Bishop Harry R. Jackson in The Blaze:
The largest roadblock to the nationwide redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples is the group of people perhaps least ashamed to voice their convictions in the matter: black Christians. In a pathetic effort to eradicate this roadblock, lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual (LGBT) activists have accused traditional marriage advocates of “creating” a division between minority Christian leaders and the homosexual community. If we are to believe same-sex marriage advocates, racial and ethnic minorities are naturally sympathetic to the LGBT cause. But anyone who has spoken to blacks who lived through the Civil Rights movement without going in the LGBT payroll knows nothing could be further from the truth.
The truth is, few issues in American history have brought together more people from vastly different political and racial backgrounds than the fight to preserve traditional marriage. African-Americans have joined with people of all races and creeds to resist the radical effort of activists to redefine marriage and family. As a result new heroes are emerging with the courage of the Freedom Riders of the 1960s.
Just look at New York, where Democratic Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz bravely spoke out in opposition to gay marriage. In my own state of Maryland, black churches are helping lead the fight to put the marriage issue on the ballot, while in D.C. Civil Rights legend Walter Fauntroy endorsed a federal marriage amendment. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, voters will decide the fate of the Marriage Amendment on May 8. All across the country, minority Americans are emerging as leaders in a fight which is bringing together Orthodox Christians, Orthodox Jews, blacks, whites, Hispanics and Asians, Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
In the midst of this fight, LGBT activists have created a mythology to try to explain the fierce minority opposition to their agenda. Primary among these myths is the idea that the National Organization for Marriage, with whom I and many African Americans have been proud to stand, is responsible for dividing racial minorities against the gay community. Nothing could be further from the truth. NOM has instead provided a national platform for racial minorities to voice their heartfelt outrage at an agenda that is trying to hijack the moral authority of the Civil Rights struggle.
The overwhelming majority of African-Americans, like the majority of Americans generally, do not believe same-sex marriage is a civil right, or that sexual behavior is akin to race.
5 Comments
Sing it my friend!
You can count my colors among your rainbow coalition.
Apparently black Americans will again be at the leading edge of a fight for human justice, dignity and truth. The black civil rights. And this new fight, with outcome yet unknown. And if the idea of marriage comes to be perverted and polluted under the law; we know that injustices, and abuse of the citizens by its leaders and State, can last a long, long time. But Truth will forever remain unchanged; and that is the only road that we will ever walk on.
As far as this little windstorm that the LBGT activists are string up. It will only help to show that you are not riding NOM's coattails, nor is NOM riding yours. But that you are all walking side by side, and amongst each other. And that there are so many of us, and from every corner of the world, that we cannot all be put under one hat. But that they can indeed, count us all, among those in the fight.
Speaking of LBGT. I was always curious to know; since they are clearly part of the group. How will our government ever be fair and just to the bisexual (and his own born that way sexual needs), but to let him marry one of each? As if we didn't have enough questions as it were.
It is great that Harry Jackson believes in NOM's work; however, Harry Jackson has said that "homosexual marriage is part of a satanic plot to destroy our seed." I would like to ask NOM whether or not they agree with Reverend Jackson's statement, and as to whether or not his position is motivated by an animus towards gay people.
I think that it would be misleading to suggest that NOM has been turning Black churches against the LGBT community. Rather, they are just uniting the disparate groups of superstitious homophobes that were already there.
Chris, if you have a blog or have access to another SSMer's blogsite, you might make your query there and cite your sources. Readers can follow you to that blogsite to discuss your query.
Michael, since NOM supports members of the LGBT community getting married (i.e., NOM doesn't propose making sexual orientation an eligibility requirement for marriage), your theory on phobias is falling rather flat. Is that your tolerance showing?