Coretta Scott King

Mrs. King had a stroke on Tuesday, and is at least still with us. I will be keeping her in my thoughts.
Article.

--- Coretta Scott King, speaking four days before the 30th anniversary of her husband's assassination, said the civil rights leader's memory demanded a strong stand for gay and lesbian rights. "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," she said. "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," she said. ---

This is why Mrs. King is very important to the gay rights cause. Her voice has been raised to refute the attacks of conservative blacks who bristle at the inclusion of gay causes within the larger context of civil rights. And her voice comes with an enormous amount of stature and humanity.