BREAKING: NAACP Endorses Marriage Equality

[Grassy Knoll]

Source: thinkprogress.org

The board of the NAACP, the “nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization,” endorsed marriage equality at a meeting this afternoon. The move comes 10 days after President Obama announced his support of same-sex marriage.
The NAACP’s move comes as attitudes about gays and lesbians in the African American community are changing rapidly. A recent poll found that 54% of African Americans supported President Obama’s recent decision.
Maxim Thorne, a Senior Vice President at the NAACP, broke the news over Twitter:

Maxim Thorne@Maximthorne
The NAACP Board of Directors has just endorsed marriage equality unequivocally. Only two opposed! An historic moment.


Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/05/19/487265/breaking-naacp-endorses-marriage-equality/

[RKP5637]

1. K&R !!! This is so great to hear. NOM was working to turn the African

American community against marriage equality. This is absolutely wonderful news!!!

[beac]

5. Game over. You lose, NOM bigots.

Is it wrong that picturing their head exploding right now puts a HUGE grin on my face?

[Hissyspit]

21. NAACP Press Release:

(Miami, Florida) The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People today released a resolution supporting marriage equality. At a meeting of the 103-year old civil rights group’s board of directors, the organization voted to support marriage equality as a continuation of its historic commitment to equal protection under the law.

“The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure the political, social and economic equality of all people,” said Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NAACP. “We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law.”

“Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people” said Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP.

The NAACP has addressed civil rights with regard to marriage since Loving v. Virginia declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional in 1967. In recent years the NAACP has taken public positions against state and federal efforts to ban the rights and privileges for LGBT citizens, including strong opposition to Proposition 8 in California, the Defense of Marriage Act, and most recently, North Carolina’s Amendment 1, which changed the state constitution’s to prohibit same sex marriage.

Below is the text of the resolution passed by the NAACP board of directors:

The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the “political, educational, social and economic equality” of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.  Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment.

[calimary]

23. Prejudice against one group is prejudice against all. I'm delighted to see

the NAACP not willing to split hairs on this. If we can isolate one demographic against which we're still allowed to discriminate, then ALL demographics are vulnerable. And believe me, if prejudice against gays is allowed to stand, won't be long til they start out after blacks again. Oh wait... that's already underway with their restrictions on the right to vote.

These people tend to throw the whole "slippery slope" argument at us to defend shit like "the sanctity of marriage" and other stuff. We have LEGITIMATE concerns about that, ourselves.

I salute the patriots at the NAACP for standing against these reactionary 13th-Century-mindset assholes - who would take us all back to the Bronze Age if they thought they could get away with it.

[RainDog]

37. Black religious conservatives want to "vote away the gay" rights in Maryland

This is a slap in their faces.

And well deserved.

...Because they are aligning with the same groups of (white) religious conservatives that opposed segregation in order to gain signatures for the ballot.

[HangOnKids]

2. YES!

Good News! WOOT.

[cbayer]

3. This is really, really great news!

[longship]

4. Please! Everybody R&K. Big News!

[goclark]

19. Fantastic News!! K and R

[hrmjustin]

6. Took them long enough to do it.

But better late then never.

[NOLALady]

18. Do you have a list

of the other major organizations that have come out in support?

[hrmjustin]

20. I expected them do this years ago.

[jaysunb]

25. Why ? n/t

[ruggerson]

48. Maybe to help

Young gay teenagers of color from offing themselves?

You're a smart and good man Jaysun, I'm sure you would have been pleased if they had done this sooner. Julian Bond and countless others have been lobbying for it for years. But it took the power of the presidency to push this over the hill.

[NOLALady]

73. The way I see it

All major organizations should support civil rights/human rights issues.

Do you think that the support of the NAACP would have more influence on gay teens (black or white) than other organizations? I would think their local Churches, Institutions, Organizations would have more influence than the NAACP. I doubt if the NAACP means much to the average teen.

