The Washgton Post</tle><path d="M39.2 32v36.6c4.7-2.8 7-6.8 8.7-12.1l1.2.6c-1.1 13.2-10.3 26-24.3 26S0 72.6 0 55.8C0 43 7.7 35.1 18.7 28.2a16.11 16.11 0 00-4.4-.6c-7.2 0-11.4 4.9-11.4 9.9H1.5a14.77 14.77 0 01-.1-2.1c0-9.3 5.5-19.7 16.9-19.7 7.3 0 12.9 6.7 21.4 6.7 4.3 0 6.7-1.6 8.4-5.3h1.2c-.1 6.5-2 12.8-10.1 14.9zm-19-3.3C15.1 34 10.1 39.6 10.1 50.9c0 6.2 1.9 12.4 6.6 16.4l3.1-1.7V40.3L16.6 42l-1-1.6 15-8.4c-3.8-.8-6.9-2.3-10.4-3.3zm17.1 3.7a17 17 0 01-2.3.1 17.52 17.52 0 01-4-.4v29.5l-12.8 7a15.57 15.57 0 009.9 3 22.58 22.58 0 009.2-2zm44 9.2v34.3c0 9.6-8.51 16.11-18 18l-.6-1c4.7-2.3 7.8-6.41 7.8-11.41V45.7l-4.9-4.5-2.6 2.6v27.1l3 2.8v.4l-8.1 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.4l3.6-3.8V25.8l10.6-11.3.2.1v26.6l8.7-9.2 8.7 7.9 2.7-2.6 1.31 1.3zM97.91 62v4.5l9 7.1 7-7.3 1.3 1.3L101 82.8 88.21 72.6l-2.8 2.8-1.2-1.3 3.1-3.2V45.8l18.9-13.8 10.5 16.3zm.2-22.6l-.2.1v20.1l8.7-6.4zM180 82.71l-13.9-12-10.6 12-14.4-12.41V50.7h-2.8a3.89 3.89 0 00-4.1 3.5h-1a15.87 15.87 0 01-.5-3.8c0-2.6 1.1-9.4 8.4-9.4V25.8c0-5.9-3.9-6.2-3.9-11.3 0-5.7 5.4-11 15.3-14.5l.9.8c-3.3 1.6-6 3.6-6 7.9 0 6.6 6.4 4.9 6.4 15.3v4l11.7-12.3 12.3 12.1 11.6-12.1 11.2 11v37zM165.4 32.8l-7-6.9-4.6 4.7v34.3l8.5 7.3 3.1-3.5zm22.6-1.3l-5.6-5.6-4.3 4.3v34.6l9.8 8.6.1-.1zm44.8 51.21l-9.4-8.61h-.2l-8.3 8.61-10.1-8.91-2.3 2.3-1.3-1.3 2.9-3V45.5l19-13.6 10.4 8.2 2.8-2.8 1.5 1.3-3.6 3.4v27.1l4.6 4.2 2.9-3 1.5 1.4zm-9.4-37.41l-8.3-6.5-.2.2v29.2l6.1 5.4 2.4-2.3zm40.6 4.8h9.4v21.4l-15.9 11.21a11.52 11.52 0 00-8.8-4.11c-3 0-5.4 1.4-7.8 4l-1.4-.5 13.8-19.8h-8.5V43.7L261.4 32c2 1.6 3.6 2.6 6.2 2.6a11.35 11.35 0 007.1-2.2l1 .7zm-1.4 8.8h-4.7l-11.1 15.9.1.2a12.36 12.36 0 017.6-2.5 10.4 10.4 0 018 3.8l.1-.09zm6.4-19.6a9.73 9.73 0 01-6.9 2.3 8.92 8.92 0 01-6.3-2.9l-.2.1v14.6h3.8l9.7-14zm40 2.3v34.3c0 9.6-8.51 16.11-18 18l-.6-1c4.7-2.3 7.8-6.41 7.8-11.41V45.7l-4.9-4.5-2.6 2.6v27.1l3 2.8v.4l-8.1 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.4l3.6-3.8V25.8l10.6-11.3.2.1v26.6l8.7-9.2 8.71 7.9 2.7-2.6 1.3 1.3zm19.6 41.11l-8.3-7.61-2.8 2.8-1.3-1.3 3.3-3.4V44.7l-3.6-3.3-2.7 2.6-1.3-1.3L322 32l7.6 6.9 2.7-2.8 1.4 1.4-3.4 3.4v28.6l4.2 3.9 3-3.1 1.3 1.4zm-2.9-51.61l-8.2-7.5 7.5-8 8.2 7.5zm46.1 51.61l-8.7-7.91V45.6l-4.7-4.4-3.4 3.5v26.1l3.1 2.9v.4l-8.2 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.3l3.6-3.8V44.9l-4.1-3.7-3 3-1.4-1.3L345.9 32l9.1 8.1v2l9.5-10.1 8.7 7.8 2.9-2.9 1.3 1.4-3.5 3.5v28l3.9 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.2 1.3zm43-41V75.6c0 5.2 2.9 5 2.9 8.9 0 4.51-6.5 8.71-16.5 16.21-3.3-3.6-5.6-5.1-8.7-5.1a19.85 19.85 0 00-10.7 3.6l-1-.8 13.7-16.11-9-7.09-2.9 2.89-1.3-1.3 3.4-3.5V45.5l19-13.6 10.2 8 3-2.9 1.3 1.3zm-7.7 41.71c-2.5-1.61-3.1-3.31-3.1-7.61V74.3L387.9 93l.1.1c3.2-1.9 5.6-3.1 10.3-3.1 4 0 6.9 1.7 9.5 4 1.9-1.6 3.3-3.2 3.3-5.7 0-1.99-1.5-3.3-4-4.89zM404 45.3l-8.3-6.5-.2.2v30.7l5.9 4.6 2.6-3zm31.5 37.41l-8.8-6.91-2.7 2.7-1.3-1.29 3.1-3.21V39.4H420l-.2-.2 3.5-5.2h2.5v-6.7L436.4 16l.2.2V34h8l.2.2-3.5 5.2h-4.7v30.3l4.8 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.3 1.4zm43.71-40.11v27.7l-16.9 12.5L450 73.5l-2.8 2.8-1.3-1.3 3.2-3.3v-27L466.81 32l11.4 8.9 2.9-2.9 1.3 1.4zm-10.8 3L460 39l-.09.1v29.8l8.5 6.4zm50.4 37l-8.7-7.9V45.5l-4.7-4.4-3.41 3.5v26.1l3.1 2.9v.4l-8.2 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.3l3.6-3.8V44.8l-4.1-3.7-3 3-1.4-1.3 10.2-10.9L502 40v2l9.5-10.1 8.7 7.8 2.9-2.9 1.3 1.4-3.5 3.5v28l3.9 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.2 1.3zm61.39.11a12.91 12.91 0 00-6.3-4.61v20.81l-.2.1-5.5-5.1-11.6 10.7-.2-.1V77.6a18.83 18.83 0 00-10.2 6.61l-.8-.5c.7-7.71 4.5-13.41 11-15.61V48.6h-2.1a5.25 5.25 0 00-5.3 4.2h-1.2a12.28 12.28 0 01-.7-4.6c0-4.9 3.3-8.6 8.7-8.6h.6V28.8l-3.6-3.2-2.8 2.8-1.4-1.3 11.1-11.4 9.4 8.6v9.8L572 31V19.5h1.9V29l12.5-13.3L597.7 26v43.5zM572 32.9l-2.9 3v56.31l2.9 2.7zm13.1-2.3l-5.9-5.4-5.3 5.6v36.3c4.7.6 8.2 2.2 11.1 5.3l.1-.1zm48.7 12v27.7l-16.9 12.5-12.3-9.3-2.8 2.8-1.3-1.3 3.2-3.3v-27L621.4 32l11.4 8.9 2.9-2.9 