Black Civil Rights Group Endorses Gay Marriage

American based black civil rights group The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has passed a motion endorsing same-sex marriage.

The endorsement of same-sex marriage by the civil rights group comes just two weeks after President Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage. In the weeks since that announcement high profile faces such as Will Smith and Jay-Z have also endorsed marriage equality.

The NAACP board voted to endorse gay marriage during a meeting in Miami putting forward the argument that it was demanded by equal protection guaranteed by the American constitution.

“The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure political, social and economic equality of all people. We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law.” – Roslyn M Brock, chairwoman.

“Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the fourteenth amendment of the United States constitution and equal protection of all people.” – Benjamin Todd, president

The endorsement of same-sex marriage by the NAACP is another important step forward in the fight for marriage equality in America. While some states in the country have legalised gay marriage – such as New York, Iowa and New Hampshire – other states are pushing ahead with bans on same-sex marriages as demonstrated recently in North Carolina. Same-sex marriage remains a deeply divisive issue in America particularly given the strong religious element present in some parts of the country and within the Republican party – traditionally opposed to gay marriage – and the Tea Party movement.

[Written by Martha Kirkpatrick, via Pink News]