Pastors take gay-marriage opposition to D.C. Council chairman

Reader Comments

Oct 23, 2009

Separation of Church and State?
Freedom of and from Religion?

Oct 23, 2009

These ministers need to let it go and move on with their lives. Most of their congregatons are not D.C. voters. They mostly live in Maryland. I doubt if these D.C. holy rollers are D.C. residents/voters.

Oct 23, 2009

Jackson has a long record of anti-gay rhetoric. This has never been about marriage, it's about his anti-gay obsession.

Oct 23, 2009

If these folks want to live in a theocracy perhaps they should move to Iran. Why do they hate America so much that they want to wipe their bottoms on our nations Constitution that provides for equality to ALL Americans?

Oct 23, 2009

"We're trying to keep you as a permanent underclass because we're close-minded homophobes, but we'll do it in love."

Oct 23, 2009

These pastors don't care about DC or any of us who live here. If they are willing to ask Congress to step on the District's right to home rule, Gray and all other DC politicians should refuse any further meetings with them.

Oct 23, 2009

Do these guys preach anything other than hate? Growing up in the south, I remember a similar group of ministers who protested very vocally the idea of integration. They, too, vowed they'd never give up the fight to keep segregation. These "minister" seem to be using the same play book.

Oct 23, 2009

"We want to get a fair deal, but we believe that this is all politically driven. And in some ways, with all due respect, there is a pretense of democracy here. If you've already made up your minds, 10 people, at all these long hearings, are they really going to listen to the people?"

Really, Bishop? There's a reason why all of the citywide-elected councilmembers (and mayor) support gay marriage. Because the VOTERS of DC overwhelmingly do.

Oct 23, 2009

Will you ministers look for divine guidance for you and your congregation's lives and stop trying to infringe upon the legal rights of other law abiding human beings. The DEVIL IS A LIAR if you guys HONESTLY AND SINCERELY believe that stopping the rights of gay couples to protect their relationships legally is what GOD is calling you to do. Homophobes just as Racists exist because of an inferiority complex. They use whatever power they have to subdue those this wish to be like but for one reason or another CAN NOT. Back the hell up (literally!) and tend to Ms. Jones light bill, Mr. Smith's infidelity and Lil Ray-Ray's abuse of his little sister! You all are pitiful hypocrites for only coming OUT of the church to stop people from protecting their own lives. Pitiful!

Oct 23, 2009

What galls me the most is that it's my gay tax dollars that support these pastors. Their churches in DC neighborhoods are tax free, even while they consume DC resources like police and fire protection, infrastructure like sewers and water lines, and they often overwhelm local neighborhoods with double parking, because none of them actually live in DC anymore.

And then they have the gall to come into my city and try to restrict my rights, while my tax dollars are paying their way?

I dare say they can find FAR more pressing matters to spend their time and money on in their own congregations and neighborhoods. But no. Instead they spend limited resources fighting to suppress others and destabilize their families.

Sad. Pathetic. And offensive.

Oct 23, 2009

jib - If "There's a reason why all of the citywide-elected councilmembers (and mayor) support gay marriage. Because the VOTERS of DC overwhelmingly do"

then why are you afraid of a vote? I know why - because the citizens of DC would vote against gay marriage in such numbers the mayor and councilmembers would be embarassed.

Then they would have to answer the question - which constituency are you REALLY beholden to?

Oct 23, 2009

Brice33: Get with the program. Choosing to put an issue out for referendum is not about being "afraid." It is illegal in D.C. to put civil rights issues (which, by law, includes GLBT people and the civil marriages thereof) up to a popular referendum. We can no more issue a referendum about this minority's civil marriages than we can about, say, Asians' civil marriages, or Buddhists' civil marriages.
Furthermore, we live in what is known as a representative democracy, not a direct democracy. This means that we elect representatives to make decisions and laws on our behalf with regard to the vast majority of civil affairs.
Therefore, if you don't think all adults should be able to choose with which other adult they would like to enter in to a legal, state-recognized contract (i.e. civil marriage), then cast your vote next election day for another bigot to represent you on the Council.

Oct 23, 2009

Brice33 if it were up to majority citizens, criminals would be beat in the streets or killed in public. We vote for people who think greater than individual prejudices,read Lord of the Flies, but who we know have the greater interest of protecting law ABIDING citizens.

Oct 23, 2009

If marriage is so great, why would some preachers want to deny it to some people? By the way, isn't it curious that many clergy still use the word "pastor"? Where I came from in Scotland the term refers to those who herd sheep. And haven't these "pastors" anything more important to do, such as combatting poverty and hunger and homelessness. Fie on ye!

Oct 23, 2009

Brice33: why do u hate America? When do iI get to vote on your rights? Oh, that's right, we have a Constitution gauranteeing equality to ALL. U don't like gays? Too bad. I don't like bigots. Don't like America's Constituton? Move to Iran.

Oct 24, 2009

Why is it always a black man trying to keep gay couples from having the same rights as everyone else? If he were out in a cottonfield all day working for his master I bet he wouldn't be trying to fight gay marriage. Oh wait… he already got his equality.

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