Recently, the Reverend Willie Wilson of Union Temple Church in Southeast D.C. and national executive director of the Millions More Movement warned, “lesbianism is about to take over our community.”

Imagine that, lesbianism.

Apparently, Reverend Wilson’s son couldn’t find a date to the prom and told Dad that all the girls in his class were lesbians except for two and according to him, they were “ugly.”

I am more inclined to believe that the son isn’t too good looking himself and couldn’t get a date. However, since that wasn’t going to fly when the prom came and he had no date, he pawned his unfortunate looks off on lesbianism, sparking an outrage in dear old Dad.

Reverend Wilson earlier this year commented on how much his church has done to reach out to gays. In fact, he was bold enough to claim that no other church, except for a gay church had done more for the gay community in D.C.

The ignorance and hypocrisy of Wilson’s statements and actions shouldn’t go unchallenged.

While under Wilson’s leadership Union Temple Church has taken some steps forward to bridge the gap between the Black church and the gay community, but has also taken a monumental step backward.

As the national executive director of the Millions More Movement marking the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March in October, Reverend Wilson has rejected every attempt by Black gays and lesbians to be involved in the planning and organizing process of this event.

Though the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan publicly announced at Tavis Smiley’s State of Black America Summit in February the inclusion of both gays and women in the memorial march, Reverend Wilson refuses to allow gays to participate on any level in the organization and planning efforts of the commemoration march. An attitude that isn’t exclusive to D.C. Black gays and lesbians are being excluded from planning efforts around the country.

The idea that gays are being ignored and discouraged from getting involved leads me to believe that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan paid the gay and lesbian community lip service.

Even if Minister Farrakhan hadn’t invited gays and women to participate in the anniversary march, we were still planning on attending as members of the Black community.

However, since he did extend an invitation to gays to attend, it’s only right that gays be allowed to participate in the planning, organizing, and mobilizing of “the best, brightest, and most willing minds of our people.”

If Wilson’s comments are any indication as to the consensus of those aiding in the preparation for commemorative march, then Black gays and lesbians have a lot of work to do. Progressive minded Blacks, regardless of sexual orientation must hold Farrakhan and other Black leaders accountable for their actions.

In light of Reverend Wilson’s recent comments, I am reminded of an old Jamaican saying goes, “You can’t carry two faces under one hat.”

Reverend Wilson has showed America his second face.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan needs to step forward and set the record straight on the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the Millions More Movement.

Black gays and lesbians are going to attend the anniversary march regardless of what of Wilson and Farrakhan do or don’t do. The organizing has already begun.

If you wait for tomorrow, tomorrow comes. If you don’t wait for tomorrow, tomorrow comes.

The question is, will gays be attending as part of the overall Black community invited to participate, or as revolutionaries who are kicking the door down where communities continue to exclude us?

Editor’s Note:

At 27, Jasmyne Cannick is a board member of the National Black Justice Coalition, the nation’s only Black gay civil rights group and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. Cannick a Los Angeles native is a communications strategist who is pursuing her long-term interest in public policy and journalism. She can be reached via her website at www.jasmynecannick.com

Jasmyne Cannick © 2005 All rights reserved.