Blacks Are Outraged at President Obama’s Stance on Same Sex Marriage

President Obama’s recent decision to openly take a stand on the same sex marriage issue has created a backlash in the black community where many are saying that they can no longer support the first black president of the United States for re-election. While Vice President Joe Biden had already spoken out in support of the issue, some believe that Obama was compelled to speak on the issue after his 2nd in command spoke in advance of the President.

Most notably outraged was Maryland State Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr., a Baptist minister who represents the state’s 10th District in the House of Delegates, who accused the President of saying to his black constituency: “I am going against your beliefs and your thoughts.”

Burns is pastor of the Rising Sun First Baptist Church in Baltimore County, on St. Luke’s Lane in the Gwynn Oak area of Woodlawn. His legislative district, which he has represented since 1995, is home to one of the highest percentages of African-American residents in the state.

In fact, Burns told his church members Sunday, he is so heavily opposed to same-sex marriage he will no longer support the President for reelection and predicted that Obama will lose in November because of his position.

While I don’t support many views of the republicans, Mit Romney might be the only choice we have to keep the sanctity of marriage alive stated accountant George Williams of New York City.

Here is what President Obama had to say:

“…For me personally it is important for me to affirm that same sex couples should be able to get married.” This is the statement President Obama made to ABC’s Robin Roberts on Wednesday. During his campaigns and stint as President, Obama has said his views on same sex marriage is “evolving.” Obama claims his change of heart on the issue has come from various conversations with people including his staff members, gay and lesbian service members, his wife, and even his daughters.

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 Although Obama has stated he agrees with same sex marriage, he still supports letting states decide on the issue individually. Again, he brings up his daughters when talking about how he got to this point.

“You know Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sash, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”

He also cites talks with his wife, Michelle and their own faith as a contributing factor to his decision.

“This is something that, you know, we’ve talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that’s what we try to impart to our kids and that’s what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I’ll be as a as a dad and a husband and hopefully the better I’ll be as president.”

This is a giant leap for Obama as it is unknown if his proclamation will help or hurt him in the polls. Over the years in his politics, Obama has been opposed to gay marriage. In 1996, 2004, 2008, and even 2010 he “struggled” with the decision. He eventually got to a point to support civil unions between same-sex couples so that they would have some of the rights as married couples. He told ABC News,

“I had hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient, that that was something that would give people hospital visitation rights and other elements that we take for granted, and I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people, you know, the word ‘marriage’ was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs, and so forth.”

His decision to now support same-sex marriage will divide the polls with Democrats. Mitt Romney, the possible the Republican candidate opposes gay marriage and fought to the Massachusetts Supreme Court when the state was the first to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004. Romney has also stated, “My view is that marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman. That’s the position I’ve had for some times, and I don’t intend to make any adjustments at this point… Or ever, by the way.”

How many of you believe that President Obama’s new position will cost him the White House? Should this issue be something that a sitting President should take a stance on when there are other human rights issues are more pressing that affect everyday people’s life like unemployment, jobs creation and health care? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts on the matter.

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