May 20, 2009
Gay marriage in DC moves debate to black community
by Gillian Gaynair
The Associated Press
In the District of Columbia, where African-Americans are the majority and black congregations dominate, the recent vote to recognize same-sex marriages may signal the gay rights movement is making inroads among groups traditionally opposed to it.
With this month's vote, Washington became the first place in the U.S. with a large percentage of black residents to take up the issue. Congress still has the final say over the district's laws, but gay rights activists now have reason to believe that strong opposition is gradually giving way to more acceptance, despite a forceful outcry by some black churches.
The issue is particularly complex in D.C., where nearly 60 percent of the residents are African-American. Of the five states that allow gay marriage -- Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont -- none has such a large makeup of blacks.
Activist Donna Payne knows just how complex the issue is for the black community.
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