US gay leaders seek to bridge racial divide
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-09 20:39

But for some minority gays — and heterosexuals — distance from the white mainstream stems from a notion that race trumps all. It's an age-old idea that leaves many viewing themselves as black or Hispanic first and gay second.

"We (have) formed our own institution — that being the prides, our social organizations, our social clubs," Fowlkes said. "All the things our parents and grandparents did to react to racism in their day."

With anti-gay measures gaining ground nationwide, the argument for uniting across racial lines is strong. Gay marriage bans were approved in all 11 states that held referendums last fall, including Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky.

In Richmond, Mason's staff is taking baby steps to diversify. The flagship Virginia gay rights group hosted an awards dinner in April with Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Still, Mason lists a concern of many white gay leaders: In areas where minority gay communities are not well-organized, reaching across racial lines is nearly impossible.

"We don't have a Richmond black gay pride, for example," she said. "We don't have that type of opportunity for us to really find who these folks are."