orth Carolina voters are going to the polls today to decide whether their state will adopt a draconian amendement banning the recognition of unmarried couples, gay and straight. Amendment One would prohibit government from extending any benefits to a person based on a domestic legal union other than marriage. It would also prohibit unmarried couples from seeing each other in the hospital and from making emergency medical/financial decisions regarding a significant other, says Avant Greensboro.
In a stark departure from previous “defense of marriage” campaigns, many black clergy members are leading the charge against the amendment. According to TheRoot:
One of the most vocal black clergyman opposing the amendment is Rev. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP chapter. Barber delivered this rousing speech at a press conference on May 6. I suspect his rhetoric will be shape the black community’s debate about gay marriage for years to come.
About the Author
In the effort to deny the rights of others, with due diligence, and a jaundiced eye,
we can always find a basis for our hatred.
Believe me, at age 82, as the mother of two terrific kids, three grands, and one great grand, I am thrilled to witness the renewal of the wedding vows between Human
Rights and Civil Rights, in the doctrine of Marriage Equality.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Ms. Carrie. It’s an honor to hear from you.
Human dignity and Civil Rights have renewed their vows through the doctrine of Marriage Equality.
Biblical in origin, however,today, “marriage”, altho sparked by electromagnetic waves
to the heart, has evolved into an almost ironclad financial document. Note the number
of prenups.
Further, If we are going to be hard and fast about the religious basis of marriage, then
what happened to ” in sickness, and in health, and until death” ? How come
divorces are legally recognized?
Oh!, I get it: Use the bible as a platform to support inhumanity and the denial of civil rights thus forgetting that God is for justice and human dignity, and that He loves all of
his children.
In closing, please do not belittle the word of God, by reading the Bible with
a jaundiced eye: Let those who love marry if that is their wish.
a jaundice eye.
As a straight black North Carolinian, I want to say that Reverend Barber speaks for me. Many, many LGBTQ folks and allies put in months and months of good working fighting this amendment. They formed powerful networks and relationships, and laid groundwork for continued human rights and civil rights struggles. Despite the defeat, we are proud of what we accomplished here in North Carolina, and the struggle, as we always knew, will continue. Thanks for elevating one of the most brilliant, sanctified, powerful, and well-respected voices in our state.
Minority rights should never be up for a vote by the majority – a civil right is a civil right. Discrimination is just wrong – if ‘votes for blacks’ were up for a vote today, it would probably get the same support as marriage equality.
I am bowled over by the strength of these convictions. I am white and straight, yet I understand deeply the importance of not abusing my majority status. This is a beautiful reminder of that.
This makes me happy! So much hate beginning spread, so many leaders teaching lies of hate today, makes me sad to live where these kinds of things are taught. So, Thank you for this it put hope in my heart again.