Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Homo / Religion Marriage Equality in Washington D.C.
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 9:01 AM
The District of Columbia is debating the legalization of same-sex marriage. The loudest voices being raised in opposition belong to African American religious leaders and it makes for pretty depressing YouTube viewing. But Lurleen at Pam's House Blend points out that more black clergy in D.C. support marriage equality than oppose it. And they're making their voices heard:
[When I saw a] delicious article by Tim Craig in today's Washington Post, called "Pastors unite to support same-sex marriage in D.C.", I just had to stop and take a look. A quote from the article encapsulates what we here at The Blend have known but some in the general public may just be catching on to: 'There is this myth out there that you can't be pro-God and pro-gay.' Move over Harry Jackson, because here's the real face of D.C. clergy. Meet The Reverends Christine Y. Wiley & Dennis W. Wiley of Covenant Baptist Church, and co-founders of Clergy United for Marriage Equality: "Rev. Christine Y. Wiley... noted that many District churches have a history of fighting for social and economic justice.... "It just really seemed like a natural thing that we would do," Wiley said. "We believe as African Americans who have been discriminated against [that] we don't have the right to discriminate against anyone else."
Here's hoping the Rev. Bernice King gets the message.
Share via
2
@ 1, it is classy. This is a righteous struggle.
In the meantime, we'll wait for LC to show up and cry racism when this is as far from it as can be.
In the meantime, we'll wait for LC to show up and cry racism when this is as far from it as can be.
5
As the fight for civil rights marches on, it becomes clearer each day that the real enemies of equality are the poisoned teachings of Radical Religious Extremists. It's not a race issue, it's not a gender issue, it's a Religion issue. America is being torn apart by religious terrorists thread by thread. Few people will stand up and call out these terrorists.
7
@3 So gays are white yuppies. And negroes are all looting, old lady muggers, who live on welfare, right?
In other news, the Seattle Medium, Seattle's self proclaimed "voice" for the african american community recommended their readers vote no on prop 71. I think the sgn should recommend their readers vote against the right of blacks to vote.
In other news, the Seattle Medium, Seattle's self proclaimed "voice" for the african american community recommended their readers vote no on prop 71. I think the sgn should recommend their readers vote against the right of blacks to vote.
8
@ 3 - "Negroes"? How about "darkies"?
"We believe as African Americans who have been discriminated against [that] we don't have the right to discriminate against anyone else."
What a concept.
"We believe as African Americans who have been discriminated against [that] we don't have the right to discriminate against anyone else."
What a concept.
9
Hey Dan, let's get a post up about the Houston Mayor's race.
Sam Adams' stint as mayor of the largest city with an openly gay executive may be ending, according to polls back in Houston.
Sam Adams' stint as mayor of the largest city with an openly gay executive may be ending, according to polls back in Houston.
10
Same sex marriage is already legal in DC. DC recognizes my same-sex marriage, performed in another jurisdiction. This bill would legalize such marriages to be performed in the city.
12
it will pass. i think, the problem is the pentecostal/southern baptist churches in SE DC, specially the area around Trinidad, theyre pretty loud and vocal, but the african american community in dc is very diverse and mayor fenty's base which includes dc's huge black middle class is behind him.
14
One of my biggest beefs about religion is, while there are moderate religious people, it's always the conservatives that bring passion (and money) to the fight. Moderates usually seem content to be relatively quiet and let the conservatives run the show.
15
The really interesting thing to me is that they are pushing for a public referendum, which I think anyone who knows DC well knows would favor marriage equality by a landslide. 90+% of District residents identify as Democrats. Religion ain't so popular here, and the ones that are tend to be very open and tolerant (see: 169 religious leaders loudly supporting gay marriage, any restaurant on Sunday morning - brunch is our church). Many of the conservatives who do live in DC are political staffers, and they retain their home state residency and voter registration. Those who are yelling loudly now are a small group, possibly representing a larger group, but if they do represent a larger group, it's a larger group of poor, disenfranchised citizens, and we all know how often they vote. Most importantly, primary and off-year elections are not a boon for elderly conservatives in DC. Come on, we're probably the most politically aware city in the country. When I went to vote in the PRIMARY last year, I had to stand in a long, long line to do so.
I don't think voting on people's rights is fair, but DC might be a good warning shot to those pushing for referendums that their strategy can backfire.
I don't think voting on people's rights is fair, but DC might be a good warning shot to those pushing for referendums that their strategy can backfire.
16
@9: Largest city in the US, you mean. Berlin's pretty large I'd say...
And I'd love to see this happen and attend my aunts' wedding.
And I'd love to see this happen and attend my aunts' wedding.
18
@15: I'm not so sure. Remember, not all Democrats favor gay rights. D.C. is majority black, and black Democrats tend to be socially conservative.
