NAACP BACKS MARRIAGE EQUALITY

President Obama’s personal decision to back the concept of same-sex marriages just got a very valuable endorsement partner — the NAACP.

On Saturday, the board of the NAACP voted to follow the president’s lead and endorse same-sex marriage, putting the weight of the country’s most prominent civil rights group behind a cause that has long divided much of the black community.

The NAACP went on record in saying that marriage equality is a civil right and any opposition to it is discriminatory.

In a statement, Roslyn M. Brock, chairwoman of the 64-member board, said, “We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law.” Borrowing a term used by gay rights advocates, the resolution stated, “We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

The NAACP’s stance now puts the civil rights organization directly in line with President Obama, who endorsed marriage equality early last week. Although their vote was largely symbolic, it will likely be viewed as both a statement of principle as well as support for the president’s position during a closely contested presidential campaign.

Several black pastors and churches initially opposed Mr. Obama’s support of same-sex marriage.  But with the weight of the NAACP now in favor of the issue, they may be forced to rethink their opposition if for no other reason than on the basis of it seeming discriminatory.

Civil rights activist and former NAACP chairman Julian Bond, said that Mr. Obama’s recent support for same-sex marriage was “a tipping point” for many board members. He said the vote debunked the myth that the black community is uncomfortable with same-sex marriage.

“This proves that conventional wisdom is not true,” Mr. Bond said.