1.3 1.4zm-10.8 3l-8.4-6.6-.1.1v29.8l8.5 6.4zm35.6 4.5h9.4v21.4l-15.9 11.21a11.52 11.52 0 00-8.8-4.11c-3 0-5.4 1.4-7.8 4l-1.4-.5 13.8-19.8h-8.5V43.7L656 32c2 1.6 3.6 2.6 6.2 2.6a11.38 11.38 0 007.11-2.2l1 .7zm-1.4 8.8h-4.7l-11.1 15.9.1.2a12.36 12.36 0 017.6-2.5 10.4 10.4 0 018 3.8l.1-.09zm6.41-19.6a9.78 9.78 0 01-6.91 2.3 8.92 8.92 0 01-6.3-2.9l-.2.1v14.6h3.8l9.7-14zm22.9 43.41l-8.8-6.91-2.71 2.7-1.3-1.29 3.1-3.21V39.4H671l-.2-.2 3.5-5.2h2.5v-6.7L687.41 16l.2.2V34h8l.2.2-3.5 5.2h-4.7v30.3l4.8 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.3 1.4z"></path></svg><span class="alic gray font-xxxxs font--body">Democracy Di Darkns</span></div></div><hear class="w-100" data-qa="ma-full"><div class="hi-for-prt"></div><div class="mt-lg"><div data-qa="kicker" class="wpds-c-eyomNc wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-PJLV-jYXVnY-lor-black wpds-c-PJLV-mlvxn-size-lg"></div></div><div class="PJLV PJLV-iklXUFA-css"><h1 class="PJLV PJLV-ikmtGxl-css overriStyl" data-ttid="headle" data-qa="headle" id="ma-ntent"><span data-qa="headle-text" class="PJLV">Black pastors take heat for not viewg same-sex marriage as civil rights matter</span></h1></div><div class="flex prt-byle prt-mt-none"><div class="byle-wrapper flex-lumn flex"><div class="PJLV PJLV-ihSmMVC-css"><div class="PJLV PJLV-iPJLV-css mb-xxs overriStyl" style="gap:0.5rem" data-qa="thor-byle"><span class="wpds-c-PJLV"><div class="flex ems-center" data-qa="thor-byle"><div class="mr-sm flex lh-0"><div class="wpds-c-iTcer"><img src=" alt="" class="wpds-c-dgBqAZ"/></div></div><span class="left"><div class="flex"><div class="dib font-xxs" data-qa="name-wh-optnal-lk" data-cy="name-wh-optnal-lk"><span data-qa="attributn-text" class="wpds-c-cNdzuP">By <!-- --> </span><a data-qa="thor-name" href=" rel="thor" class="wpds-c-cNdzuP wpds-c-cNdzuP-ejzZdU-isLk-te">Marc Fisher</a></div></div></span></div></span></div></div><div data-ttid="timtamp" class="wpds-c-kgabfe wpds-c-kgabfe-ieEDlgV-css"><span data-ttid="display-date" class="wpds-c-iKQyrV">Febary 23, 2012 at 8:39 p.m. EST</span></div></div></div></hear></div><article class="grid-article mb-xxl-ns" data-qa="ma"><div class="grid-body"><div class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-PJLV-hSmMVC-isLive-false"><div class="wpds-c-jUMcim wpds-c-jUMcim-ibVGacg-css hi-for-prt mb-sm"><div class="PJLV PJLV-ieDMgMI-css flex ems-center" 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font-xxxxs sc-ral-unt"><span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">All of a sudn, they are bigots and haters — they who stood tall agast discrimatn, who marched and sat , who knew better than most the pa of beg told they were ls than others.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">They are black men, succsful misters, <a href=" tle=">lears of their muny</a>. But wh Maryland <a href=">poised to bee</a> the <a href=">eighth state the natn</a> to legalize same-sex marriage, they hear people — policians, activists, even members of their own ngregatns — <a href=" tle=">tellg them they are on the wrong si of history</a>, and that's not where they ually live.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="db dn-ns mr-neg-gutter ml-neg-gutter mb-md hi-for-prt" data-qa="subscribe-promo"><div data-orientatn="horizontal" role="separator" class="wpds-c-dbVHzF wpds-c-dbVHzF-hDkAcj-variant-flt"></div><a class="pt-sm pb-sm flex ems-center bold font-xxxs font-xxs-ns jtify-center" href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="lor:#166dfc;borr:none"><svg class="ntent-box" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns=" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>Wp</tle><path d="M11.055 8.728l-1.018-1.019-.782.782v6.292l1.782 1.564.018-.019v-7.6zm-4.11.236L5.674 7.71l-.836.855v6.237l1.545 1.327.564-.636V8.964zm2.656 9.074l-2.528-2.182-1.927 2.182-2.619-2.255v-3.564h-.509c-.454 0-.672.273-.745.636H1.09a2.89 2.89 0 0 1-.091-.69c0-.473.2-1.71 