By The Editors
The California Supreme Court’s ruling this week upholding the proposition that bans gay marriage in the state sets “a dangerous precedent” because it places “the rights of minority groups at the whim of the majority,” the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund said in a statement released today.

By The Editors
The California Supreme Court began hearing arguments Thursday on the legality of Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative voters approved in November that outlawed same-sex marriage. Supporters of the measure, which passed with 52 percent of the vote, claim that the measure is a lawful expression of the will of the electorate. However, its opponents, which include the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, have said that it is unconstitutional.

By Stacey Patton: “Blow on my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the pleasant fruits.” Those are lines from Song of Solomon, the most exquisitely erotic book of the Old Testament. The Bible doesn’t shy away from topics of romance, love and sex. Indeed, [...]

Reverend Rolen L. Womack, Jr. Progressive Baptist Church Milwaukee, Wisconsin Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative, will not likely end this debate about same-sex marriages in California or any other state. From an African-American perspective, same-sex marriage has fostered a divisive, disabling, and disconnection montage of emotions especially when the proponents of same-sex marriage try [...]

Reverend Dr. Gerald L. Durley Providence Missionary Baptist Church Atlanta, Georgia Though I grew up in California, I did not pay close attention to matters related to same-sex marriage. It is my understanding that Proposition 8 adds a new amendment to the California Constitution, which says, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is [...]

Reverend Dr. Brad R. Braxton Senior Minister The Riverside Church in the City of New York New York, New York The Riverside Church in the City of New York stands in solidarity with our sisters and brothers,  who suffer from social and legal discrimination based upon their sexual identity. Recent circumstances leading to calls for [...]

The Reverend Dennis W. Wiley, Ph.D. and The Reverend Christine Y. Wiley, D.Min. Pastors, Covenant Baptist Church, Washington, DC The black church has been so poisoned by homophobia and heterosexism that the idea of actually opposing Proposition 8 seems oxymoronic. But black churches are not monolithic, and while most denounce homosexuality as a sin, there [...]

Reverend Dr. Clenard H. Childress Senior Pastor New Calvary Baptist Church Montclair, New Jersey The overwhelming African-American support of California’s Proposition 8 is a clear indication of the deeply rooted Judeo-Christian values of the Black community. It was those same values that made them a persevering and resilient people, thus enabling them to endure and [...]

Reverend Dr. Jacqueline Lewis Senior Minister Middle Collegiate Church New York, New York How tragic that Californians repealed the law they passed allowing same-sex marriage. CNN’s first exit polling data indicated that 70% of African Americans voted in support of the proposition, allowing for Blacks in America to be scapegoated for the result. Since then, [...]

By Stacey Patton
Do most African-American ministers believe that homosexuality is a sin? Are black churches bastions of homophobia? Does the Bible condemn same-sex liaisons as unnatural and immoral? In this week’s issue of TheDefendersOnline, we asked a diverse group of black clergy from across the country to weigh in on the controversy over same-sex marriage.