By Jasmyne A. Cannick

The absence of any substantive conversation about the divisive tactics and issues used to distract blacks and keep us at odds at this year's State of the Black Union hosted by television and radio commentator Tavis Smiley in Houston, Texas, was deeply disappointing and frustrating. Often billed as the national forum for discussing the issues that are most important to black America, this year's forum was used to launch Smiley's Covenant With Black America, a comprehensive plan on how to build a stronger black America. But Smiley's plan fails to include black lesbians and gays.

One fact that we cannot ignore is that black pulpits continue to be for sale to the highest bidder and black votes are being sold to the GOP under the guise of protecting America's moral values. For instance, the black vote in Ohio in 2004 turned out around the issue of gay marriage at the expense of larger issues.

We will never be able to make any systemic changes in our health-care, educational reform, environmental racism, access to affordable neighborhoods, jobs, wealth, and economic justice if we vote a political slate based solely on opposing gay marriage.

During the multitude of speechifying made during the Black Union conference, there was a huge emphasis placed on holding both the black and the majority leadership accountable. I hold the conference organizers accountable: When we fail to address critical issues like gay marriage, we fail our community.

How is it that you can have Nation of Islam leader the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Rev. Al Sharpton on the same panel as the anti-gay Hi-Impact Coalition's Bishop Harry Jackson, and yet there is no conversation about wedge issues used to divide blacks?

Sharpton has pledged to fight homophobia in the black community, including black churches, and Farrakhan extended his hand to gays during the Millions More Movement March. But Jackson joined with white Christian evangelical Lou Sheldon to organize black pastors to "protect" the institution of marriage.

Yet during the three-hour plus conference televised live on C-SPAN, only progressive Princeton professor and author Cornel West mentioned "sexual orientation."

Even more shocking than the exclusion of gays from this supposedly inclusive conversation about the State of the Black Union was the failure to mention the impact of HIV/AIDS on blacks. All the wealth and economic justice in the world won't do us any good if we're not alive to enjoy it.

The courting of black pastors by Republicans using moral values as common ground is problematic if we're trying to build a unified voice and vote for the best policies for blacks. We are accountable to each other and as long as black leaders exclude lesbians and gays from the conversation, we'll continue to allow ourselves to divided and conquered.

Not talking about it is bad. Not wanting to talk about it is worse.

Jasmyne Cannick is a political commentator and founding board member of the National Black Justice Coalition. For more informaion, go to www.jasmynecannick.com.