BREAKING: NAACP Endorses Marriage Equality

[babylonsister]

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

BREAKING: NAACP Endorses Marriage Equality

By Judd Legum on May 19, 2012 at 3:33 pm


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, formerly of the NAACP, broke the news over Twitter:

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

— Maxim Thorne (@Maximthorne) May 19, 2012

Since Obama’s announcement, numerous influential political figures — including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and House Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn — have joined him in supporting marriage equality.
Update

Update: The NAACP confirms their decision with the New York Times: “We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law.”

[WillyT]

1. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[Hissyspit]

18. NAACP Press Release:

http://www.naacp.org/press/entry/naacp-passes-resolution-in-support-of-marriage-equalit

May 19, 2012
Decision Affirms Opposition to Government Efforts to Codify Discrimination

(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.

[WillyT]

24. Thank You For That !!!

[freshwest]

32. Thanks for the link. Will share.

[SidDithers]

2. K&R...nt

Sid

[Nye Bevan]

3. Welcome aboard.

Disappointing, however, that two members of their board are still opposed to this. I would question whether these individuals are fit to be board members.

[randome]

12. Yes, well, we shouldn't expect everyone to vote the 'correct' way.

Public opinion -and even private corporate opinion- has swung in this direction. Anyone who opposes marriage equality is on the wrong side of history.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Fantastic!

[Segami]

5. K&R!

[xocet]

6. K & R n/t

[superpatriotman]

7. How edgy of them

So forward.

[obamanut2012]

11. It is, why so dismissive?

[Robb]

19. The NAACP president was the keynote speaker

...for the National Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality this year.

The NAACP leadership has a tradition of supporting marriage equality that goes back to Kweisi Mfume at least.

What's your point?

[Number23]

30. "The NAACP leadership has a tradition of supporting marriage equality that goes back to Kweisi Mfume

So why do you think that so many here are acting as though this is such unprecedented and unexpected news?

[Skittles]

37. maybe because of stuff like what happened in NC???

[Number23]

38. And what does that have to do with the NAACP?

Tell me EXACTLY what the connection is between NC and the NAACP's stance on this issue.

[nofurylike]

39. YES!! thank you so very much for posting that, Robb!! nt

[Skittles]

36. as opposed to backwards like repukes

[arcane1]

8. Whee!!!

[arely staircase]

9. wow. the president's statement really was a tipping point.

awesome news.

[CTyankee]

15. I hope he sees in this his way "forward." Presidents lead. He led. And things changed!

I think this will have a salutary effect on Obama's thinking going forward. The ripple effect and all that. And it really wasn't too heavy a lift...

[obamanut2012]

10. Very nice

Major props.

And major props for Mildred and Richard Loving for opening the door for this, and for us.

[Auntie Bush]

13. They say a real LEADER is one who can persuade others to his way of thinking...something like that.

So I guess that makes Obama a true leader. I hope someone mentions that on MSM.
Won't Rush and his minions have a hissy-fit?

[CTyankee]

17. Oh, I can't wait to see it! Slobber boy going nuts right on his own show.

what a nice thought...

[goclark]

20. Slop may hae another breakdown

on this one.

[protect our future]

14. Great news!

[independentpiney]

16. This is great news

The Presidents announcement seems like it's having a very positive effect. That's what real leadership does.

[otohara]

21. Wow, That Was Fast!!!

Way to go NAACP and thanks!

[Zalatix]

22. AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!!!

[img][/img]

[Pisces]

23. This is wonderful!! What an amazing trickle down effect!!!

[NorthCarolina]

25. OK, this IS big. nt

[southmost]

26. yes, it's been like herding cats

but we've come a long way baby!

[nofurylike]

40. getting media to tell the truth about this? i agree!!

they'll twist facts in any and every way to blame and malign blacks on this subject, and divide us all from each other, won't they?

M$M always reminds me of trying to pick up mercury!

[aikoaiko]

27. Nicely done, NAACP.

[RainDog]

28. k&r n/t

[LynneSin]

29. NCAAP and many big name African-American Celebrities are standing up for what is right

I read where Jay-Z and Beyonce also support this. I hope that all these voices will be powerful enough to overcome the African-American pastors that are preaching against this in the churches.

[bluestate10]

31. The move by the NAACP makes sense.

If rights for African Americans had been put to a public vote, like republicans across the nation want, African Americans might have gained the right to sit any where on a bus in this decade. And the country would still be decades from electing an African American as President.

[hifiguy]

33. This deserves three cheers.

I had little doubt that the POTUS' leadership on this issue would have a beneficial effect with the African American community.

:

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Excellent. On the right side of history.

[Skittles]

35. THIS IS HUGH111!!!