I sometimes hear people ask, where is the NAACP (or Jesse or Al) when something terrible happens in the non white community. But, all communities should be outraged about injustice and discrimination. Everyone should contact their Churches, Organizations and Institutions to demand a stop when they see injustice.

Everyone is affected by injustice to their fellow Americans. The NAACP is not the only organization that could have stepped up some time ago.

JMHO

[hrmjustin]

69. they are a civil rights organization.

I thought they would have come out for gay marriage because it is a civil rights issue.

[NOLALady]

27. Which other major

organizations should come out with their full support?

[ruggerson]

52. It's always helpful when major Christian churches announce their support

for example, even though the NAACP isn't a church -

Here is a partial list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessing_of_same-sex_unions_in_Christian_churches

[hrmjustin]

68. Every single civil rights group in my opinion.

But the NAACP is the most famous of them all and it would have helped in CA on Prop 8. As I said better late than never, but they are late to the game.

[whopis01]

74. Here is a list - it may not be complete, but it is a start

I tried to provide links to pages where the various organization state their support when I could.

AFL-CIO
http://www.aflcio.org/Issues/Civil-and-Workplace-Rights

AFSCME
http://www.afscme.org/news/press-room/press-releases/2012/afscme-statement-on-president-obamas-remarks-on-marriage

ACLUE
http://www.aclu.org/marriage-same-sex-couples

American Federation of Teachers
http://www.aft.org/newspubs/press/2012/050912.cfm

America Foundation for Equal Rights

Anti-Defamation League
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/CvlRt_32/6307_32.htm

Center for American Progress
http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/statements/2012/05/gaymarriage_potus.html


CWA
http://www.cwa-union.org/issues/entry/c/civil-rights-equity#.T7lRVVLybNk

HADASSAH
http://www.hadassah.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=keJNIWOvElH&b=5772823&ct=11752989&notoc=1

Human Rights Campaign
http://www.hrc.org/press-releases/entry/president-obama-supports-full-marriage-equality

Interfaith Alliance
http://www.interfaithalliance.org/news/516-interfaith-alliance-praises-president-obama-for-his-support-of-marriage-equality

National Association of Hispanic Publications

National Black Justice Coalition

National Council of Jewish Women
http://www.ncjw.org/content_8680.cfm?navID=218

National Council of La Raza

People for the American Way

Service Employees International Union

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
http://www.sldn.org/news/archives/sldn-responds-to-obama-announcement-of-support-for-marriage-equality/

Sierra Club
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=238501.0

Third Way

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

United Food and Commercial Workers

[pnwmom]

80. The National Organization for Women (NOW) has, since 1995.

[pnwmom]

79. N.O.W, for instance -- since 1995.

http://www.now.org/issues/marriage/legal_protections.html


February 13, 2006

NOW's first policy statement declaring lesbian rights a feminist issue was in 1971. In that declaration, NOW members acknowledged a woman's right to independence and self-determination, including the right to define and express her own sexuality. Our official support for equal marriage was in 1995, and launched a series of Valentine's Day actions around the issue.

In 2004, NOW members resolved to launch an intensive equal marriage educational campaign, including both public education and informing elected officials. In 2005, NOW members voted to organize a national Marriage Equality Day of Action in 2006. This resolution declared that NOW chapters and leaders would plan and carry out "a day of coordinated action for full marriage equality in an effort to stem the tide of anti-LGBT attacks."

NOW has taken this issue forward, working to gain equality for all LGBT people of several fronts including: fighting for marriage equality, placing pressure on congressional representatives to pass inclusive hate crimes legislation, ensuring the inclusion of transgender people and LBT women of color in all aspects of our work, and helping to eliminate employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. NOW has sought to protect the rights of those treated as second-class in our society against the continuing attacks by the right wing.

The right wing has used equal marriage for same sex-couples as a wedge issue to divide groups and further oppress women based upon gender stereotypes and fear. Blatant discrimination exists against lesbians in employment, education, health care, child custody, and marriage.

