Jesse Jackson was quite possibly the most important and powerful straight ally and political friend of sexual minorities in the USA. He brilliantly and passionately SPOKE and FOUGHT for us, in the pulpit and at the podium (and in those days it African-Americans were more upset about my open existence than were whites).
I got to know him during some early 1980’s Democratic equal rights planning meetings where he was a powerful and smart contributor. In 1984 I did fundraising within Los Angeles gay political circles for him, and found myself invited to a small hill-top “meet the candidate” event. Wonderfully, it was primarily for us Homos and for contributing Los Angeles Muslims. We all had a wonderful time together, which he carefully orchestrated for success.
In 2008 my widowed and retired from office ferociously political mother came to Spain for a visit during the election of 2008. Election Night found Mom, me, husband, and a Goddaughter of mine then studying in Madrid and her local boyfriend, desperate to find a decent TV and sound system we could commandeer at 3 AM or so. We ended up in a true ancient “dive bar”. Local boyfriend told the bartender that Mom was a famous and powerful USAian politician, and that a lot (“mas que muchos”) of people would be in the bar in about 30 minutes to watch her watch Obama win. Bartender called in two friends. 45 minutes later, as Obama went “over the top” claiming victory, the bar was filled with about 120 youngsters. Mom thrilled them, somewhat with her delighted cries of “Yes Yes Yes at Long Last”, but even more when the TV cameras in Chicago caught this:
and my Mother completely lost it, weeping and almost drowning with overwhelming joy. The crowd all needed to be in a photo with her. Fortunately, the bartenders had been cued by Mom (via me) to have cava (Iberian champagne) ready for everyone there.
Well, being young but proper Madridleños, they ALL wanted their photo to show them toasting with her. At 5 she was so happily exhausted and drunk getting her back to the hotel presented problems. Some theater kids there left and suddenly showed up with a stage palanquin, and Mom was carried in local triumph back to her hotel in true style.
That was a classic Jesse Jackson moment.