BLACK GAY ACTIVISTS RALLY FOR SSM: From the Chicago Tribune

At 12 years old, Desiree Jones isn't afraid to stand up for her family.

The 6th-grader and her five younger siblings held up a banner reading "Our Moms R People Too! Gay Marriage Now!" on Thursday at a black gay rights activists rally in support of same-sex marriages held outside the Cook County building, 118 N. Clark St.

Desiree said she doesn't understand why some people want to keep her mothers, who have been together four years, from getting married.

"It makes me sad that they can't get married like they want to," Desiree said. "I just want people to know it's our life, and we should be able to live the way we want to."

The dozen or so black gay rights activists who showed up at the rally scolded black pastors who have spoken out against gays having the right to marry.

"Just because Bishop [Larry] Trotter, Rev. [James] Meeks and other black preachers believe that gay folks are second-class citizens in their churches, it does not mean that they can make us second-class citizens in this city, state or country," said Rev. Karen Hutt, pastor of Church of the Open Door/United Church of Christ. ...

Hutt, who displayed photos of gay couples' civil union ceremonies performed at her church, said a large number of gay couples are already in married relationships, even if they aren't recognized by the government. She said the couples are contributing members of communities throughout Chicago. ...

Paul Robeson Ford, a heterosexual University of Chicago graduate student who supports gay rights, said the black church shouldn't discourage gays from forming stable, healthy families.

"For too long now the black church has ignored the gay community as if it didn't exist," he said.

Desiree's mother, LaKeesha Harris, 29, said she wished the government would recognize her and her partner's commitment to each other and the family they've built.

"It poses such a huge financial burden for us," she said. "We have jobs. We have a regular family, and we just want to be treated as such."

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posted by Eve at 11:35 PM | link

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