SNIP

[calimary]

24. Some backbones take a little longer to solidify.

Especially in as toxic an environment as what we're gagging and choking and struggling through, now.

[hrmjustin]

70. they never had a problem with backbone before

[nofurylike]

83. they have supported marriage equality for a long time. nt

[dorkulon]

7. Wow. Wasn't expecting this. Great news! nt

[sabrina 1]

8. Excellent.

K&R

[swimboy]

9. Great and remarkable news.

[Maven]

10. That is fantastic!

[ejbr]

11. k & r n/t

[Iggo]

12. Now we're talking!

[grantcart]

13. A great coalition is getting stronger.

[ruggerson]

53. Thanks to the activists

Gay people of all races and ethnicities and their straight allies.

[great white snark]

14. K effin' R

[Malikshah]

15. K&R ---this is a major development imho...the freakazoids are going to hurt themselves twisting this

in the months to come. The pieces are falling together like Tetras and the bigots are getting bigotier and scarier hour by hour. Between the comparisons of LGBT activists to the Nazis to it being ok to beat and/or kill the LGBT, the desperation is a sight to behold.

Things are getting tense, but I think we as a country can hold it together.

[lunatica]

16. OMG! That's fantastic!!!

[rocktivity]

36. Mind if I join you?

rocktivity

[ZombieHorde]

17. Dominoes. nt

[Trajan]

22. So pleased to hear this ...

Exactly what we all wanted to hear ....

[Ex-Pat Pats Fan]

26. And I endorse this post!

[onehandle]

28. Clearly they are part of the gay agenda. nt

[NoMittens]

29. Awesome News!

What would mittens say? I don't give a $hit what mittens says! He's a BULLY!

[invictus]

30. It's about time!

They can't call themselves a civil rights organizaton and not support marriage equality.

[dbackjon]

31. Great news!!

[southmost]

32. This is yet another 'big fucking deal'

yes!

[progressoid]

33. Rec.

[stillwaiting]

34. Very, very good news!! nt

[RainDog]

35. EXCELLENT!

I am sooo happy to see this!

Bravo to the NAACP!!!

I'm sure Bayard Rustin is looking on proudly as well.

[craigmatic]

38. This is where Obama's influence truely shines.

[ruggerson]

46. +1

[lunatica]

65. This is why his endorsement counts

It cuts through the densest opposition and liberates the almost there people to surge forward.

[Blue_Tires]

39. wonderful news!!

[Faygo Kid]

40. Great news, but the blowback out there is ugly.

Pure hatred, as you might expect, directed against blacks and gays. I think vigilance is necessary after this - Free Republic is as hate-filled as you would expect, but posts at places like The Washington Post are worth monitoring.

It's some very scary stuff.

[Grassy Knoll]

43. same at yahoo.....

but then again they link "NEWS" from the Daily Crapper, Deadbart.com and Glenn Beck's the Blahz
No link from known gay matt Drudge though.

[Malikshah]

49. Agreed. I am hopeful that it is just rhetoric and does not escalate to actions. With bigots,however

escalation must be prepared for.

The rhetoric is damning enough. It provides much needed insight/exposure to the ODS (Obama Derangement Syndrome) folks out there.
Their irrational hatred, racism, homophobia, inhumane-ness is out there for all to see.

The false equivalency (i.e., "Bill Mahr does it" BS) needs to be shut down immediately.
Logical fallacies, lies, and the like need to be called out loudly and often. It is time to demand civil, rational discourse and to publicly shame those who do not take part in it. Not just the media, but for everyone.

[aaaaaa5a]

41. Outstanding News! NT

[EFerrari]

42. Beautiful.

[LynneSin]

44. This is huge because so many African-American pastors have spoke out against marriage equality

And honestly, I think it blows. Forty years ago people of all races fought for the civil rights for minorities in this country. I realize that a few pastors do not represent the entire African-American population but those who speak out against marriage equality and preach about it in their churches should hang their heads in shame.

