Ain-Amerin Pastors Call on Obama to Rensir Gay Marriage Stance | Polics News

black pastors gay marriage

  • Home
  • black pastors gay marriage

Recent Posts

STRAIGHT GAY FRIENDSDecember 20, 2024
SPARTACUS INTERNATIONAL GAY GUIDEDecember 20, 2024
GIORNALISTA GAY ITALIANODecember 20, 2024
GAY TRANSLATE IN TAGALOGDecember 20, 2024
GAY GREY'S ANATOMYDecember 20, 2024
PARENTS OF GAY SUPPORT GROUPSDecember 20, 2024
HOW DO DEMOCRATS FEEL ABOUT GAY MARRIAGEDecember 20, 2024
SWANS ARE GAYDecember 20, 2024
GAY NEIGHBORHOODS HOUSTONDecember 20, 2024
GAY EVENTS PALM SPRINGS THIS WEEKENDDecember 20, 2024

Tags

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.

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.

THE DIALOGUE AROUND GAY MARRIAGE IN BLACK CHURCH

* black pastors gay marriage *

” 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.

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.

BLACK PASTOR SAYS GAY MARRIAGE IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHT

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. * black pastors gay marriage *

" 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.

" 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.

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 *

" 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. 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.

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 *

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. 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.

WHY BLACKS EVOLVED SO 'QUICKLY' ON GAY MARRIAGE

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?

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.

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

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.

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

"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.

BLACK PASTORS SPEAK OUT ON OBAMA'S GAY MARRIAGE STANCE

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? 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. 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. 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.

DECRYG GAY MARRIAGE, BLACK PASTORS JO LEGAL FIGHT

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. 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.

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

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.

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.

— -- 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.

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

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.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* BLACK PASTORS GAY MARRIAGE

