Tuesday, March 23, 2004 Posted: 6:26 PM EST (2326 GMT)
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- More than two dozen black pastors added their voice to the critics of same-sex marriage, attempting to distance the civil rights struggle from the gay rights movement and defending marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
"When the homosexual compares himself to the black community, he doesn't know what suffering is," said the Rev. Clarence James, an African-American studies professor at Temple University.
James and 29 pastors rallied late Monday with their supporters at an Atlanta-area church where they signed a declaration outlining their beliefs on marriage and religion.
The declaration is meant to pressure state representatives to approve a constitutional ban on gay marriages, which will be considered again by the Georgia House as soon as this week.
The declaration, to be presented to state leaders Wednesday or Thursday, says same-sex marriage is not a civil right, and marriage between a man and a woman is important because it's necessary for the upbringing of children.
"To equate a lifestyle choice to racism demeans the work of the entire civil rights movement," the statement said. "People are free in our nation to pursue relationships as they choose. To redefine marriage, however, to suit the preference of those choosing alternative lifestyles is wrong."
Same-sex marriage is already illegal in Georgia, but supporters of the ban say the constitution needs to be changed to make sure a judge does not direct Georgia to recognize gay marriages performed in other states.
"It is a threat to who we are and what we stand for," said Bishop William Shields of Hopewell Baptist Church. "If nothing else gets us out of the pews, this ought to."
But the Rev. Paul Turner, a gay pastor from Atlanta who helped organize a pro-gay marriage rally last month outside the Georgia Capitol, disagreed: "How do they figure that it's not a civil rights issue?"
"This is just a way for those conservative leadership in the black community to say, 'Look, this isn't a matter of civil rights because we're black and we didn't have a choice in being black.' And they think gays do, and that's not true," Turner said.
Sure--I would NEVER try to compare the multitudes of abuses endured by African Americans and Gay Americans. But, that doesn't mean that we BELITTLE a group's suffering. Or their lack of equal rights.
And, I'm REALLY sick of this "marriage is for children" crap. What about:
1. Heterosexuals who can't have children. 2. Heterosexuals who don't want children. 3. Heterosexuals who have children, but get divorced. 4. Homosexuals who have children.
It's revolting to me how such flimsy arguments get thrown around and how some people disguise their bigotry behind it.
And, YES, gay equal rights IS a civil rights issue. Just as freedom from religious and gender discrimination are civil rights issues.
joined:5/17/03
joined:
5/17/03
Posted: 3/24/04 at 9:44am