Black Clergy Speak out Against Gay Marriage
 

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...e_civil_rights


Ok, on the one hand, I am glad that there is a diversity of opinion among Black Americans...on any issue, but my question is,is it right or wrong to compare the plight of gay people to the Civil Rights Movement? I have a problem equating the two, but I also feel these people are definitely discriminated against. I guess it's one of those things that I try not to think about because it confuses me too much, but then again I feel obligated to give this sort of issue some critical thought. "Sigh", I don't know how to feel.

What do you all think?

(Please forgive me if this has already been discussed, I do remember there being a recent thread related to homosexuality. Moderators, feel free to merge the threads if you see fit)

Ok, I found that the previous thread was about the morality or lack thereof of gay marriage. The question posed in this thread is different.

Coretta Scott King in Support of Gay Marriages
 

King's widow gives her support to gay marriage, controversial among civil rights leaders

The Associated Press
3/24/04 11:18 AM


POMONA, N.J. (AP) -- The widow of Martin Luther King Jr. called gay marriage a civil rights issue, denouncing a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban it.

Constitutional amendments should be used to expand freedom, not restrict it, Coretta Scott King said Tuesday.

"Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union," she said. "A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."


Read the rest here

I do think that Christian Leaders should oppose gay marriage. But that's my opinion.

I think maybe Christian leaders should speak out against gay marriage to and among their perishoners and congregations, where there are willing attendees.

Enacting a constitutional amendment seems to be enforcing some form of religious doctrine on everyone which would be getting dangerously close to, if not crossing, the line of separation of church and state.


This is my view as of right now....I am still doing the whole "but on the other hand" thing too.

when we say "civil rights movement" its implied "black civil rights," a movement set out to acheive equal rights for blacks and whites. that is important to us as black people.

in terms of arguing for/against gay marriage, i think the term "civil rights movement" is appropriate. homosexuals are fighting to acheive equal rights (in terms of marriage, but im sure for other issues as well, like adoption, and feel free to add others) as hetersexuals. gays are stereotyped, discriminated, and are (were) abused--mentally, physically, verbally. the only thing missing is the slavery component--which is something not to be ignored.

so in this sense, and by definition provided, i feel like its appropriate. this is, of course, rooted in the bigger question of "do homosexual derserve civil rights?"

from my perspective solely, supported by this definition and the bold distinctions my own (and i invite you all to agree and disagree), i say yes. this is definitely a political issue, as was civil rights fought for blacks. remember, we were (are) mad over the contradiction in "all men created equal", because it didnt show when we were denied the right to vote, and it did damn sure didnt show when we were in countless ways treated and depicted as inferior. this argurment can very well be applied to homosexuals--"all men created equal," but can they equally vote, adopt, or do many daily activities w/o the risk of perhaps getting their ass kicked in the street for being homosexual?

(and no there isnt a bias. i am not homosexual. i am black, so by experience, i want civil rights granted to me, because as a black person, i am a person, and i deserve those rights as a civil(ized) person. at the same time, a homosexual person is a person just as much as i am, and deserves those rights just like i do, because they are of civility.)