Not only with the NAACP backing marriage equality but also many of the biggest names in music industry like Jay-Z and Beyonce. Let's hope their voice can be a powerful force to shoot down these pastors who feel equality is good for them but not for others.

[ruggerson]

45. The bully pulpit works - great news

N/T

[PragmaticLiberal]

47. Details on the N.A.AC.P's evolution.

The N.A.A.C.P. board has been grappling with the issue for several years. Among religious figures on the board, the issue was especially fraught.

Maxim Thorne, a former high-ranking official with the organization, said that “for certain people, it was a very long evolution and a very long process of reconciling their faith with this, and coming to a very civil rights understanding of marriage equality verses a theological understanding of marriage.”


http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/n-a-a-c-p-endorses-same-sex-marriage/

[lumberjack_jeff]

50. This is awesome. n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

51. nice

[applegrove]

54. That means a lot. More people will follow. Obama is showing great leadership.

[robinlynne]

55. right on.

[Tarheel_Dem]

56. This is the "change" people. Gee, I wonder why this doesn't have 500 recs? Hmmmmm......

[ruggerson]

57. hmmmm

we agree on something. Did the earth just move slightly?

[Number23]

63. I'm on the other side of the fence from you for a change

I'm trying to figure out why so many here are acting as though this is so unexpected and SHOCKING!!

Now, I know that I haven't been officially affiliated with the NAACP since my college days, but my understanding is that the NAACP and particularly its leadership, has long been supportive of marriage equality. This surprises me even less than the president's statement from last week.

This was from last year -

This was from 2010 - http://www.theroot.com/views/naacp-reaches-out-gay-rights-groups and referred to past NAACP president Kwesi Mfume's support of gay rights and coordination with Human Rights Campaign in 19 freaking 99!

This was from 2009 - http://prospect.org/article/naacp-takes-stance-against-prop-8

Good news and very encouraging but not surprising in the least. Not getting all of the "oh my god. This is SO unexepected!!!" and "better late than never" from folks here at all.

[lunatica]

66. The timing is significant

If you don't get that then you have no business criticizing others nor do you understand why so many here are celebrating.

[Number23]

75. The completley unnecessary tone of your post

Renders your comment irrelevant.

You'll have to get someone else to explain your "timing is significant" comment (although I'm 99% sure it has something to do with an amendment on gay marriage failing and everyone blaming it on black people who are probably less than 20% of the population of that area) because as of now, I really don't care about anything you have to say on the topic.

[nofurylike]

84. i believe you misread the information in that post you slammed.

i hope you will read it again, with due attention. that is important information we all ought to know.

maybe you will apologize?

[Tarheel_Dem]

72. Unlike you, in college, I was so selfish and uninvolved. I voted, but that's about it.

I am getting a history lesson around this issue. I'll admit I did not know about Mfume's support of marriage equality. 1999? I had no idea.

What's really encouraging is that thanks to the diligence of activist groups such as HRC & the NAACP the floodgates seem to be breaking open. MHP did a segment on her show this a.m. with clips of Will Smith, JayZee, Floyd Mayweather, and a couple of others embracing marriage equality as a civil right.

Thanks for the clip, and don't mind the "better late than never" crowd. They haven't figured out how to handle this. Their preconceived notions are now turned on their heads.

[Number23]

76. The "better late than never" and "this is HUGH!!" group

(and I strongly suspect some of the "timing is significant" crowd as well) are once again displaying a paternalistic attitude towards black folks that has nothing to do with reality. And you said it perfectly, "Their preconceived notions are now turned on their heads." I noticed some other black posters upthread also wondering at some of the comments in this thread.