Live</tle><rect width="39" height="22" rx="3" fill="#CB1111"></rect><path d="M5.756 5.66H8.186V15.002H12.506V17H5.756V5.66ZM13.5783 5.66H16.0083V17H13.5783V5.66ZM22.5198 17H20.0718L16.7958 5.66H19.2798L21.3498 13.31H21.4218L23.5098 5.66H25.7958L22.5198 17ZM33.3901 15.002V17H26.5861V5.66H33.3541V7.658H28.9621V10.25H32.3101V12.212H28.9621V15.002H33.3901Z" fill="whe"></path></svg></span>on<span class="styl_img__bxg3Y styl_news-now-img__961yW"><svg width="144" height="16" viewBox="0 0 144 16" fill="none" xmlns="><tle>NBC News Now</tle><g clip-path="url(#clip0_3686_260016)"><path d="M143.711 12.9351H106.432V15.7204H143.711V12.9351Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M138.308 11.0828H141.078L143.924 0.253418H141.218L139.725 6.7182H139.678L138.044 0.253418H135.417L133.77 6.7182H133.708L132.215 0.253418H129.276L132.114 11.0828H135.005L136.655 4.66263H136.747L138.308 11.0828Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M120.534 5.67944C120.534 3.79098 121.713 2.45958 123.394 2.45958C125.074 2.45958 126.254 3.76034 126.254 5.67944C126.254 7.59855 125.072 8.89651 123.394 8.89651C121.716 8.89651 120.534 7.59576 120.534 5.67944ZM123.394 11.3253C126.814 11.3253 129.206 8.89652 129.206 5.67944C129.206 2.46237 126.828 0.0307617 123.394 0.0307617C119.959 0.0307617 117.578 2.45958 117.578 5.67944C117.578 8.8993 119.956 11.3253 123.394 11.3253V11.3253Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M113.118 11.0827H116.427V0.250488H113.625V6.71528H113.564L109.74 0.250488H106.429V11.0827H109.23V4.61234H109.294L113.118 11.0827Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M93.1764 3.4594C93.1764 1.43446 94.8964 0 97.608 0C99.9219 0 101.706 1.11414 102.169 2.87169L99.6474 3.4594C99.3672 2.60987 98.6557 2.15308 97.6613 2.15308C96.7368 2.15308 96.0757 2.54581 96.0757 3.26721C96.0757 5.42029 102.423 3.07224 102.423 7.70427C102.423 9.85734 100.572 11.2946 97.9414 11.2946C94.9664 11.2946 93.1147 9.98825 92.5181 7.70427L95.0981 7.31432C95.2562 7.86892 95.5951 8.35559 96.0616 8.69791C96.5281 9.04022 97.0957 9.21879 97.6753 9.20557C98.7958 9.20557 99.5269 8.68471 99.5269 7.96609C99.5353 5.7406 93.1764 8.09143 93.1764 3.4594Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M85.7161 4.61826H85.6489L84.0157 11.083H81.1051L78.2422 0.248047H81.22L82.7411 6.70726H82.8055L84.4583 0.248047H87.1055L88.7583 6.70726H88.8227L90.3439 0.248047H93.0555L90.2122 11.083H87.4361L85.7161 4.61826Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M77.4499 0.248047V2.53203H71.7633V4.42328H76.2453V6.70726H71.7633V8.79627H77.5815V11.083H68.9199V0.248047H77.4499Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M60.5243 4.61826L60.4571 11.083H57.6138V0.248047H60.9193L64.7543 6.70726H64.8215V0.248047H67.6649V11.083H64.3593L60.5243 4.61826Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M42.5679 5.67658C42.5679 2.35087 44.8818 0.0668945 48.2545 0.0668945C50.899 0.0668945 52.8823 1.43728 53.6779 3.78532L50.9662 4.30619C50.7735 3.76474 50.4145 3.29724 49.94 2.96983C49.4654 2.64242 48.8993 2.47169 48.3218 2.48178C46.6018 2.48178 45.5429 3.72126 45.5429 5.67658C45.5429 7.63189 46.6634 8.87416 48.3218 8.87416C48.8996 8.88405 49.466 8.71291 49.9406 8.38498C50.4152 8.05704 50.774 7.58894 50.9662 7.04697L53.6106 7.57062C52.7506 9.98273 50.899 11.289 48.2545 11.289C44.8818 11.289 42.5679 8.941 42.5679 5.67658Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M32.4521 0.248047H37.741C40.1221 0.248047 41.6433 1.16164 41.6433 3.24786C41.6452 3.75624 41.4774 4.25089 41.1661 4.65418C40.8548 5.05747 40.4177 5.34658 39.9232 5.47614V5.5402C40.9821 5.73796 41.9066 6.52064 41.9066 8.01916C41.9066 10.1722 40.3855 11.083 38.0072 11.083H32.4521V0.248047ZM35.3627 4.49012H37.2788C38.3993 4.49012 38.7999 4.2283 38.7999 3.50968C38.7999 2.79107 38.3377 2.53203 37.2788 2.53203H35.3627V4.49012ZM35.3627 6.51229V8.79627H37.346C38.5366 8.79627 39.0632 8.4676 39.0632 7.68214C39.0632 6.89667 38.5366 6.568 37.346 6.568H35.3627V6.51229Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M24.054 4.61826L23.984 11.083H21.1406V0.248047H24.449L28.284 6.70726H28.3484V0.248047H31.1917V11.083H27.8862L24.054 4.61826Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M16.9526 7.11688C16.5767 7.10716 16.2056 7.20323 15.8822 7.39403L10.6504 11.0274H16.9526C17.473 11.0274 17.9721 10.8219 18.3401 10.456C18.7081 10.09 18.9149 9.59378 18.9149 9.07631C18.9149 8.55884 18.7081 8.06257 18.3401 7.69667C17.9721 7.33076 17.473 7.12519 16.9526 7.12519V7.11688Z" fill="#0DB14B"></path><path d="M10.8291 10.1962L16.5432 6.29952C16.7602 6.16158 16.9478 5.98248 17.0953 5.77245C17.2427 5.56242 17.3471 5.32557 17.4025 5.07542C17.4579 4.82527 17.4632 4.56673 17.4181 4.31455C17.373 4.06237 17.2784 3.82147 17.1397 3.60565C17.0009 3.38983 16.8208 3.20329 16.6096 3.05669C16.3983 2.91008 16.1601 2.80626 15.9086 2.75119C15.657 2.69611 15.3969 2.69085 15.1433 2.73569C14.8897 2.78054 14.6474 2.87463 14.4304 3.01257C14.109 3.20856 