Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris this week thanked leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church for their support and told them she is determined to move the country forward, but that is not what church leaders want when it comes to gay marriage.
A.M.E. Church leaders voted Wednesday at their 52nd quadrennial convention in Columbus, Ohio, to reject a bill that would have ended the A.M.E. Church's ban on gay marriage.
One Addressing the conference attendees That same day, Harris criticized Republicans for trying to push the country backwards.
“We are faced with a choice between two very different visions for our country's future. One is ours, which is focused on the future. The other is focused on the past,” Harris told attendees. “But we will not back down.”
Gay marriage was legalized by the federal government in 2015.
The AME Church is a predominantly black church based in the US. It began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries due to racial animosity between black and white followers in the Methodist Church. Today, 92% of the AME Church's followers identify as Democrats. Survey firm Pew Research Center gave this information.
AME Church leaders have been credited with playing a key role in getting President Biden elected in 2020 and have repeated their support this year. Campaigned with major Democratic candidates.
Although the church has a vast network of Democratic adherents, its stance on gay marriage differs from the official stance of the Democratic Party.
In 2004, church leaders issued a statement indicating that same-sex marriage was contrary to their interpretation of the Bible. According to the Human Rights Campaign, An LGBTQ advocacy non-profit organization.
more recently, Internal disagreements There is a wide swath of opinion on the issue, exemplified by Wednesday's vote to repeal the Church's gay marriage ban, which saw 896 votes in the negative and 722 in the affirmative.
While Harris doesn't seem concerned with the AME Church's stance on gay marriage, she has some harsh words for Republicans on other “anti-equality” measures.
Earlier, he called Republican lawmakers “extremists” who sought to prevent biological males from using girls’ restrooms, limit public drag shows open to minors and restrict transgender care to adults only.
“These so-called leaders have proposed and passed over 75 new anti-equality bills across our country,” Harris said at a Pride Month event Last year.
Meanwhile, Republicans have derided Harris as a “political chameleon” who changes her policy positions for political purposes.
The Harris campaign did not respond to questions about whether the vice president was aware of the AME Church's stance on gay marriage before filming her message that played at the convention or whether she still supports marriage rights for gay couples. The AME Church hung up when Fox News Digital tried to reach out.
“This is the most important election of our lifetimes,” Harris told attendees Wednesday, thanking them “profoundly” for their support and efforts to get out the vote. Harris made no mention of LGBTQ issues during her brief message, but spoke about economic, health and religious freedom issues. She urged attendees to “do everything possible to move our country forward.”
“As explained in the Gospel of Luke, faith has the power to shed light on those in darkness and guide our steps onto the path of peace. In moments like these, faith guides us forward. Faith in the promise of America: freedom, opportunity, and justice – not for some, but for all.”