1.527-1.71V7.691c0-1.073-.709-1.127-.709-2.054 0-1.037.982-2 2.782-2.637l.164.145c-.6.291-1.09.655-1.09 1.437 0 1.2 1.163.89 1.163 2.782v.727l2.127-2.236 2.237 2.2 2.109-2.2 2.036 2v6.728l-3.745 3.455zm11.108-9.625l-1.073-.982-.964 1.018v6.6c.855.11 1.491.4 2.019.964l.018-.018V8.413zm-2.382.418l-.528.545v10.237l.528.492V8.83zm1.49 9.055c-.308-.382-.69-.709-1.145-.836v3.782l-.036.018-1-.927-2.11 1.945-.036-.018V16.96c-.636.145-1.327.545-1.854 1.2l-.146-.091c.127-1.4.818-2.436 2-2.837v-3.545h-.382c-.527 0-.89.363-.963.763h-.219c-.054-.145-.127-.381-.127-.836 0-.891.6-1.564 1.582-1.564h.11V8.085l-.655-.582-.51.51-.254-.237 2.018-2.073 1.71 1.564V9.05l.527-.564v-2.09h.345v1.727l2.273-2.419L23 7.576v7.91l-3.182 2.4z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg><span class="mr-xs ml-xs gray-darkt flex ems-center">Get the full experience.<span class="ml-xs subs-theme blue">Choose your plan</span></span><svg class="ntent-box" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" xmlns=" style="fill:#166dfc" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>ArrowRight</tle><path d="M7.664 1.25l6 6a1 1 0 010 1.414l-6 6L6.25 13.25 10.499 9H2V7h8.585L6.25 2.664 7.664 1.25z" fill-le="nonzero"></path></svg></a><div data-orientatn="horizontal" role="separator" class="wpds-c-dbVHzF wpds-c-dbVHzF-hDkAcj-variant-flt"></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Sometim, the pastors say, the name-llg and the anger stg.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><a href=">Nathaniel Thomas</a> spent s as an admistrator Howard Universy's stunt affairs office, unselg young people not only about their urse work but also about their personal quts for jtice. He me to the mistry at the dawn of middle age, eager to help people, and pecially fellow black men, disver the word of God a path out of spair.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Over the past uple of years, as Thomas and dozens of other black clergymen Prce Gee's County <a href=" tle=">have stood on the ont le</a> of the mpaign agast same-sex marriage, he has e to see the revolutn at hand — his view, a rebelln agast relign and tradn — as an asslt on the staabily of the black fay.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Which is why Thomas and his iend Reynold Carr, director of the Prce Gee's Baptist Associatn, are gearg up for the next battle, a statewi ballot referendum <a href="> November</a> to challenge the legalizatn of same-sex marriage, which the state Hoe of Delegat approved last Friday. The state Senate passed a measure Thursday eveng; Gov. Mart O'Malley (D) said he will sign the bill. The pastors are not predictg victory a referendum, but they thk they stand a better chance among voters than policians.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">"This is a cultural war, a cultural shift, and those who are rebelln have cid to portray as bigots and prejudiced," says Thomas, pastor of <a href=">Fortville New Reemer Baptist Church,</a> a trim, pale-brick buildg across om a storage facily on a ad-end road jt si the Beltway near Pennsylvania Avenue.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">He knows that some gay activists are crlo that black misters uld oppose a civil rights iative. “ ‘How dare a black preacher take this posn,’ they say, ‘bee you’ve felt this pa,’ and I have,” he says. Over the s, he has marched for votg and hog rights and fought for equal protectn for blacks.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But Thomas and the 77 other Baptist misters the associatn do not see same-sex marriage as a civil rights matter. Rather, they say, is a qutn of Scripture, of whether a untry based on Juo-Christian prcipl will honor <a href=">what's wrten Romans</a> or ci to make secular cisns about what's right. <a href=">In Maryland</a>, as California and New York, opn polls have shown that although a majory of whe voters support regnn of same-sex marriage, a majory of blacks oppose , often on relig grounds.