13.8499 3.49107 13.6833 3.82738L10.8291 10.1962Z" fill="#0089CF"></path><path d="M12.5989 0.249348C12.8333 0.357094 13.0439 0.510047 13.2185 0.699339C13.393 0.88863 13.528 1.1105 13.6156 1.35206C13.7033 1.59363 13.7418 1.85008 13.729 2.10657C13.7162 2.36306 13.6523 2.61446 13.541 2.84621L10.8206 8.79378L9.93701 3.17879C9.90412 3.02045 9.93406 2.85561 10.0206 2.71873C10.238 2.3917 10.7843 2.13396 10.7815 2.09793C10.7788 2.0619 10.7286 1.98984 10.5028 1.98984H9.78369C9.79649 1.71105 9.86569 1.43769 9.98716 1.1861C10.0955 0.952999 10.2494 0.743609 10.4397 0.570069C10.6301 0.396529 10.8533 0.262295 11.0962 0.175156C11.3392 0.0880165 11.5971 0.04971 11.855 0.0624465C12.113 0.0751829 12.3658 0.138705 12.5989 0.249348V0.249348Z" fill="#645FAA"></path><path d="M6.41914 0.249348C6.1847 0.357094 5.97407 0.510047 5.79954 0.699339C5.625 0.88863 5.49 1.1105 5.40236 1.35206C5.31472 1.59363 5.27621 1.85008 5.28902 2.10657C5.30183 2.36306 5.36574 2.61446 5.47701 2.84621L8.19747 8.79378L9.22319 2.27251C9.26287 1.89961 9.19624 1.52313 9.03088 1.1861C8.92252 0.952999 8.76869 0.743609 8.57831 0.570069C8.38793 0.396529 8.16478 0.262295 7.92183 0.175156C7.67888 0.0880165 7.42095 0.04971 7.163 0.0624465C6.90504 0.0751829 6.65221 0.138705 6.41914 0.249348V0.249348Z" fill="#C9234A"></path><path d="M2.46669 6.2992L8.18075 10.1959L5.31535 3.82151C5.14952 3.48468 4.89036 3.20198 4.56836 3.0067C4.12998 2.72812 3.59826 2.63411 3.09017 2.74534C2.58207 2.85656 2.13921 3.16392 1.85903 3.5998C1.57886 4.03567 1.48432 4.56437 1.59619 5.06957C1.70805 5.57476 2.01715 6.01507 2.45553 6.29365L2.46669 6.2992Z" fill="#F37021"></path><path d="M2.06533 7.11707C1.5449 7.11707 1.04575 7.32263 0.677748 7.68853C0.309746 8.05443 0.103027 8.55071 0.103027 9.06817C0.103027 9.58564 0.309746 10.0819 0.677748 10.4478C1.04575 10.8137 1.5449 11.0193 2.06533 11.0193H8.36752L3.13566 7.40252C2.81314 7.20881 2.44206 7.10985 2.06533 7.11707Z" fill="#FDB913"></path></g><fs><clipPath id="clip0_3686_260016"><rect width="144" height="16" fill="whe"></rect></clipPath></fs></svg></span><span class="styl_img__bxg3Y styl_chevron-img__sl67n"><svg viewBox="0 0 10 7" fill="none" xmlns="><path d="M1 1.07454L4.96238 5L9 1" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-lep="round"></path></svg></span></div></a></div></div></div></sectn><div class="article-body" data-activy-map="article-article-body" data-taboola-target="read-more"><div class="article-body__grid--ntaer"><div class="ad dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="terstial" data-siz="[[[0,0],[[4,4]]]]" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><div class="article-body__sectn"><div class="article-body layout-grid-em layout-grid-em--wh-gutter-s-only grid-l-10-m grid-l-ph-1-m grid-l-6-xl grid-l-ph-2-xl article-body--ctom-lumn"></div></div><div class="article-body__sectn layout-grid-ntaer article-body__last-sectn article-body__first-sectn"><div class="article-body layout-grid-em layout-grid-em--wh-gutter-s-only grid-l-10-m grid-l-ph-1-m grid-l-6-xl grid-l-ph-2-xl article-body--ctom-lumn"><sectn class="mb7"><div class="article-social-share-top"><ul class="styl_ntaer__ZKkl3" data-activy-map="social-share-lks-article-top" data-ttid="social-share-menu"><li data-ttid="social-share-facebook" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_facebook__bOW_X"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-facebook"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-twter" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_twter__ww7sF"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-ptert" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_ptert__CaMm1"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-ptert"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-email" class="styl_em__b5A78"><a href="mailto:?subject=DC Church is "Open and Affirmg" to LGBT Communy& target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-email"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-py" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_py__RACZ3"><button type="button" class="styl_button__b3sx_"><span class="in in-lk"></span></button><div class="styl_pyTooltip__Ut_t1"><span class="in in-alt-check"></span></div></li><li data-ttid="social-share-sms" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_sms__Vohh6"><a href="sms:?&body=DC Church is "Open and Affirmg" to LGBT Communy via nbews - target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-sms"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-prt" class="styl_prt__cw6Gn"><button type="button" class="styl_button__b3sx_"><span class="in in-share-prt styl_in__P3XZT"></span><span class="styl_text___8iNX">Prt</span></button></li><li data-ttid="social-share-save" class="styl_save__ILVuj"></li></ul></div><div class="article-body__date-source"><time class="relative z-1" dateTime="2015-06-26T17:36:00.000Z" ntent="2015-06-26T17:36:00.000Z">June 26, 2015, 5:36 PM UTC<span> / </span>Updated<!