Coretta Scott King, Renewer of Society - RIP

If your dominant impression of Coretta Scott King is as supportive wife to Martin Luther King, and/or dignified widow keeping his memory alive for new generations...you may be surprised to know of her importance as a voice for civil and human rights in her own right, in her own voice and by her own action. Rochelle Riley of the Detroit Free Press offers a retrospective on King's career as a leader for social change.

And a hat tip to SOF Shipmate iGeek for compiling the following Coretta Scott King quotes expressing her support for the gay and lesbian community:

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people." — March 30, 1998

"Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood. This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group." — at the 25th Anniversary Luncheon for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, April 1, 1998.

"For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people. Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions." — at the 25th Anniversary Luncheon for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, April 1, 1998.

"Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."

"We have a lot more work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say “common struggle” because I believe very strongly that all forms of bigotry and discrimination are equally wrong and should be opposed by right-thinking Americans everywhere. Freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation is surely a fundamental human right in any great democracy, as much as freedom from racial, religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination." — November 9, 2000

God of truth, we thank you for the courage and faithful witness of your servant Coretta, whose words and actions invited us to share the dream of justice and equity for all your children, and to strive for that goal. Grant that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the peole of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.