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Thomas, 61, says a uple of young women his church told him that maybe ’s not so bad to allow two women to jo together bee, many s, men are not the home.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">His boomg voice softens: “We do have a flat tire our muny when to marriage and men the hoehold. But do we flatten the other three tir to move forward, or do we work on fixg the flat tire? Do we give up on the lack of strong black men leadg our hoeholds and jtify another change our social stcture?”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Thomas has seen sermons by a few fellow preachers railg agast homosexuals, llg their behavr “disgtg” and eggg on ngregants who shout tlls at the mentn of gay sex.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Those are errant cri, he says, that fail to honor the Christian obligatn to embrace those who m acts the Bible lls sful.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Not long ago, Thomas says, a young gay man me to him and said, “Look, I n’t help beg how I am.” The mister embraced the man.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div id="gift-share-le" data-ttid="gift-share-le" class="PJLV PJLV-ilotWTr-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-goNocI-placement-Inle foc-highlight"><div data-ttid="gift-share-terstial-trigger" class="wpds-c-kPqOkS wpds-c-kPqOkS-jtSXsT-hasSubsText-false"><span class="wpds-c-hBJqc"><span class="wpds-c-dzSncg">Share this article</span></span><span class="wpds-c-eCvK"><span class="wpds-c-enedHQ wpds-c-enedHQ-cCdK-isShown-false">Share</span><svg xmlns=" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp wpds-c-fDHGth"><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg></span></div></button></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“We are all sners,” Thomas says. “Christ never turned anyone away. People e to all the time wh issu, some wh a stealg mon, some wh urg and sir. But love don’t mean you go along to get along. I unsel them by showg them God’s word; some receive the word, and some reject .”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Thomas's iend Carr, who spent 22 years leadg <a href=" tle="">Kent Baptist Church</a> Landover before takg over the Pastors Associatn, steps to his office a most hoe on Prcs Garn Parkway Lanham and retriev a black leather-bound Bible.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“S is rebelln agast God and his standards,” Carr, 67, says the soft, liltg island ton of his native Tridad. He opens the book to Romans 1:27.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Thomas, a mound of a man who is more given to florid language, tak the book and starts readg about “men wh men workg that which is unseemly,” but he do not stop at admonns agast homosexualy. Read on, he says, and he do, to a lany of other “unrighteo” behavrs — “fornitn, wickedns, vetons.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“So is all of who are listed here — not jt homosexuals, but every one of ,” Thomas says. “We all got some stuff.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The battle over same-sex marriage, for Thomas and Carr, is not so much about homosexualy as about a growg belief that biblil prcipl <a href=" tle=">should not be the basis for erng</a>.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Take the word ‘marriage’ out of this bill, and we’re pretty much agreement,” Thomas says. “Everyone should have full legal rights and would have them wh civil unns. You wouldn’t see me down there prottg agast civil unns. The state is the state, and the church is the church. I unrstand that. But put the word ‘marriage’ there, and now you’re refg somethg that is the Bible and our prcipl as one man and one woman. Why do you need to e a biblil word a civil suatn?”