President Obama's announcement and the black church

America continues to witness history.

This week alone was historic.  For the first time ever, a sitting U.S. President unequivocally endorsed gay marriage.  In an interview with ABC's Robin Roberts, President Obama said, "I've been going through an evolution on this issue...it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that -- I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."

Social media went into a frenzy with everyone weighing in on the historic announcement.  My timeline on Facebook and Twitter -- especially -- had status messages that either placed their stamp of approval on the president's decision to publicly support gay marriage and others chose to denounce this by invoking their extreme religious beliefs into the dialogue.

While some might heavily oppose gay marriage, what is not surprising is that recent polls continue to show that public opinion regarding gay marriage is shifting. The Public Religion Research Institute released a report, last year, which reveals that 44% of younger evangelicals favor gay marriage. In addition to this evidence, a Pew research poll shows that 51% of black people support gay marriage -- up from 33%, in 2004.  This is a dramatic shift considering that back in 2004 alone, 12 states galvanized and passed identical legislation that defined marriage as the union of a man and woman.

President Obama continues to show leadership in the face of his adversaries by promoting tolerance and acceptance of our fellow brothers and sisters.  These simple gestures that are the pinnacle of the foundation of Christianity, is often overlooked and overshadowed by hatred when it comes to uplifting the gay community.  A religion that bases itself on the very essence of encouraging their followers to love their neighbor as their self and to exude love as Christ displays -- has a weird way of having spiritual amnesia when it comes to this subject matter.

For black people, especially, who have been the victims of oppression for so long, we often shun those who are uniquely different. However, it is worth pausing and congratulating the bravery of several blacks who have spoken out in favor of gay marriage.

Beginning with Julian Bonds, the former chairman of the NAACP -- who has been a staunch supporter of gay marriage, said it best in 2007: If you don't like gay marriage, don't get gay married.  Bonds support extends far beyond the speech that he gave.  He went as far as boycotting the funeral of the late Coretta Scott-King, who advocated rights for gays and lesbians, because the King's kids decided to have her funeral at Bishop Eddie Long's church -- who at the time Bishop Long was outspoken against the rights of gay people. 

Next, one of my all-time favorites - THE Reverend Al Sharpton, who is a preacher and activist -- and a supporter of marriage equality.  It is black leaders like Sharpton who should continue moving the discussion along and encourage church leaders and goers, alike, to embrace and tolerate gay marriage.

It is an absolute embarrassment for the black church leaders to congregate on conference calls immediately after the president rendered his verdict in a decision that affects several pew members to discuss how they will align their sermons for this upcoming Sunday.  When was the last time preachers met to agree on a similar sermon subject that continues to erode blacks: sex before marriage, adultery, DL, unemployment ... and the laundry list continues?

This is the very reason that I absolutely will not attend a church that Sunday after Sunday preaches the do's and don'ts of the Bible.  There is so much to life than to live in a confined box that places a label and underhandedly inject hatred towards a particular group of people.

Black preachers -- do better!

Below is an e-mail response I wrong on Pastor McKissic's blog on his stance of what President Obama said. 
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President Obama stood with courage by endorsing marriage equality.
 
What upsets me the most is that the religious right continues to drown the conversation of gay marriage by constantly invoking their radical and extreme views of distancing a particular group of people.  Instead of fighting about who's right and wrong, find yourselves being on the right side of history by encouraging and supporting those who are different from you.  Indeed, we will not all agree on the same thing -- which is a great thing.  However, please do not judge me because my sins are different than your sins.  Truely, there is something that keeps you up at night.
 
The preachers who pick and choose about what to preach against continues to divide the church.  This creates separation and removes those who are simply attending service to receive an uplifting and edifying word.  As the younger generation steps out and embrace people for being people -- regardless of who they choose to find themselves in love with, I predict that the church's voice will become mute.  The sure fact of the aforementioned comes from a religious survey that indicates 44% of younger evangelicals accept gay marriage.  When the church is no longer a priority in the average American's life, I will fault nobody but the church itself.  A relationship and conversation with God trumps any individualized opinion that a preacher has on any subject matter.