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Watch two African American church leaders discuss their support of marriage equality

July 13, 2012

Marriage equality

By Jacob Combs

Mitt Romney made headlines last week when he was booed at the NAACP’s national conference in Houston, where he reiterated his opposition to marriage equality and his support for repealing the Affordable Care Act.  In the wake of Romney’s speech, ThinkProgress spoke with two African American ministers at the NAACP conference about marriage equality, and their answers demonstrate the nuances of support for equal marriage rights in the African American community.

Watch the two interviews below: one with Sabu Williams, the president of Florida’s Okaloosa County NAACP and a Baptist, the other with Rev. Dr. William Barber, the protestant president of the North Carolina NAACP.  Barber’s point especially bears repeating–individuals can still personally believe that marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman while holding the view that legally, under the U.S. Constitution, Americans should not discriminate against gay and lesbian couples.  This is what the phrase ‘marriage equality’ really describes: the right for all Americans to hold their own view on what marriage means and to enter into a marriage should they so desire, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Twitt

4 Comments Leave a Comment

  • 1. Sagesse  |  July 13, 2012 at 9:11 am

    @

  • 2. Bob  |  July 13, 2012 at 9:54 am

    getting it right!!!!!!!

  • 3. Mark B.  |  July 13, 2012 at 11:18 am

    <img src="http://www.mynewcarquote.us/ikea/is.jpg"/&gt; Only hope more church leaders can speak like them.<img src="http://www.mynewcarquote.us/xbox/vi.jpg"/&gt;

  • 4. Mike in Baltimore  |  July 14, 2012 at 12:05 am

    I really like what one minister in Maryland said when testifying for the marriage equality bill then under consideration. The minister was (is) the Rev. Delman Coates, pastor of Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, Md (a 'small' congregation of about 6500).

    “Regarding the rite of marriage, the practice of our local church is rooted in our understanding of the history and etymology of the term matrimony. Therefore, wedding ceremonies witnessed and presided over at our church acknowledge the union of a man and a woman in a sacred ceremony.

    “With that said, I am here today to express my full support of the proposed Civil Marriage Protection Act as proposed by the governor. As a matter of public policy, I believe it is the obligation of the state to insure that all of her citizens are protected equally under the law.”

    And he made those comments before any further 'protections' were added so that churches 'would not be forced to perform marriage equality ceremonies'.

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