DC gay marriage debate moves issue to black community

[ccharles000]

(Washington) In the District of Columbia, where African-Americans are the majority and black congregations dominate, the recent vote to recognize same-sex marriages may signal the gay rights movement is making inroads among groups traditionally opposed to it.

With this month’s vote, Washington became the first place in the U.S. with a majority of black residents to take up the issue. Congress still has the final say over the district’s laws, but gay rights activists now have reason to believe that strong opposition is gradually giving way to more acceptance, despite a forceful outcry by some black churches.

The issue is particularly complex in D.C., where nearly 60 percent of the residents are African-American. Of the five states that allow gay marriage - Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont - none has such a large makeup of blacks.

Activist Donna Payne knows just how complex the issue is for the black community.

A black preacher once told her she would be accepted into his church under one condition - that she didn’t tell anyone she was a lesbian. Payne said keeping quiet wasn’t possible.

http://www.365gay.com/news/dc-gay-marriage-debate-moves-issue-to-black-community/

[ccharles000]

1. kick

[livefreest]

2. glimmer of hope?

[HopeOverFear]

3. The Black churches in this city are going to fight this tooth and nail, I'm afraid

:(

[Quantess]

4. interesting.

[Orsino]

5. "Activist Donna Payne knows just how complex the issue is..."

No, it's not complex. It merely conflicts with deep-seated beliefs about the nature of masculinity that will take a long time to dismantle.

But one either advocates discrimination, or one doesn't. One either takes a stand or equality, or one doesn't. Not complex.