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Thomas se the bill as a blueprt the state will e to require church that n day-re centers or schools to teach somethg they don’t believe . “Now, if the marriage law protected church om lawsus by people who might say, ‘You discrimated agast me bee you wouldn’t marry me,’ that would beg to put folks at ease,” he says.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><a href=" tle=">Maryland's marriage bill</a> would prohib any lawsu agast relig enti or clergy based on a refal to perform a weddg.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><a href=" tle=">O'Malley</a> and some other Democratic ernors, such as New York's <a href=" tle=">Andrew M. Cuomo</a>, have prsed the issue, part bee they see public opn movg swiftly the directn of same-sex marriage and bee they believe is this generatn's civil rights issue.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But where the ernors’ supporters see a pleasg blend of prciple and polil savvy, the pastors see a toxic mix of cynicism and antagonism toward relign.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Over and over, the misters return to the image that some supporters of same-sex marriage have pated of the church as hater. “There is not one of who don’t have persons our fay wh that liftyle,” Thomas says. “And I tell them, ‘You are still me.’ ” His voice cracks; he halts for a moment. “You are flh of my flh, blood of my blood. No, I will not discrimate agast him. We are a people of mercy. But the state may not tell me that I mt sanctn his behavr, jt as I may not sanctn behavr of the adulterer or the liar.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The next battle, the marker the pastors tend to throw down a statewi vote on same-sex marriage, will be over whether Democratic policians n still take for granted the vot of black churchgoers and others the muny who stand opposn.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It’s really believers agast nonbelievers. If go the other way, well, I’m a cizen and a taxpayer, and I have to live by what the people ci. People on the street say, ‘Y’all church, y’all reverends are wrong bee you’re tryg to stop people’s rights.’ No, the only thg we’re askg is don’t e the word marriage — one word.”</p></div><div class="wpds-c-jkoBlc wpds-c-jkoBlc-leHWbT-removeAllStyl-te"><div class="wpds-c-dhzjXW wpds-c-dhzjXW-iPJLV-css overriStyl mt-md tt"><div id="gift-share-end" data-ttid="gift-share-end" class="PJLV PJLV-idiqKOk-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-iIVoLq-placement-Shortcut foc-highlight"><div class="wpds-c-UazGY" id="gift-share-shortcut" data-ttid="gift-share-shortcut"><svg xmlns=" fill="var(--wpds-lors-primary)" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fVfumU "><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg><div class="PJLV wpds-c-kwcHlj">Share</div></div></button></div><div class="wpds-c-hcekgi"><div class="mb-lg-mod" data-qa="ments-btn-div"><button aria-label="Scroll to the ments sectn" data-qa="ments-btn" class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-igqYgPb-css ments hi-for-prt"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp "><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg><span></span> Comments</button></div></div></div><div class="PJLV PJLV-iipsdti-css"><div></div></div><div class="PJLV PJLV-iipsdti-css"><div></div></div><sectn class="PJLV PJLV-icEohIP-css dn-ns hi-for-prt" data-ttid="mostRead" subscriptns-sectn="ntent"><div data-ttid="lazy-most-read-parent" class=""><div style="m-height:800px"></div></div></sectn><div class="PJLV PJLV-ickXkbz-css"><div data-qa="newsletter" class="hi-for-prt relative"><div class="dib w-100"><div><div class="flex jtify-center align self-center center transn-all duratn-400 ease--out" data-qa="sc-newsletter-signup" aria-label=""><svg aria-labelledby="react-aria-1-aria" role="img" viewBox="0 0 100 80"><tle id="react-aria-1-aria">Loadg...

