Almost a week ago it was a great day in California for two groups near and dear to my heart: chickens and Black folk. On November 4, Black folk (and more than half of the country) celebrated the historic 2008 presidential election, and chickens far and wide did back flips in their cages because they were granted more room to do so before they become Sunday dinner. Meanwhile, thousands of people in the LGBT community were reverted back to second class citizens, by way of Proposition 8 supporters and now the California state constitution.

One point for liberals and chickens; Zero for Gays.

The passage of Proposition 8, the-never-should-have-been-voted-on constitutional amendment declaring marriage an institution solely between men and women, marks the dawn of a new day: one in which Black folk think they’ve made it, while the Gay community takes the old Negro spot.

Apparently, there’s no room for Gay marriage on the CHANGE train, and if there is, it sure as hell better not try to get a seat next to Black folk, or maybe just not 70 percent of them in California. That is if you believe the exit polls that have become media fodder throughout the country.  These polls, which should always get the side eye, indicate that Blacks in the state were in favor of the proposition by a ratio of more than 2 to 1.

Now before some of you pro Gay rights, newly turned anti-yes-on-8 Black bashers start talking about how the (Black) man is keeping you down, please check the math and understand that no group should be singled out for the approval of Prop 8. Everyone had a hand in this.

But that doesn’t mean my people shouldn’t be schooled on the errors of their ways.

Many cite religious beliefs on same-sex marriage as the primary reason the majority of the state’s Black community supported Prop 8, but I would just like to blame something else. My reference point: calling a chicken what it is, a chicken. Or in this case, calling ignorance what it is, ignorance.

And, that’s no diss on God. James Baldwin, the renowned writer who happended to be Gay and Black, once wrote something about how people’s faith is never wrong, it’s just the people. I say Amen to that brotha.

But who knew so many people could be so wrong in 2008? I’m sure Mr. Hill isn’t alone in thinking civil rights are only about “getting a job, employment.”

We knew No Child Left Behind left a lot of children behind, but who would have thought their parents left behind everything they learned about civil rights in a basic government class? So let’s refresh – access to equal protection, no matter one’s race, religion, creed, and sexual orientation, is a fundamental right for all of us. That makes acquiring equal protection under the law for same-sex couples a first class civil rights show down.

Besides that, since when did Black folk demand a monopoly on the struggle for equality in this country? To ignore the parallels between any fight for equality no matter the cause is detrimental to our own struggle. Does this not look familiar?

Or must it get to this before we wake up and stop trying to wrap hate and ignorance in God?

Even the good Reverend Al Sharpton gets it. We can not elevate ourselves while shooting down the fundamental rights of another group. The “us against them” mentality leads us susceptible to continue to be the “them” even with a Black President.

Post November 4, 2008 surely is a new day.

Not only have we made it to the White House, 70 percent of us have now adopted the oppressive mob mentality that had us once build the steps to that house years ago.  It looks like discrimination is now a minority hand-me down. Though I hope the buck stops with the LGBT community. Otherwise, look out chickens…you might be next.

Tags: Barack Obama, Blacks, Civil Rights, Gay Rights, Prop 8, Religion