Using the Nuremberg rallies as an inspiration, or perhaps sporting events in totalitarian societies, three dozen anti-gay, black pastors use hundreds of marching Los Angeles school children to encourage blacks to vote "yes" on Proposition 8.
Steve Lopez at The Los Angeles Times describes the quasi fascist spectacle:
The uniformed children were a nice touch Tuesday at the Crenshaw Christian Center, marching out of school with U.S. flags -- like good little soldiers in a holy war -- to hear ministers preach against the evils of gay marriage. ...
The Yes on 8 banners read: "For Children. For Families. For Our Future."
Apostle Frederick K.C. Price stepped to the microphone. "I believe and teach the Bible," he said, pausing briefly, as if nothing more needed to be said.
But he went on to quote Genesis, saying marriage is that which occurs between a man and a woman. To veer from that course, he suggested, would "jeopardize our children's future."
Thinly disguised homophobia in the fundamentalist black church is not a shocker. But there are several dozen bigger threats to the future of children in the inner city that come to mind. Gang violence, access to health care, unemployment, crumbling schools, HIV/AIDS, drug traffic, illegal handguns. Not really sure how two gay men or two lesbians getting married affects the future of these children. Publicity hungry televangelists seem a greater threat.
Three radio ads (audio) urging black voters to oppose the anti-gay, anti-civil rights amendment debuted. Let's hope this is the message that prevails.
Donate here and/or here to fight Proposition 8.
Wielding Religion As a Weapon Against Gay Marriage [R20]
Did You Read ...
"Noah's Arc" Cast Urges "No" on Proposition 8 [R20]
Blige, Etheridge Raise $3.9M for No on Prop 8 [R20]
"Noah's Arc" Actor Doug Spearman, Black Ministers Urge "NO" on Prop 8 [R20]
This takes the cake--using children. These pastors of hate are despicable. They are no better than the Ku Klux Klan crackas, and they should be told that by other black folks.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 23 October 2008 at 13:48
This is an outrage. Those pastors are making a mockery of the word.
Posted by: TEVIN | 23 October 2008 at 13:56
This is disgusting. Indoctrination brainwashing at its finest, these poor kids don't even know they are bein victimized.
If you want to be a bigot, fine, do so. But to bring children into this as divisive tools is rather terrible.-QH
Posted by: QH | 23 October 2008 at 14:01
doomed. we are a doomed people. we are going to kill ourselves off with our ignorance.
Posted by: freeleo | 23 October 2008 at 14:14
How many of you self loathing homosexuals sit under this pastor. You are the lowest of the low.
Posted by: freeleo | 23 October 2008 at 14:16
i'm not shocked...on the christian channel where i live, they're using ads for YESON8 and are using kids in the ads.
so, i'm not surprised by this at all...
Posted by: Ryan | 23 October 2008 at 14:28
Are these the same glory hallelujah screaming bastards who sat back and said nothing about AIDS because they thought it was a gay disease? I can not take them seriously. It is really a horrific joke. They rally about this but act as though their genitals have been severed when it comes to speaking out about educational budgets cuts knowing young black males are going to suffer the most from those cuts. LOL we are in a new millenium and here these bastard come to show the world they still lack direction or sense. Is our favorite closet queen Bishop Eddie Long leading this PARADE? This is the type of shit that keeps him in the spotlight. No organized protests about housing forclosures of homes led by single black females who were duped by shady black realtors into signing a loan the damn agent and his company knew could not be repaid. No. No. Lets take the easy way out and beat up on black gay men once again. And why not? They are mixed throughout the crowd in the background screaming amen to every derogatory remark made about them.
Posted by: gurlene | 23 October 2008 at 14:36
What sensible parent would allow their child to take part in this travesty?
Posted by: Shabaka | 23 October 2008 at 15:00
I actually like the idea of involving children. For the right causes of course. Someone should organize a counter rally involving children too. Just to show America that sensible African-Americans exist too!!
Posted by: Shabaka | 23 October 2008 at 15:11
Wow this is a new low. Lets teach our kids to hate. I can imagine how many of those kids are already struggling with issues around sexuality. I been gay for as long as I can remember. Well hopefully more people will vote no. It will be sad so many gay people are about more than sex and this is really sad to see
Posted by: True | 23 October 2008 at 15:35
To be fair children were first drawn into this issue by proponents of gay marriage. (See the link below.)