black pastors gay marriage

Sce 2003, lears of the Ain Methodist Epispal Church have ma several public statements clarg the nomatn’s opposn to the ordatn of openly gay clergy members.

Contents:

BLACKS, GAYS AND THE CHURCH: A COMPLEX RELATNSHIP

While many black pastors nmn homosexualy om the pulp, the choir lofts behd them are often filled wh gay sgers and micians. The fact that gays and lbians often hold learship posn the church is the worst kept secret black Ameri. * black pastors gay marriage *

When Pete Buttigieg, an openly gay man, vied to bee the Democratic printial nomee earlier this year, he opened a natnal nversatn about the relatively low levels of support for LGBTQ people and same-sex marriage by Ain Amerins, pecially among olr members of the Black Church. They found that “relig nomatns play a strong role stcturg attus about the moraly of homosexualy, and support for specific polici of toleratn and nondiscrimatn.

” They also nclud that “Ain Amerins are signifintly more likely to view homosexualy as wrong, keepg wh their nservative Prottant origs and high rat of relig participatn.

THE DIALOGUE AROUND GAY MARRIAGE IN BLACK CHURCH

RALEIGH, N.C. (RNS) Most black church nsir homosexualy a s, and have risted any attempt to reterpret biblil passag nmng .  But some pastors are fdg ways to skirt the theologil issue, and support equal treatment of gays and lbians as a legislative ncern. By Yonat Shimron. * black pastors gay marriage *

Though Sherkat mentns Ain Amerin wrers om the 1960s and 1970s who claimed that homosexualy was primarily a whe phenomenon and therefore anthetil to black inty, is possible that relign-driven antipathy fluenced the wrers’ views.

N.C. BLACK PASTOR TREADS REFULLY ON GAY MARRIAGE

What really ed the black muny's rapid "evolutn" on gay marriage over the past month? The answer is simple: We didn't evolve overnight. We've been evolvg for s, even when the media wasn't payg attentn. * black pastors gay marriage *

The virtuosy of gay sgers, micians and posers has been the drivg force velopg popular gospel choirs — even chart-toppg, Grammy-wng acts — that make money for a church, help expand ngregatns and raise the profil of pastors.

It all happens unr an unspoken "don't ask, don't tell" ctom that allows gay people to be active the church, though closeted, and church to reap the benefs of their membership.

"On the one hand, you're nurtured the choir but you also have to s through some of those fire and brimstone sermons about homosexualy beg an abomatn, " says E. Bishop Yvette Flunr of Oakland, Calif., is openly gay and the founr of The Fellowship, an anizatn of black pastors and church openly welg of lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr members. " Commentator Keh Boyk, who is Ain-Amerin and gay, lls a paradox: "The church might be the most homophobic and most homotolerant of any stutn the black muny.

BLACK PASTOR SAYS GAY MARRIAGE IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHT

* black pastors gay marriage *

" Woon, the pastor North Carola, agre that the prence of gays and lbians choirs or other church mistri reveals the "duplicy and, ankly, the hypocrisy of the black church....

He says his church also has ntued to support gay members who have ntracted HIV/AIDS, unlike some other church that ostracize them — a practice many people on both sis of the issue say has been mon. But many others say they are torn between their allegiance to their church, which form the cultural and stutnal backbone of black muni, and their sire to live ee of homophobia.

" Gospel mic superstar and megachurch pastor Donnie McClurk shocked the non-gospel world years ago by revealg a 2001 book that God "livered" him om a gay "liftyle" that he said was a rult of beg sexually abed as a boy.

ANTI-GAY BLACK PASTORS SAY YOU’RE THEIR ENEMY IF YOU SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALY

Black pastors across the untry dwelt on Print Barack Obama's stance durg worship servic Sunday, after Obama's May 9 announcement that he supports gay marriage. * black pastors gay marriage *

The Love Center Church Oakland, Calif., found by the late Bishop Walter Hawks, one of gospel mic's biggt stars the 1970s and 1980s, ma wav for welg black gays and lbians.

Given that measure, we don't want to do this huge social experiment that may actually take the very last heart's beat out of this stutn that is so val to the perpetuy or rryg on our culture, our people and our As I'm sure you know, there are plac like Massachetts where gay marriage has been legalized for some time now, and the sky has yet to fall. So I believe you'll see a lot of signatur and a referendum, and I believe that as was 31 tim out to vote on this, there will be yet another victory should the opportuny to vote e to the people of It would be tertg, there uld be referenda on gay marriage not jt Maryland this year.

I also want to add that the real threat to the black fay is not allowg gay marriage, 's forcg people who are homosexual to the closet bee that leads to fai beg broken up, that leads to children beg beaten and abed. It seems like we don't need to take this step, which so radilly ref Jt to follow up on Jay's send pot: Do you have members of your ngregatn who are homosexual or lbian or bisexual? I thk 's about whether we want tentnal sign that is acrdance wh whose view of Jay - I'm sorry, I jt want to give Jay a chance to e Well, I thk that I gus you raise a qutn of moraly, and as I have studied this, I work diversy and issu of equaly and whatnot that that's always kd of way to make homosexuals, sayg that somehow they are ls moral.

