data=”http://www.youtube.com/v/xZrYT5igYus?fs=1″>You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video
Also check out the exclusive Obama interview with The Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld, who will be moving to the new group Equality Matters.
Wayne Besen is the Founding Executive Director of Truth Wins Out and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth” (Haworth, 2003). In 2010, Besen was awarded the “Visionary Award” at the Out Music Awards for organizing the American Prayer Hour, an event which shined a spotlight on the role American evangelicals played in the introduction of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
He needs to be told how harmful his continuing “struggle” is. He has in the past said on multiple occasions that his religious beliefs keep him from favoring marital rights for gay people. That gives the anti-gay religious extremists all they need to continue their campaigns of hate. In communities where those extremists have the upper hand, gay Americans are being tortured on a daily basis. Obama’s statements against gay marriage were used successfully in robocalls in California on Prop. 8. LBJ did not say that he had to struggle with whether African-Americans should have full legal equality – what are we – chopped liver?
I’m not sure why he has to “struggle” so much. It’s not as though this effects him personally in any way (except maybe at the polls). It’s interesting that he continues to push for “seperate but equal”. I have a feeling he will come to think marriage equality is right–but (conveniently for him) it might not be till he’s out of office or safely elected to a second term.
I don’t know why he thinks his religion conflicts with marriage equality for LGBT persons. He is a member of the United Church of Christ, which is one of the few Christian denominations that actually performs same-sex weddings.