Bayard Rustin: Black Americans can't ignore openly gay icon's contribution to civil rights movement

May 16, 2012 - President Obama's announcement that he supports gay marriage has provoked a spirited debate about whether or not African-Americans will continue to support him this November. Some black clergy have openly denounced President Obama's position. Maryland State Delegate and Baptist minister Emmett Burns has publicly gone on record declaring that Obama will lose his re-election bid, even accusing the president of turning his back on his black constituency.

On the other hand, Rev. Otis Moss, III, of Trinity Baptist Church in Chicago, the Obamas' former church once headed by the controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright, wrote in an open letter in support of the president, saying, "There is no doubt people who are same-gender-loving who [sic] occupy prominent places in the body of Christ."  Read more at thegrio.com.

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