Black Ministers, Politicians Meet to Counter Surge in Anti-Gay Sermons

[Catherine Vincent]

NEW YORK (AP) - The words that the Rev. James A. Forbes chose to share with the roomful of black gay and lesbian faithful might have come straight from the civil rights struggles of the 1960s. Forbes reminded his listeners that discrimination has no place in this world and urged them to lay down the notion put forward by some black ministers that they are less favored by God.

"Your job is to get up every day and be grateful to God for your DNA," Forbes said. "It took an artist divine to make this design!"

Forbes, senior minister at the Riverside Church, was among several religious leaders and politicians who attended a revival meeting Sunday aimed at countering what organizers said was a surge in anti-gay rhetoric coming from pulpits in conservative parishes.

The program for the event bore the pictures of 10 black men and women who were murdered, or severely injured, in recent years in attacks believed to have been motivated by their sexual orientation.

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/forbes802

This would be a good start. There are too many blacks that discriminate against gay people and don't even realize that is wrong. My niece in Florida let her pentacostal father in law talk her into voting for Bush because Kerry would allow gay people to marry. The whole family did. And I am sure abortion was in the picture too. I was so mad when my mom told me this. I haven't had a chance to talk to her about that, but the next time she visits, I will.