AIN-AMERIN PASTORS CALL ON OBAMA TO RENSIR GAY MARRIAGE STANCE

Lear of Ain-Amerin Pastors Group: Prott Gay Marriage Through Civil Disobedience * black pastors gay marriage *

As you jt heard om Bishop Harry Jackson, who jt joed , black clergy Maryland and around the untry have what they ntend are solid reasons to oppose gay marriage, reasons based scripture and beliefs about the stcture of Ain-Amerin all black pastors agree. And so they overwhelmg unrstand that Those who advote rights for gays and lbians, transexuals and people who are bi, also argue that opns beg to change when people that you love, you know are gay or lbian or bisexual or transgenr, that when your or your uncle or your nt or your teacher you learn is gay, then all of the sudn your opns beg to That's te. And I thk the balance, the bill do a great balance protectg relig stutn and relig eedom yet providg civil liberti, as Do also afford the opportuny, and as Bishop Jackson suggted, 's very likely this is gog to be on the ballot as a referendum em November, but do also afford the opportuny to open a dialogue the Ain-Amerin muny where sometim nversatns about homosexualy are not always wele?

WHY BLACKS EVOLVED SO 'QUICKLY' ON GAY MARRIAGE

Sendly - exce me - there are homosexual - or people who stggle wh that, who do e to the church, but they realize that they mt make a cisn as to where they stand that has given all a measure of fah, but we are able to overe anythg if our belief is Christ. I tly believe will take only a ltle outreach to the black Christian muny to change the mds of many more parishners, if not the 're talkg about the Ain-Amerin church and gay marriage. Acrdg to a 2008 poll, among Amerins who say they have bee more favorable toward gay and lbian people the past five years, 21% said that their relig lears were a ntributg factor.

Almost immediately after New York beme the sixth state to pass marriage equaly, Middle Collegiate Church nducted marriag for three gay and lbian upl, simultaneoly. After all, J thought poverty was a big no-no, so he’d probably be more cled to tell his flock to go after the Koch Brothers than your gay uncle and lbian ntie.

– gathered Thursday one of the natn's most famo civil rights ci to ask Print Obama to reverse his stance on same-sex than a dozen pastors om the Coaln of Ain Amerin Pastors joed Memphis, Tenn., to speak out agast Obama's support for gay marriage and to oppose the LGBT (lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr) muny's "hijackg" of the civil rights movement. "Not all black pastors disagree wh Print Obama's approval of same-sex Brad Braxton is the foundg pastor of The Open Church Baltimore, Md., and feels homosexual unns are "an endorsement of God's eternal votn to abundant life and holy love. Jt when I thought the black homophobia storyle had died out, I me across a provotively tled article Monday morng wrten by Lenox Magee: " Has Time Come for Gay Blacks?

BLACK PASTORS GROUP: OBAMA'S SUPPORT FOR GAY MARRIAGE 'MIGHT ST HIM THE ELECTN'

In fact, until the past , many black gay and lbian people did not believe gay marriage was or should be the fol pot of the LGBT movement or the lm tt for measurg LGBT support.

OBAMA LLS PASTORS TO EXPLA GAY MARRIAGE SUPPORT; BLACK CHURCH ‘NFLICTED' BY PRINT'S CISN

A host of other issu like HIV/AIDS, accs to health re, jobs, and employment discrimatn were often listed as more important by black gay and lbian all that started to change 2003 when the Massachetts Supreme Judicial Court issued s groundbreakg cisn makg the first state to allow same-sex marriage.

And spe all the rhetoric om a few loud voic the muny, we've long embraced some of our most famo LGBT members, om the gay wrers of the Harlem Renaissance to the openly gay pop fictn thors like E.

BLACK PASTORS SPEAK OUT ON OBAMA'S GAY MARRIAGE STANCE

We've also practilly nonized openly LGBT lumari like Jam Baldw, Alv Ailey, and Lorrae Hansberry, and we've celebrated the achievements of openly gay men like Billy Strayhorn and Bayard Rt.

BLACK PASTORS' GROUP URG CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AGAST GAY MARRIAGE RULG

Of urse we still face ser challeng wh homophobia the black muny, but there's never been any measurable evince that 's any worse our muny than any other muny. I've looked at the pollg and the rearch over the past 20 years, and many s, black people have actually been more supportive of civil rights for gays and lbians than wh have, pecially when to gays the ary, employment rights, and other issu of discrimatn. As far back as 1993, a Gallup poll found that 61 percent of blacks supported allowg gays to serve openly the ary while only 42 percent of wh held this belief.