I for one can't get upset about opponents of gay marriage responding in kind. Furthermore the touchstone issue in this fight is what type of society we wish to be. One the one hand gays argue that we are being discriminated against and denied basic human rights that heterosexuals take for granted and thus society as it stands is unjust. On the other hand opponents of gay marriage make the slippery slope argument and ask where does it end? If society has no basis to restrict marriage to two members of the opposite sex, then why would society have a basis to restrict any other type of marriage?
http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/first-grade-kids-attend-gay-wedding-at-san-francisco-city-hall/
Posted by: Anon | 23 October 2008 at 16:36
These same fools were given airtime on ABC-7 in LA yesterday. I hope this doesn't go under defeat. I've already voted.
Posted by: Anti-believer | 23 October 2008 at 16:51
Pators?
Posted by: Ted | 23 October 2008 at 17:51
Anon -- You're comparing apples and steak.
I don't think you can compare attending the gay wedding of their teacher to a sign-carrying, flag-waving rally to restrict the rights of a portion of the population. {a notion the children barely understand}.
The wedding was a good thing; teaching them that diversity exists and should be celebrated. They'll grow up to be better people for the experience.
The rally only teaches them how to discriminate blindly without fully understanding what they're doing, to be followers, like little Hitler youth and those tiny Klan members at the lynchings.
They'll grow up to be the blind faithful to something, but I'm sure it won't be to anything good.
Posted by: Taylor Siluwé | 23 October 2008 at 17:54
What other type of marriage would there be? If two people love each other and want to get married they should be allowed. Breeders and Gay
Posted by: True | 23 October 2008 at 17:56
If black women want to continue to have to contend with, "the DL" keep doing what you are doing. If the black community wants to continue to deal with black men with low self esteem, alcoholism, and drug abuse, keep doing what you are doing. If black are to ever get ahead, we have to to start looking after are own interest and not continue to advance the agenda of the christian conservatives, homophobes, and the privileged few. NO ON PROP!
Posted by: freeleo | 23 October 2008 at 17:57
NO ON PROP 8!
Posted by: freeleo | 23 October 2008 at 17:58
Well said freeleo!
Posted by: Taylor Siluwé | 23 October 2008 at 18:02
Well, some of the good black pastors of San Francisco are not doing the same thing, this past Sunday there was a marriage equality rally at the held at Jones Memorial Methodist Church , and, the best part was what Rev Amos Brown of the Third Avenue Baptist Church said, "We have become that which we hated."
Too bad the fake pastors, arch bishops and cardinals of the other black churches haven't heard this.
Posted by: Luther | 23 October 2008 at 18:04
Taylor,
It all depends on your point of view.
You see the children attending the wedding as a good thing teaching diversity.
Others see it as appalling proof of the gay agenda to indoctrinate the youth.
I saw it as an incredible strategic blunder at this moment in time and expected to be deluged by save the children pleas.
True,
Some of the other forms of marriage being bandied about gay marriage opponents include polygamy, adult-child marriage, and, I kid you not, inter species marriage.
Posted by: Anon | 23 October 2008 at 19:48
Sorry,
True, that last comment should read "being bandied about by gay marriage opponents"
Posted by: Anon | 23 October 2008 at 19:53
we are talking about two consenting adults, and polygamy already exist in this country and around the world. children have no rights nor do animals. this has nothing to do with the point. if you pay taxes the laws should be equal.
Posted by: freeleo | 23 October 2008 at 20:00
Well I say. Being a gay athiest I see no point in joining hetro couples in what amounts to nothing else but a ceremony for all to see. But if they (the gay community) insist upon the "right" to have it then I say let them have it.
Posted by: brucito | 23 October 2008 at 20:17
I agree with your point brucito. I have no desire to get married. This is about civil right.
Posted by: freeleo | 23 October 2008 at 20:38
GURLENE Please do not use profanity. Those words trigger internet filters at workplaces and wifi cafes.
ANON Can you make a screen name? There are several 'Anons' here and its difficult to keep track.
FREELEO, TRUE, TAYLOR Great comments. Thanks for the discussion.
Posted by: Rod Mc | 23 October 2008 at 21:27