-- --> <!-- -->June 26, 2015, 5:36 PM UTC</time></div><div class="article-le-byle" data-activy-map="le-byle-article-top">By <span class="byle-name">Ryan Williams</span></div></sectn><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><p class="">As today’s landmark <a href=">cisn</a> by the natn’s hight urt marked a victory for proponents of same sex marriage, lears wh the natn’s relig muny are preparg to addrs the topic wh their ngregants. This is pecially te for black Prottants, a group highlighted earlier this month a <a href=">Pew Rearch study</a> as havg steadfast opposn to same sex marriage, even the midst of shiftg natnal numbers.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img src=" alt="Image: Covenant Baptist" height="1800" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Drs. Christe and Dennis Wiley are pastors at Covenant Baptist Uned Church of Christ. This church has already begun the procs of cln for their gay and lbian ngregants, wh same sex marriag, and posns throughout the church hierarchy for all members.</span><span class="ptn__source">André Chung / for NBC News</span></figptn></figure><p class="">There are, however, predomantly black church which have embraced marriage equaly, cludg one a few short away om the where the Supreme Court renred s cisn. NBCBLK spoke to Pastors Dennis and Christe Wiley, whose ngregatn was nonted several years ago wh the challenge of fulfillg their visn of beg an “open and affirmg” place of worship.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p class="">Covenant Baptist Uned Church of Christ ss tall and majtic on a tree-led hill a quiet sectn of southeast Washgton DC, surround by classic brick sgle-fay hom and duplex. Makg the climb to s ont doors tak effort as a majory of today’s ngregatn will do this Communn Sunday. For those who walk through s doors, pecially those who intify as gay, lbian, bisexual or transgenr, ’s well worth the climb.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Image: Covenant Baptist" height="1707" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Tynisha Dean, left, and Brtany Dean were married at the church by Rev. Christe. Drs. Christe and Dennis Wiley are pastors at Covenant Baptist Uned Church of Christ. This church has already begun the procs of cln for their gay and lbian ngregants, wh same sex marriag, and posns throughout the church hierarchy for all members.</span><span class="ptn__source">André Chung / for NBC News</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Once si, a young boy, no more than eight, greets visors and members wh a basket filled wh wrapped mt ndi half his weight. They enter a spotls sanctuary, wh reful attentn applied to each upholstered pew and sta-glassed wdow. Guts are weled no ls than ten tim before a her seats them. The choir, hly prsed black and whe begs ‘praise and worship’ wh clapped hands, pound cymbals and a mister of mic at the an, playg om memory. From the burgundy hymnals, to the mahogany-lored Christ, angels and morn-day sats -- ’s pretty clear they have entered a black church.</p><div class="pullquote pullquote--small"><p class="pullquote__quote">"Most church have gay people posn of learship. Our members are enuraged to be open to who they are.”— Pastor Dennis Wiley</p></div><p class="">The fahful make their way and ’s at that moment, this ordary church, that the extraordary occurs. In the midst of men, women and children their Sunday bt, two men enter hand--hand. Color-ordated and s blazg, they are greeted a tight rockg embrace and seated next to a young mother, keepg her two boys le wh a quick and subtle glance. Two women follow, aga hand hand, only to sh to take what appears to be their ual seat a sanctuary that’s quickly fillg up. Once settled, one wraps her arm across the others shoulr, prepared to receive the day’s sermon. All unr the directn and stewardship of not one, but two pastors, one man and one woman, equal stature, pastoral re and even pensatn.</p><p class="">Through the learship of Drs. Dennis and Christe Wiley, parents of “Orange is the New Black” actrs and mol Samira Wiley, this church is regard the ey of s ngregatn as “The Miracle on South Capol.”</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">“All church say ‘we are open to all’” says Pastor Christe Wiley, “but particularly we are open and welg and lovg to the LGBT muny and they have the rights and privileg of any other persons who e to be part of this ngregatn.”</p><p class="">“Most church have gay people posn of learship,” adds Pastor Dennis Wiley, “our members are enuraged to be open to who they are.”</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Image: Covenant Baptist" height="1663" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Parishners praise and worship at Covenant Baptist Uned Church of Christ. This church has already begun the procs of cln for their gay and lbian ngregants, wh same sex marriag, and posns throughout the church hierarchy for all members.