On the polil issu of discrimatn agast gay people, we got all the social and moral issu, we were takg our cu om relign, which has tradnally been a somewhat more nservative stutn all cultur. In fact, many of our church have embraced a "don't ask, don't tell" policy about homosexualy, and as a rult, the black church has bee, paradoxilly, the most homophobic and the most homo-tolerant stutn the black tensn between our polil progrsivism and social nservatism existed for s, but that too has slowly started to change.

But even Print Obama uld not have changed black opn so dramatilly if blacks were as homophobic as the media portrayed to tth is blacks were never more homophobic than wh were.

DECRYG GAY MARRIAGE, BLACK PASTORS JO LEGAL FIGHT

A group of Ain-Amerin pastors say that Print Barack Obama’s backg of gay marriage may st him the electn due to weakeng support among black voters -- although he still has overwhelmg support om William Owens, head of the Coaln of Ain-Amerin Pastors, a group of black Christians backg tradnal fay valu, said Obama has taken the black vote for granted. ” Supreme Court asked to back gay marriage ban A Pew Rearch Center poll nducted April found that 49 percent of Ain-Amerins oppose legalized same-sex marriage, pared wh 39 percent who support . 5 ln-member Ain Methodist Epispal Church have ma several public statements clarg the nomatn’s opposn to the ordatn of openly gay clergy members and marriage rights for same-sex upl.

In Augt 2003, after an article USA Today rrectly stated that the Ain Methodist Epispal Church ordaed gay misters, Bishop Richard Frankl Norris issued this statement refutg that posn and stcted all AME pastors to read to their ngregatns: “The official posn of the Ain Methodist Epispal Church is not favor of the ordatn of openly gay persons to the ranks of clergy our church. He fend tradnal marriage a 2008 Christiany Today article, sayg he wasn’t sure he’d perform a same-sex blsg, although he did exprs support for gay and lbian civil rights.

After takg a leave of absence om Harvard Universy to study the Bible and homosexualy, Matthew V gave a speech at his church about acceptg gay Christians that has amassed over 1 ln views on YouTube sce 2012.

OTIS MOSS, III CHALLENG FELLOW BLACK CLERGY ON MARRIAGE EQUALY FOR GAYS AND LBIANS

He also started The Reformatn Project, a nonprof tryg to “reform church teachg on sexual orientatn and genr inty, ” and wrote the book “God and the Gay Christian: The Biblil Case Support of Same-Sex Relatnships. While he said recently that his church, Northland, A Church Distributed, will mata that the Bible prohibs gay relatnships, he now believ nservative church should wele and support those of all sexual orientatns.

&#151; -- After makg his historic remarks on same-sex unns last week, Print Barack Obama led a nference ll wh black church pastors to expla his support for gay marriage, the New York Tim reports. News stori: • Newsweek ver: Obama 'first gay print' • How Whe Hoe gay marriage claratns are affectg other Democratic ndidat • Secret Service sex sndal: Congrsnal members ll for wir probe, more female agents Want more of our bt polil stori? Black pastors across the untry dwelt on Print Barack Obama's stance durg worship servic Sunday, after Obama's May 9 announcement that he supports gay marriage.

Atlanta-based Tim McDonald, founr of Ain-Amerin Misters Learship Council, was earlier quoted as sayg that more black pastors were talkg about gay marriage than ever before. A May 10 USA Today/Gallup poll also warned that the print's support of gay marriage might make some pennts and Democrats ls likely to vote for him November.

BLACK GAY AND LBIAN PASTORS MERGE CHURCH TO PROMOTE 'RADILLY INCLIVE' THEOLOGY

It found that 23 percent of pennts and 10 percent of Democrats say mak them ls likely to vote for Obama, while a smaller 11 percent of pennts and 2 percent of Republins say mak them more likely to vote for Obama, the first print to publicly support gay marriage while ma the historic announcement last Wednday an terview wh ABC News. " Obama ced iends, fay and staff as well as the Goln Rule for his posn now supportg gay Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antch Baptist Church Redmond, Wash., told The Christian Post last Thursday that he would never vote for someone who believ same-sex marriage and abortn, "regardls who is, regardls how whe they are, regardls how black they are. "Romney reerated his opposn to gay marriage after Obama's announcement, but he later seemed hant makg one of the ma issu of his told Fox News last Thursday, "I believe that marriage has been fed the same way for lerally thoands of years by virtually every civilizatn history and that marriage is by s fn a relatnship between a man and woman.

However, North Carola, where voters approved a nstutnal ban on gay marriage and civil unns by a large marg last week, Romney remaed silent on the issue durg his vis last Friday.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* BLACK PASTORS GAY MARRIAGE

Black Gay and Lbian Pastors Merge Church to Promote 'Radilly Inclive' Theology .

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