Progressive Civil Rights?

Many claim a parallel between gay rights and the African-American Civil Rights movement. But what do some African-Americans say about these claims?

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[derekpackard]

Hmmmm I thought it was because they were Jews...

[derekpackard]

The law already grants protections and freedoms equally. Same sex couple are free to enter civil unions by law because by law marriage is between opposite genders for numerous reasons.

[conor143]

This video seems to suggest that civil rights are the prerogative of the African American community, when in fact the African American community can be just as bigoted as anyone else. If everyone was accepting of homosexuality there wouldn't need to be a civil rights movement in its favor. The fact that these people are members of a minority that has had to struggle for civil rights doesn't mean that they can't be on the wrong side of the issue when it concerns another minority group.

[derekpackard]

Why not just obey the law as it stands today in the U.S. :

The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA,

No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) needs to treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state.

The federal government may not treat same-sex relationships as marriages for any purpose, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.

[conor143]

The law as it stands isn't always right:) For example: slavery was once legal, as was segregation.

And by the way, isn't marriage supposed to be up to the states? DOMA could be seen as violating the rights of states to regulate marriage themselves.

[derekpackard]

I appreciate your thought provoking comments! Yes DOMA may be...according to the White House ...on the chopping block. I guess the big question is... just what exactly is the definition of marriage....and who gets to decide that...for sure....forever.... my conviction is that God designed men and women....and he designed their bodies to be united in marriage....anything else will have eternal consequences.... I genuinely care about what happens to people in eternity.

[Permaglo]

I or anyone I know did not choose to be gay. Anyone that thinks someone would choose to be gay with all the societal B.S. that affects us is ignorant.

People were exterminated in Natzi Germany, murdered, assaulted, harassed, put in jail, thrown out of the homes, fired, ostracized by their families and friends...ALL because they were gay. We have come a long way to fight the hate and prejudice and marriage equality is one of the last battles.

[mike2jb]

"Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."

- Coretta Scott King

[jfsfrnd]

". . .marriage is between opposite genders for numerous reasons."

What reasons are those?

[andhemills]

I just want to know if I can get a civil union as a straight couple. I don't want anything to do with marriage, except for the financial benefits. And that's all I can see in this debate, is an issue of finance and in that light, I do consider this a civil rights issue. I have seen more happy gay couples, more capable of raising children than dysfunctional straight marriages. This is a non issue, unless you can explain to me how two people of the same sex getting married affects you.

[conor143]

But shouldn't the protections of religious freedom also protect gays and lesbians from your beliefs? The church which I attend does not share your view of homosexual marriage, believing that marriage is a union of two people who love each other, irrespective of gender. But the position of each of our churches is irrelevant, because the issue at hand is civil marriage and the legal protections that accompany that institution.