Black Democrats in the District are split on recognizing same-sex marriages, based on the results of two recent straw polls.
Wards 5 and 8 are largely black communities. On Monday night, Democrats in Ward 5 rejected by a nearly 2-to-1 margin a resolution to support the D.C. Council’s vote to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. This came two days after the majority of a small sample of Ward 8 Democrats said they would support legalizing same-sex marriages in D.C.
Both votes were held at forums sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Caucus of the Democratic Committee.
“We showed up last night to oppose gay marriage in D.C.,” said the Rev. Henry Gaston, president of the Missionary Baptist Ministers Conference of D.C., which helped mobilize opposition to the resolution in Ward 5.
Gay rights advocates Tuesday seized on the Ward 8 result as evidence that support among blacks for same-sex marriages was broader than previously thought. But only 32 voters cast ballots there, compared with 138 in Ward 5. Gaston said voters citywide should have the final say on gay marriage in D.C.
“When the council passed the last legislation, I had no say in that,” he said, referring to the council’s vote earlier this month to honor same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. “That’s not right.” Gaston added.
The council is expected in the coming months to introduce a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in the District as well. Gaston and other religious leaders want a citywide referendum to decide the ultimate fate of marriage equality in the District.
“Everywhere where the voters have decided this issue, it has failed,” he said. He added that he thought the result would be the same here.
Jeff Richardson, a member of the GLBT Caucus, acknowledged there was resistance to marriage equality in the black community, but said he hoped the forums would help people on either side of the issue to find common ground.
“This is a new conversation, particularly for the African-American community,” he said.
“We’re all not going to agree, but with more conversation and dialogue I hope we’ll see a little less defensiveness and fear on this issue.”
Wards 2 and 4 have also approved resolutions supporting gay marriage. Residents of Ward 6 will vote tonight.