</span><span class="ptn__source">André Chung / for NBC News</span></figptn></figure><p class="">It was that openns which tted their boundari of cln 2007 when two active members, one gay and one lbian approached the pastors separately wh a requt. Both were seekg a higher llg the church, and required endorsement by an ordaed reverend before movg forward to semary. Beg unmarried but wh partners proved a ncern to Dennis and Christe, who suggted they each take upl therapy and move their relatnship to the next level. A unn ceremony subsequently took place, first wh the two gay men, followed by two women.</p><sectn class="blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote__quote"><p>While natnwi public support for same sex marriage has risen to s hight approval at 57 percent, acrdg to Pew, Ain Amerins rema the sole racial mographic where a majory oppose the issue.</p><small class="blockquote__source"><span></span></small></blockquote></sectn><p class="">Followg the first ceremony, which was ially taken to, discsed and agreed upon by the ngregatn, plats began to stir among members. Ahead of the lbian uple’s exchange of vows, the church agreed on a one year “moratorium” followg their schled ceremony. This allowed the ngregatn an opportuny to discs the issue at length and before the year ends, make a fal cisn as whether ceremoni would ntue the sanctuary.</p><p class="">For many the ngregatn at that time, the appearance of men and women mtg themselv holy matrimony to a same sex partner a black church was an ial they uld not support. Even today, while natnwi public support for same sex marriage has risen to s hight approval at 57 percent, <a href=">acrdg to Pew</a>, Ain Amerins rema the sole racial mographic where a majory oppose the issue (51%) vers whe (37%) and Hispanic (38%) Amerins. Add Black prottants, and the data remas unchanged their opposn to marriage equaly, 57%, pared to whe prottants (33%), Catholics (38%), and whe evangelils (70%).</p><p class="">This prents a challenge for church lears lookg to change wh the tim. Yet for long-time parishners of Covenant Baptist UCC Church, the only nstant wh the sanctuary has been change.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Image: Covenant Baptist Uned Church of Christ" height="1663" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Praise and worship: This church has already begun the procs of cln for their gay and lbian ngregants, wh same sex marriag, and posns throughout the church hierarchy for all members.</span><span class="ptn__source">André Chung / for NBC News</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Found 1945 as Covenant Baptist Church, wh an all-whe Southern Baptist ngregatn, the changg segregatn laws altered the makp of s surroundg neighbors, their regular atten. This led to the hirg of Covenant’s first black pastor, Dennis’ father, the Rev. H. Wley Wiley. The church, like the neighborhood gradually altered om predomantly whe to mostly black.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">The 80’s rulted Reverend Wiley’s son Dennis takg on the role as pastor, and eventually his wife Christe appoted wh the same tle (no longer ‘’ or ‘assistant’ her tle, a first among DC church). It was this change, a woman takg a role of pastor and equal to her hband, which broke the church away om the Southern Baptist Conventn.</p><p class="">This at a time when Washgton DC was livg up to s moniker as the “murr pal” of the natn and s surroundg neighborhood Ward 8 noted as the poort sectn of the cy. A statistic which remas to this day. It was the midst of this change that Covenant Baptist UCC was beg an “open and affirmg” church.</p><div class="pullquote pullquote--small"><p class="pullquote__quote">"We are tryg to show people how to be thentic, how they n live their liv whout a lie, and how they n be all that God has created them to be.” — Pastor Dennis Wiley</p></div><p class="">The church ntued to serve the entire muny -- offerg health servic, workg to lower the HIV/AIDS rate of fectn, feedg over 500 meals a month to those need and phg a variety of social jtice efforts on behalf of ngregants of all rac and ethnici.</p><p class="">The time me when this ngregatn -- served and fed -- had to ci whether the rights and privileg they share as members of this church should be extend to their gay brothers and sisters.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend" data-ttid="remend-wrapper"></div><p class="">“Once the vote me, was great” says Christe of the 60-40 cisn by the ngregatn to allow unns and eventual marriage ceremoni to the church. Wh that year of tense and often emotnal discsn, the ngregatn had an opportuny to see one another ways they never had.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">“Some were strong enough to stay and some were not and once that vote me, they knew they wanted to be there. There was no gusg as to ‘What do we believe?’ or ‘How do we terpret the biblil texts?’ It was very clear,” she says.</p><p class="">That journey toward acceptance started two and a half years before marriage equaly beme legal the district makg them the regn’s first Baptist church to perform ceremoni. Once word spread of their clive visn, they joed area misters to form DC Clergy Uned for Marriage Equaly, a llective of relig lears who advoted for same sex marriage the District and untered the lol and vol relig opposn.</p><sectn class="le-vio le-vio---body"><div class="le-vio__background"><div class="le-vio__player"><div class="vioPlayer styl_vioPlayer__bL8AJ styl_adNotPlayg__Q51_C styl_alignDktopBottom__4cHaO styl_alignMobileBottom__bhgkQ" data-ttid="vio-player"><div class="vioSlate"><a href=" class="allowClicksOnPreview"><picture class=""><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet="><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet="><img loadg="lazy" src="></picture></a><div class="playButtonOuter absolute absolute-fill w100 dn-prt"><div class="absolute absolute-fill w100 df ems-center ems-center-m jtify-center jtify-center-m"><div class="play le-vio__play-button"><svg class="play--in" xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 15 15" prerveAspectRat="xMidYMid" style="max-width:30px"><path d="M0 0v15l15-7.41z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div id="42730053829"></div></div></div></div><div class="le-vio__"><h2 class="le-vio__tle"><a href=">Supreme Court Legaliz Gay Marriage</a></h2><span class="le-vio__tail"><span>June 26, 2015</span><span>03:50</span></span><div class="styl_share__n3Syu le-vio__share dn-prt"><div class="styl_shareExpanr__hVk8d le-vio__share-expanr styl_hoverEffect___Dj4s"><span class="styl_shareDot__9pfRZ le-vio__share-dot"></span><svg class="styl_shareClose__6BZxR le-vio__share-close" viewBox="0 0 15 15"><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="0" y2="15"></le><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="15" y2="0"></le></svg></div><div class="styl_shareList___M8wC le-vio__share-list"><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-facebook styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-twter styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href="mailto:?subject=Supreme Court Legaliz Gay Marriage& class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-email styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a></div></div></div></sectn><p class="">Then-DC Mayor, Adrian Fenty, signed the Freedom to Marry bill, passed by an overwhelmg majory the DC Cy Council, which went to effect March 3rd, 2010. That same year, Covenant Baptist add ‘The Uned Church of Christ’ to s name and affiliatn, a move toward a more progrsive relig body, acceptg of their clive visn. While the church suffered a signifint loss of members, word of this new directn spired others to vis, many of whom eventually joed the church.</p><p class="">For Dr. Alton Pollard, Dean and Profsor of Relign and Culture at Howard Universy School of Divy, jog Covenant Baptist UCC beme a fay affair. He and his wife joed eight years ago, amidst the transn. His son and dghter--law later joed and are now lears wh the ngregatn.</p><div class="pullquote pullquote--small"><p class="pullquote__quote">“All church say ‘we are open to all’, but particularly we are open and welg and lovg to the LGBT muny and they have the rights and privileg of any other persons who e to be part of this ngregatn.”— Pastor Christe Wiley</p></div><p class="">“When we arrived, was very much a church transn,” says Alton.“There was nsirable unrt and uneass, Dennis and Christe took their time shepherdg the church through regular Bible Study and sermon them.” Their effort was meant to te and not impose acrdg to Dr. Pollard.</p><p class="">“There are many wh the Ain Amerin muny who are jt eply aaid,” Alton adds. “We are so ncerned that somethg of who we are and what we have acplished is gog to be lost this new cln. It miss the broar pot that we nnot afford to leave any of humany on the si of the road, which I thk are very clear biblil prcipl.”</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">Today, Covenant Baptist boasts a ngregatn filled wh black, whe and Lato members, wh a healthy mix of Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers, straight and gay, all prayg, sgg and givg thanks one acrd. On this Communn Sunday service, between announcements for a men’s fishg retreat, a ladi tea, and prayers for the firmed, there is a ll for volunteers for the annual DC GLBT Pri para and ftival. All, not some, are wele to take nsecrated bread and we Communn.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Image: Covenant Baptist" height="1663" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Parishners greet each other durg a service at Covenant Baptist Uned Church of Christ.