We've been talking about this issue a bit in the AA forum for the last week, before the NAACP's announcement. http://www.democraticunderground.com/11871581

One poster posted an analysis after the Prop 8 debacle in California, which was also placed at the feet of black Americans until that was proven to be incorrect, that found that when religion was placed aside, black folks actually opposed Prop 8 at greater numbers than anyone. And religious whites still supported the Prop more than any other group. We all know that blacks can be homophobic but this meme that we have somehow cornered the market on homophobia and are worse than everyone else is racist and offensive but alot of folks have still swallowed it hook, line and sinker.

(You really must read the piece from The Black Snob from the thread as well. She sums up the combination of disgust, resigned acceptance and bewilderment that many blacks feel about being held to a different standard on this issue in a way that very much parallels my own feelings.)

I strongly suspect that is what's leading to much of the "OH MY GOD!! THIS IS HUGH!!" here from folks who are apparently blissfully unaware that the NAACP leadership and membership has quietly and not-so quietly supported marriage equality for a while now. I am still so happy to hear of this announcement. It's the right thing for them to do. But it would also be great if this was not crouched in so much SHOCK! and SURPRISE!! as if people cannot believe that a group that represents black people would feel this way on the issue. Lots of us do.

[Number23]

77. Oh, and you said one other thing that was perfect

Last edited Sun May 20, 2012, 07:41 PM - Edit history (1)

thanks to the diligence of activist groups such as HRC & the NAACP the floodgates seem to be breaking open.

You said it. This is a great time in the history of this country for lots and lots of reasons.

The president of HRC said that with this announcement, hopefully the bigoted and false meme that blacks are more homophobic than everyone else will die for ever. One can hope, huh?

His exact words here:

“It’s time the shameful myth that the African-American community is somehow out of lockstep with the rest of the country on marriage equality is retired -- once and for all. The facts and clear momentum toward marriage speak for themselves.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/naacp-endorses-same-sex-marriage/2012/05/19/gIQA5SFSbU_blog.html

[SockyMonky]

58. Remember NOM also is using it's strategy on the Latino Community - networking & attention is needed

As a Gay Latino SockyMonky, I plan on networking with as many people as I can.

We can not afford to let NOM's strategies of dividing communities that it executed in NC slip into the Latino Community and find us in a reactive mode.

Some recent stuff...

Latino Group Voices Opposition to Obama Flip-Flop on SSM
http://www.nomblog.com/23074/?sf4268274=1

Archdiocese of San Antonio - mentions CALL
http://www.archsa.org/txtfiles/attachment_235.pdf

[Unite2DefeatGOP]

59. Better late then never. This is good news. nt

[DonCoquixote]

60. yay

The GOP tried to make Black people hate Gays, let's bury that avenue of attack FOR GOOD.

[azurnoir]

61. K&R and it's about time n/t

[pinto]

62. Kick

[SockyMonky]

64. Of note...

Ken Bennett - Secretary of State AZ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Bennett

It should be noted that Bennett is also a co-chair of the Arizona Romney campaign. He also plans to run for Az Gov in 2014. Bennett was born in Tucson into a family that were members of LDS.

Arizona’s Top Election Official Goes Birther, Threatens To Keep Obama Off The Ballot
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/05/18/486744/arizona-secretary-of-state-birther/?mobile=nc

Arizona Secretary of State accepts Obama certificate
(Ken Bennett interview 4/2011 NBC 12 - Phoenix - Video)
http://www.obamaconspiracy.org/2011/04/arizona-secretary-of-state-accepts-obama-certificate/

Arizona ‘birther’ bill forces Obama to show birth certificate 4/21/10
http://citizen-40.tressugar.com/Arizona-birther-bill-forces-Obama-show-birth-certificate-8195713

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett also expressed concern about Burges' amendment, saying that creating state-level eligibility requirements to run for federal office could violate the U.S. Constitution.

"While everyone has an interest in ensuring that only eligible citizens run for president, there are obvious issues with states implementing what could become a patchwork of different tests for a presidential candidate to prove his/her citizenship," said Bennett's spokesman, Matthew Benson, in an e-mail.

