African Americans and homophobia

Re “A sorry spectacle,” editorial, and “The locker room closet,” Current, Feb. 18

If there was any doubt that the recent comments by actor Isaiah Washington and retired pro basketball player Tim Hardaway reveal that a deep-rooted homophobia exists among some African Americans, one only needs to go back to the 2004 elections, when large numbers of religiously conservative blacks voted against their interests and for “values” issues such as constitutional bans against gay marriage. If any group can understand the experience of being overtly discriminated against for an intrinsic characteristic that has nothing to do with their humanity or values, it should be African Americans. They should be natural allies with any oppressed minority. Civil rights must extend to everyone or to no one. To the extent that African Americans reject this simple idea, they abandon any claim they have to the moral superiority -- and benefits -- of the civil rights era.

DON HOWE

Palmdale