(CNN) - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on Saturday announced its backing of same-sex marriage, more than a week after President Barack Obama also expressed support for the issue.
"The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure political, social and economic equality of all people," Roslyn M. Brock, chairman of the NAACP's board of directors, said in a statement.
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She added: "We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law."
Following Obama's announcement last week, speculation swirled over whether his decision would spark political backlash among some in the black evangelical community, which has traditionally been against same-sex marriage.
Meanwhile, some prominent African-American religious leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Joseph Lowery, praised Obama's support for same-sex marriage last week.
The NAACP in the recent past has stood in favor of gay rights issues, notably opposing Proposition 8 in California, the Defense of Marriage Act, and North Carolina's constitutional amendment that bans marriage and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.
"Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP's support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people," said the group's president, Benjamin Todd Jealous.
– CNN's Martina Stewart contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Any one who has brain will back, except religion zealotry, uneducated. Canada, Swiss, Germany are doing why not USA.
If Gay Ameicans can serve in the Military and DIE for Americans, then they deserve EVERY equal/civil rights that straight Americans have.
This is the ONLY consistent, non-hypocritical position of the Black community. Our common enemy is HATRED and BIGOTRY.
"The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure political, social, and economic equality of all people." HA that's a funny joke, next you'll be telling me a minority will be charged with a hate crime for killing a white person.
90%+ of blacks are going to vote for Obama no matter what he does or does not do. Yet this blind loyalty is not racist...Obama will be viewed as historians as the most divisive and liberal president in US history, hopefully serving just one term.
Civil rights shoukd be supported by all Americans. Had we "voted" for the Civil Rights Act most of the red states would still practive state-sanctioned segregation.
Interesting how the NAACP backs gay marriage but the Blacks overwhelmingly do not.
Well I'll be darned, they got something right!! Nice!
what a joke this organization has become. Shame on them for not recognizing that perversion isn't a right.
bet all you teabbaggers didn't see that one coming
"The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure political, social and economic equality of all people,"
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Of all people? Has always been their mission? What a load of crap.
NAACP we are with you it"s not nobody bussines what ppl do in their bed room god will judge them.
Well looky here. One protected class created by liberals protecting another protected class created by liberals. Big surprise.
"We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law."
That says it all. Amen.
Long over due.
There must be some mistake. African Americans despise the gay community and have vowed to campaign against Obama. The fine folks on FOX News told me so.
Didn't the NAACP get the memo?
That is great!
Now when is the National Association of Colored People going to change it's name?
The NAACP supports Obama? Really? Never would have believed that in a thousand years. Obama is doing a good job of distracting people from the disaster of HIS economy. He's had it for four years, it's his now and he can't fix it.
what did you expect,, they were told what to do,, they did it,, not a single new thought out of the blacks in 150 years.... just do what the black leader says or what the demo leaders say,,,, not one damn new idea..... and they wonder why they have no respect,,,
The NAACP, nothing more than a pawn of the Democrat party, was bound to make this move. Unfortunately, they have failed to realize the overall lack of progress for the black community and continue to blindly follow the failed policies of Obama.
Funny how after Obama came out of the closet, now the NAACP supports gay marriage too. Really? It is so obvious that it does not matter what comes out of his mouth, they will support him just because he is black. Amazing.
So the NAACP is once again on the right side of history.
NAACP is to be commended for doing the right thing in coming out for marriage equality for everyone.
this is nothing more than an attempt to gain the Bl@ck vote. An historically is socially conservative group and not as accepting of the G@y lifestyle. So in a cynical attemp to shore up this block the NAACP backs the pres to ensure this segment tows the party line.
This story just confirms that blacks are racists. The issues and the situation the US is in under Obama doesn't matter to them. They only want a black man in office. The NAACP isn't as tough as it thinks. Jackson and Lowery need to stop using Rev. in front of their names. They aren't real preachers. If they were they would know what the Bible says and fear God. I say it's time for whites and other races to start fighting back. Gays are gay by choice. Civil rights should not apply because of their preference. Marriage is between a man and a woman. If it was between gays a man could have a baby. Fat chance of that. I'd like Jackson and Lowery to explain that one.