Can we enlist MLK3 & Jesse et al to persuade the African American churches to support gay marriage?

[SoonerPride]

If they will do such work, why weren't they asked BEFORE the Prop Hate vote?

And if they won't support gay marriage, can someone tell me why?

I know that it was not the african American community alone that passed Prop Hate.

But surely we can enlist support amongst that community and overturn this monstrosity.

[skooooo]

1. Do they support it as individuals now?? nt

[marimour]

4. MLK III is not that well known and Jessee's pull is questionable.

I don't know anyone who would support it just because Jesse Jackson says so. I think getting younger AA celebrity faces and well known pastors like TD Jakes and Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long will do more IMO.

[Connie_Corleone]

7. I know for a fact that those three preachers are strongly against gay marriage.

So that won't work either.

[marimour]

9. I am not surprised. But I bet some of them (Jakes) would preach tolerance of gays.

That would be a first step.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. Eddie Long is a well-known homophobe

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=409

[bunnies]

2. Why the hell should it have anything to do with the churches at all?!

Marriage is a legal contract that has nothing to do with churches. Churches would still be free to discriminate at will. Screw the churches. It's a civil rights issue over which the churches should have ZERO control.

:nuke:

[NashVegas]

3. I Suggest You Go To Work On Jesse Junior ...

You never know, he could have an epiphany or something. Just sayin' ...

[jonnyblitz]

5. how can one begin to do that when many don't even want to

acknowledge that homophobia exists in the AA community. to bring it up is to BLAME THEM ALL and be RACIST.

[grantcart]

6. We need to work on the real Black church leaders

not secular figures that don't really have that much impact.

We should start identifying individual local pastors and start a dialogue.

[marimour]

8. I think so too. If black pastors preach tolerance then homophobia will decrease

Christians of all colors elevate homosexuality above all other sins when, if following the Bible, all sins are equal in the eyes of God. I don't think it is a sin personally but instead of pushing that, I ask my ultra-religious friends why they are so against gays but sleep with their boyfriends, or have babies out of wedlock, or lie, or gamble, or curse people out or drink alcohol. They never really have an answer to that.

[Two Americas]

11. turn it around

This not about "supporting gay marriage." That is the extreme right wing description of the issue, and it is deceptive.

It about opposing bigotry and abuse and persecution and the suppression of human rights.

We cannot effectively fight a battle when we are not on the battle lines, and misrepresenting the issue is to misunderstand the battle.

[ellacott]

12. This is the way to go

I tried suggesting this earlier this year and got flamed on this board. There are some churches that are more tolerant and would be a good idea to start with those churches and develop a plan for outreach to other churches.

Some feel that the church should be left out but if you want to make progress with this issue it can not be avoided.

MLK3 may not be a bad choice because his mother was a strong advocate for gay rights.