+++

2016 - Obama's America (coming out in Summer months)
http://2016themovie.com/

Dinesh D'Souza - Obama & 2016

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2003/summer/into-the-mainstream?page=0,1

www.aei.org

Founded in 1943, the Washington, D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute (AEI) is one of the most influential conservative think tanks in America. While its roots are in pro-business values, AEI in recent years has sponsored scholars whose views are seen by many as bigoted or even racist.

For example, Dinesh D'Souza, the author of The End of Racism, holds an Olin Foundation research fellowship at AEI. D'Souza has suggested that civil rights activists actually help perpetuate racial tensions and division in the United States, and has even called for the repeal of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. After his book was published, black conservatives Robert Woodson and Glenn Loury denounced it — Woodson released a statement saying it "fans the flames of racial animosity" — and broke their own ties with AEI.

...

Gerald Molen or Jerry Molen, active member of the LDS/Mormon Church
http://2016themovie.com/

I love the way that this is being marketed and emphasizes Molen's close association with Spielberg.

I will look forward to seeing if/when Spielberg issues a disclaimer of association with this project, which I think he will after this blows up further.

Speilberg, SEIU Backing Obama Super PAC
http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Speilberg-SEIU-Obama-Super/2012/01/31/id/426206

Steven Spielberg Donates $100,000 To Gay Marriage Fight
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/23/steven-spielberg-donates_n_128503.html

"By writing discrimination into our state constitution, Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate the right of each and every citizen in our state to marry regardless of sexual orientation. Such discrimination has NO place in California's constitution, or any other."

Spielberg resigns from Boy Scouts board
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Spielberg_resigns_from_Boy_Scouts_board/386418

"The last few years in scouting have deeply saddened me to see the Boy Scouts of America actively and publicly participating in discrimination. It's a real shame," Spielberg said from a prepared statement.

"I thought the Boy Scouts stood for equal opportunity and I have consistently spoken out publicly and privately against intolerance and discrimination based on ethnic, religious, racial and sexual orientation."

+++

Gordon Hinckley on Why Blacks Were Denied the LDS Priesthood

In 1978 the Mormon church had a "revelation" on Blacks. Was it voice from God or a visitation from an Angel as many of us would think defines a "revelation"?

No, it was described as a feeling that the time was right after careful consideration by some of the higher ups in LDS.

To many of us this "revelation" is just a considered decision after discussion, thought and perhaps prayer.

It's not worthy of the label of "revelation".

But "revelation" sounds *so* much better and divorces them from blame on being so late to come to the decision that discrimination based on color is wrong.

Gordon B. Hinckly Interview - PBS
http://www.pbs.org/mormons/interviews/hinckley.html

"It was a landmark occasion. We were in the temple. We gathered in prayer, and President [Spencer] Kimball led [us] in prayer, and he talked about it. It had been on his mind for a good while. And as he prayed, he talked with the Lord about it, and there just settled over us a feeling that this is the right thing; the time has come; now is the opportunity. And on the basis of that we proceeded." - Hinckley

"There was just a feeling that came over all of us, and we knew that it was the right thing at the right time and that we should proceed. And this made all the difference in the world. We've grown strong in Africa and in Brazil and in other places. There is no race bias among us. It's been well received all over the church, and I'm satisfied in my own mind, as one who was there, that the right thing happened at the right time in the right way." - Hinckley

[TNLib]

67. Awesome News!!

[ArivacaCharlie]

71. Another Civil Rights issue

The NAACP absolutely should endorse marriage equality. At the end of the day, it is simply another civil rights issue. I'm old enough to remember a time when it was illegal for a whaite person to marry a black person.

[Amaril]

78. K & R!

Wonderful to see them officially voice -- as a group -- their support for marriage equality!

[6502]

81. k&r!!! Yeah!

[Pachamama]

82. Just watched Benjamin Jealous, President of NAACP on Rachel Maddox....very moved by what he said....

......Just became a member of the NAACP.....this is an important day.....