BREAKING NEWS: NAACP Endorses Gay
Marriage!
Less than two weeks after President Barack Obama
announced his public support for gay marriage, a prominent African-American
civil rights organization is following suit.
The National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People's board of directors voted to endorse gay marriage on Saturday,
according to a tweet from NAACP officer
The NAACP Board of Directors has just endorsed
marriage equality unequivocally. Only two opposed!
Metro Weekly procured the
full resolution from the 64-member unit, which is highlighted by an affirmation
of the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause:
"The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the 'political, education, social and economic equality' of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment."
"The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the 'political, education, social and economic equality' of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment."
The NAACP
decision comes at a time where diverse opinions on same-sex marriage are present
within black churches. Following Obama's announcement, Bishop Timothy Clarke of
the First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio, summed up his congregation's mixed
feelings on the issue.
"No church or group is monolithic," Clarke told USA
Today. "Some were powerfully agitated and disappointed. Others were curious --
why now? to what end? Others were hurt. And others, to be honest, told me it's
not an issue and they don't have a problem with it."
From the government end
of the spectrum, dozens of politicians have paralleled Obama's words since the
May 9 announcement. GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney stands on the other
side of the issue, telling KETV-TV on May 10 that "as a society, I think we're
better off if we encourage the establishment of homes with a mother and a
father."
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director
Rea Carey released a statement acclaiming the NAACP's decision as a "truly
historic moment." More from Carey:
"We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the
NAACP working together on the many issues that affect all of our lives. Whether
it be fair access to education and jobs, an end to voter suppression and racial
profiling, the right to love and be who we are free of discrimination -- these
issues affect all of us, our families and our country. Today the NAACP did what
it does so well -- inspires and affirms our common
humanity."
This is a BIG STEP. I just now hope that many in the
LGBTQ Community who still have their issues with African Americans "ahem RACE...YES I SAID RACE!" come off
their HIGH HORSE and realize an entire RACE isn't homophobic nor do African
American lawmakers have NEVER wrote one bill that harmed the LGBTQ Community.
It's time to seriously come together!
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