19
This is one of the great things about the same sex marriage in DC. The population and the city council is majority black. Its true that opponents of marriage equality are often black church leaders. But the supporters of it are also black (and some are even church leaders). So the issue loses a bit of its racial awkwardness that comes from white gays comparing their struggle to black civil rights.
20
@15-
18 is right-
Those DC Democrats are black and in California they went 75% against gay marriage.
You guys are slow learners...
18 is right-
Those DC Democrats are black and in California they went 75% against gay marriage.
You guys are slow learners...
21
Dan-
Your boy Gil Kerlikowske is on NPR today saying "not so fast..." on medical marijuana.
Sorry to be the one to break it to you...
Your boy Gil Kerlikowske is on NPR today saying "not so fast..." on medical marijuana.
Sorry to be the one to break it to you...
22
Here is the Equality web site.
http://www.clergyformarriage.com/read.ht…
The two big groups of clergy in DC who opposed marriage equality are the Missionary Baptists and the Catholic Church. And both groups oppose women's ordination.
There are more African Americans in DC than whites. And by a relatively small marjority African Americans oppose same-sex marriage. But whites favor it my huge majorities, 6-1. If you were white and prejudiced and moved to the DC area, you would choose to live in the suburbs. So the whites who live in DC are relatively tolerant. There is also a large Latino community in DC, which also tends to support marriage equality.
So indications are that a the "RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND CIVIL MARRIAGE EQUALITY AMENDMENT ACT OF 2009" will pass the DC coundil with ease (11-2) and that a referendum would uphold the measure, but not by a comfortable majority. Since city law forbids referenda on items included in the Human Rights Act this will hopefully never be put to the test.
http://www.clergyformarriage.com/read.ht…
The two big groups of clergy in DC who opposed marriage equality are the Missionary Baptists and the Catholic Church. And both groups oppose women's ordination.
There are more African Americans in DC than whites. And by a relatively small marjority African Americans oppose same-sex marriage. But whites favor it my huge majorities, 6-1. If you were white and prejudiced and moved to the DC area, you would choose to live in the suburbs. So the whites who live in DC are relatively tolerant. There is also a large Latino community in DC, which also tends to support marriage equality.
So indications are that a the "RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND CIVIL MARRIAGE EQUALITY AMENDMENT ACT OF 2009" will pass the DC coundil with ease (11-2) and that a referendum would uphold the measure, but not by a comfortable majority. Since city law forbids referenda on items included in the Human Rights Act this will hopefully never be put to the test.
23
DC is majority black, but just barely (est. 54% 2008; http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/…). And my polling area is NOT diverse, which is why it's more reflective of continuing political engagement than a one-shot deal. I think Joseph has the ticket. It only takes a minority of black voters to support gay marriage to put this thing over in DC, and we've seen a number of black citizens and religious leaders come out in favor of gay marriage. The areas with the largest black populations in DC also tend to be very poor, and voter turnout among the poor in DC is as bad as anywhere else in the country.
http://www.afro.com/tabid/456/itemid/214…
If you look at the ward with the higest voter turnout in that article, you're talking about the ward with the highest white population and the richest voters: Upper Georgetown/Glover Park/Palisades/AU Park/etc. (80% white with a median family income of $187,709); and the ward with the lowest: Anacostia (93% black, median income of $35,228, which Marion Barry, our sole anti-gay council member, represents, and which has a low and declining population).
I really don't want to put it up to a vote. Civil rights should never be voted on. But I think the results in DC wouldn't be what the Talibangelists hope for. What do I know...oh right, this: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs… Seems polling indicates that over 65% of DC residents support gay marriage. Damn, that's clearly not enough to win.
More...
http://www.afro.com/tabid/456/itemid/214…
If you look at the ward with the higest voter turnout in that article, you're talking about the ward with the highest white population and the richest voters: Upper Georgetown/Glover Park/Palisades/AU Park/etc. (80% white with a median family income of $187,709); and the ward with the lowest: Anacostia (93% black, median income of $35,228, which Marion Barry, our sole anti-gay council member, represents, and which has a low and declining population).
I really don't want to put it up to a vote. Civil rights should never be voted on. But I think the results in DC wouldn't be what the Talibangelists hope for. What do I know...oh right, this: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs… Seems polling indicates that over 65% of DC residents support gay marriage. Damn, that's clearly not enough to win.
Most Commented on Slog
-
Life and Death in a Recliner in South Carolina by Dan Savage
-
Becoming a Man by Dan Savage
-
Pit Bulls! by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Hot & Drunk by Dan Savage
-
WTF? by Dan Savage
-
Your Wife Died Alone... by Dan Savage
-
Meanwhile in Vancouver by Dan Savage
-
Health at Every Size by Dan Savage
-
Precious: Brutal New Classic or African-American Bruno? by David Schmader
-
The Democrats Have 60 Votes in the Senate for Health Care Reform by Jonathan Golob
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (23) RSS