Why are African Americans opposed to gay marriage?

I recently read a blog on the Huffington Post by Sam Fulwood called Why Are Some Black Folks So Upset Over Gays Getting Married? Please check it out at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-fulwood/why-are-some-black-folks_b_375885.html. The author, Sam, is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.


Immediately, it struck me that gay people are dealing with various forms of prejudice and discrimination sort of like what women, African Americans, Hispanics, Chinese, and countless other minorities experienced in America. Clearly, gays aren't being routinely terrorized by hate groups, but state and local legislative bodies are passing laws that are discriminatory toward gays. Is it questionable that a legislative body would pass laws that discriminate?  Remember, it wasn’t too long ago that interracial marriage was illegal. 

Maybe here is where I should state that I am African American, heterosexual, married with kids, and a proud Christian of the Church of God in Christ denomination (a rather conservative Christian group). And maybe that is why my heart and compassion extends to the gay population surrounding marriage. It's a choice between two consenting adults. It's a choice that doesn't harm anyone else. It's a choice that other U.S. citizens enjoy. So why shouldn’t gay Americans have equal protection under the law?

As I discussed this with my wife who also is a proclaimed heterosexual, married, African American Christian, we seem to have two different perspectives. She says that the Bible says that gay behavior is a sin and that's why it shouldn't be legal. Period!

I said that my Christian beliefs and morals should not determine whether gay marriage should be legal. If gay people want to get married, that's between the couple and God. But as a matter of equality, I cannot think of a reason why it should not be legal for gays to marry.

Is the Bible really the best source for determining the legality of social norms? The Bible made plenty of other social rules that no longer apply in today's society. Slavery and women rights immediately come to mind. Should we not then re-animate the legality of slavery and strip women of their rights?

I assert that if African Americans are thinking like my wife on this topic, then they too are substituting Christian morality for legality. One’s morals whether based on one’s Christian beliefs or not should not determine right and wrong behavior for someone else. Instead, one’s morals should be their personal guiding principles.

Sam Fulwood article points out how some Christian leaders once understood that Civil Rights for one translated into Civil Rights for all.  But if God gave us free choice to choose right or wrong, then why is it appropriate for us to take away choice from others? By doing this, are we not putting ourselves above God as judges?  Surely, that is not a place for man.