Friend and ally of the LGBT communities.
London – 9 February 2006
“We mourn the loss of Coretta Scott King and salute her contribution to black freedom and liberation,” said Peter Tatchell of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights group OutRage!.
“Like the Dr Martin Luther King, Coretta saw the black civil rights struggle as part of the wider struggle for human liberation. She opposed war and poverty, and she advocated respect, dignity and human rights for all people everywhere.
“A valued friend and ally of the lesbian and gay community, she supported same-sex marriage and legislation to protect gay people against discrimination.
“Coretta took a stand against racism and homophobia, urging the black and gay communities to work together to defeat all prejudice and hatred.
“Her far-sighted, inclusive vision inspires us and will inspire generations to come. The world has lost a truly great humanitarian and freedom fighter,” said Mr Tatchell.
In 1998, Coretta Scott King said:
“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”.
She supported a federal bill to outlaw anti-gay discrimination, and in 2004 she condemned the proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, saying:
“Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union”.