in America. As I and others have said in the past…."we expect elected officials to place their hand on the Bible to protect the Constitution, but we do not want them to use the Constitution to sanction religion over the rights of our citizens". In Baltimore and across the state, Black LGBT folks struggle every day to provide the necessities of life for themselves, their families and community. Every day they and their families face harassment, discrimination and isolation. Del. Burns was elected to the General Assembly to protect ALL the citizens of Maryland, not only the members of his church.

Justin: What future endeavors do you envision for the Maryland Black Family Alliance? And for the LGBT community?

Elbridge: We are expanding our alliance membership; we are talking to elected officials about civil marriage and other Black LGBT issues (fighting AIDS, harassment issues, housing and employment discrimination, juvenile/family issues); we will be holding public forums and dialogs.

Justin: With the presidential election coming up next year, and Clinton, Obama and Edwards as the Democratic front-runners, do you have any comments about the candidates and their platforms?

Elbridge: The political canvas is still being drawn, and only in pencil now. Whereas, I like some of what I see, I'm waiting judgment until each candidates' platform give broader definition and "color" to their work.

Justin: Finally, do you have any thoughts about or aspirations toward future political endeavors?

Elbridge: Not at this time, I'm committed to this effort and to expanding the conversation into the Black community. Sometimes civil rights advocacy and political advancement are not compatible.

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Elbridge James is President of the Board of Progressive Maryland, an affiliate organization of US Action. He is also the Executive (first) Vice President of the Montgomery County (MD) Branch of the NAACP; and Director of the Maryland Black Family Alliance, a coalition of Black leaders, families and individuals of many faiths. The alliance stands for fairness, justice and equality for all families including families lead by lesbians and gay males.

Since 2000, Elbridge has served, in Annapolis, MD as the chief lobbyist and legislative advocate for the Maryland State NAACP. He works on legislative issues for the ACLU of Maryland, Equality Maryland and Progressive Maryland. In each of these capacities, he has been responsible for working with diverse groups to develop legislative strategies to combat racism in county and state government. In each of these areas he has had success in forming partnerships with progressive legislators to achieve victories for children, the poor, working families and the disadvantaged.

In addition to the above, Elbridge will work on housing, education and employment discrimination complaints for the NAACP in Montgomery County. He recently retired from the UMCP after 30+ years where he specialized in human resource management. Elbridge also served as President of the Faculty/Staff Advisory board of the Nyumburu (Black) Cultural Center; past treasurer of the Black faculty and Staff Association; and a member of the Campus Senate Human Relations Committee. If the above didn't keep him busy, he also mentors young men at a local high school where he advocates for teaching our youth about civil rights and responsibilities, and empowering them to be productive contributors in our community

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