</span><span class="ptn__source">André Chung / for NBC News</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Five years, and a world of change later the bate over same sex marriage, Dennis and Christe reflect on the future of cln the church, as lears throughout the untry ntact them about what they should do wh their own ngregatn followg the discsns which will brew after the Supreme Court’s cisn.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend" data-ttid="remend-wrapper"></div><p class="">“We don’t brg a gree of self righteons, we go humbly to share our story to generate nstctive dialogue”, says Dennis. This is all about love and J tght to love one another. He never said anythg about homosexualy, but he did say a lot about hypocrisy. We are tryg to show people how to be thentic, how they n live their liv whout a lie, and how they n be all that God has created them to be.”</p><p class="endmark">“The church should be a mol for what happens the world... where we monstrate, where we tt what we believe God would have to do. It’s like a workshop where we n work out the issu... that’s the only way we believe we n have signifint impact the world.”</p></div><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><div class="expand-byle-ntributors articleByleContaer"><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><div class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--has-image expand-byle__thumbnail"><picture><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="48" width="48"/></picture></div><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name">Ryan Williams</span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Ryan Williams joed NBC News 2011, velopg programs and partnerships for the work's Edutn Natn iative. Today, he builds, produc and supports diverse platforms at NBC News, cludg NBCBLK. Ryan prevly served as Managg Director of the Natnal Associatn of Black Journalists, workg to diversify the natn's newsrooms. You n fd him Washgton DC, cheerg on his Penn State Ntany Lns. Follow him on Twter: @RyanWmsNBC</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body--right-rail-ntaer"><div class="article-body__right-rail layout-grid-em grid-l-4_5-l grid-l-3_5-xl grid-l-ph-half-xl"><div class="ad article-body__right-rail--ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxrail" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[300,250],[360,360]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="10" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div><span></span><div class="body-bottom-remend"><div class="ad ad--midrponsive ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="midrponsive" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[700,1],[5,5]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="300" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><div id="hfs-footer" class="dn-prt" data-activy-map="hfs-footer"><footer class="hfsf" ><div class="ner"><div class="logo"><a href="><svg class="peack" viewBox="578 62 67 39" xmlns=" fill="currentColor"><g fill-le="evenodd"><path d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M597.563 75.863l9.442 21.613-19.478-13.35c-4.887-3.24-3.896-8.79-1.19-11.237 3.83-3.24 9.245-2.12 11.226 2.97"></path><path class="feather" d="M610.57 70.93l-3.433 24.19-9.772-23c-2.113-5.75 2.64-9.516 5.81-9.583 3.632-.396 8.188 2.38 7.396 8.394"></path><path class="feather" d="M625.494 72.103l-9.707 23.067-3.102-20.82c-.265-3.17 1.716-3.237 2.443-3.832-.133-.463-1.124-.463-1.124-.463h-1.848c-.198-5.42 4.028-7.8 7.462-7.535 3.697.132 7.856 4.428 5.876 9.583"></path><path class="feather" d="M635.338 84.167L615.86 97.584l9.177-21.348c2.775-6.742 9.245-5.42 11.556-2.842 2.51 2.51 3.235 7.6-1.255 10.773"></path><path class="feather" d="M637.448 99.9h-22.515l18.29-12.756c4.49-2.975 9.244-.266 10.498 3.635 1.327 4.36-1.65 9.12-6.27 9.12"></path></g></svg></a></div><nav class="lks"><ul class="lks__wrap" data-l-2="14" data-l-3=15><li><a href=" target="_self">About</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Contact</a></li><li><a href=">Help</a></li><li><a href=">Careers</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ad Choic</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Do Not Sell My Personal Informatn</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CA Notice</a></li><li><a href=">Terms of Service (Updated JULY 7, 2023)</a></li><li><a href=">NBC News Semap</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Closed Captng</a></li><li><a href=">Advertise</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Shoppg</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Personal Fance</a></li></ul></nav><div class="py"><p>© 2023 NBC UNIVERSAL</p><div class="brands"><a href="><svg viewBox="0 0 120 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-labelledby="nbc_news_logo"><tle class="nbc_news_logo">NBC News Logo.

TOP