In the last five weeks, the New York and New Jersey state senates separately voted against marriage equality bills. While this is extremely disappointing, there is reason for optimism in the fact that nine African American state senators in New York, as well as two in New Jersey, voted in favor of recognizing same-sex marriage.
The degree of support for same-sex marriage among African Americans has been a particularly sensitive issue since California voters rejected gay marriage in voting in favor of Proposition 8 in 2008. Although initial reports suggested that as many as 70 percent of African American voters supported Proposition 8, subsequent studies found that only 58 percent supported the measure, not much higher relative to the statewide support of 52%
To me, it never made sense to blame African Americans for the gay rights loss in California. Blacks were no more responsible for the passage of Proposition 8 than the millions of white Californians who voted in favor of the measure.
The legislative defeats of same-sex marriage in New York and New Jersey, when coupled with the recent defeats at the ballot box in Maine and California, show that the LGBT rights movement must continue to work diligently in forming strong coalitions with other minority groups and civil rights supporters. This is a political battle that clearly cannot be won by gay people alone.
I was troubled, therefore, to read an article published in the November/December issue of the Gay & Lesbian Review, suggesting that because African Americans are less likely to marry than whites, members and leaders of the community, in effect, are hypocritical in their failure to support same-sex marriage.
The article states, "Considering their low participation in the institution of marriage, it's difficult to see [same-sex marriage] as a burning issue for the African-American community at all, or why they should play a decisive role" in whether gay couples are permitted to marry."
There are of course complicated reasons why the rate of marriage among African Americans is lower than that of whites, including a history of discrimination that can be traced all the way back to laws which prohibited slaves from marrying. Additionally, the benefits of the legal protections afforded by marriage have always been greater for those who have greater access to economic opportunities and wealth.
It is therefore simply inaccurate to suggest that the lower marital rates among African Americans somehow disqualifies the black community from weighing in on the issue of same-sex marriage. Such arguments also risk alienating potential supporters of LGBT rights. Although it is fair to take up the issue with black leaders (many of whom are religious ministers) who oppose same-sex marriage on spiritual grounds, I think it is crucial for gay rights activists to acknowledge and thank the many black leaders, including most African American members of the New York and New Jersey senates, who are standing up in support of gay rights.
Indeed, during the debate on the floor of the New York legislature in December, an opponent of same-sex marriage read off the long list of states that do not allow such marriages. This led senator Eric Adams, an African American, to respond by reading off the long list of states that once allowed the sale of blacks into slavery to drive home the point that just because a majority of states support a policy does not make it right. The senator added that it was not until 1967 that his son would have been able to marry the daughter of his white colleagues who were opposing the same-sex marriage bill. The arguments that were used against interracial marriage, Adams explained, are the same ones heard today against same-sex marriage (To watch a video of Senator Adams's inspiring speech, click here.)
History will eventually show that the votes cast by the vast majority of African-American state senators from New York and New Jersey in favor of marriage equality were the morally correct decisions. The LGBT community needs to stand up and thank them for their courage.