Kasim Reed says he’s still ‘wrestling with my beliefs’ on gay marriage
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed this evening said he’s not ready to follow President Barack Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage, declaring he was still “wrestling with my own personal beliefs.”
Here’s his statement:
“I respect President Obama’s decision to stand in support of marriage equality. I have fought hard for the rights of gays and lesbians my entire political career, from protecting adoption rights for gay and lesbian families, to voting against Georgia’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage as a state senator, to serving as the state house sponsor for the only hate crimes bill ever passed in the state of Georgia.
“While I am still wrestling with my own personal beliefs on the issue of marriage, I deeply appreciate the contributions gays and lesbians make to our city every single day and I remain committed to Atlanta’s vibrant and diverse LGBT community.”
Local petitions like this one on Facebook, urging Reed to hurry up and “evolve,” are already pushing the issue.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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165 comments Add your comment
Grace
May 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
I’m gay, God made me this way, and God is good. It’s people who muck up what God wanted to teach us. It baffles and angers me that so many so-called religious people – black people – and all people who have historically been discriminated against for the same reasons used today, continue to dehumanize and brutalize gay people. And use religion and personal bias to excuse their blatantly bigoted “beliefs.” Gay people do not have the same civil rights as does any other citizen in this country. Gay people do not have civil rights – housing, military, employment. Soon we won’t be asking for civil rights. No more asking.
P
May 10th, 2012
10:57 pm
Let’s put the bible in context (something most Christians never do). There are 3 verses attributed to being anti-gay; 1Cor6:9-10 and 1Tim1:8-11, the first two religious scholars cannot be certain Paul was referring to gays or male prostitution, and Rom1:26-27. All three also mention adultery, liars, revelers, drunks in the same boat. And none mention anything about marriage as between only a man and a woman. By the way, if you are Christian and cite the teachings of Paul and the New Testament as your proof don’t even reference the Old Testament since Paul said it was null and void because Jesus died for our sins and the rose from the dead (ask your priest about that). You should also read 1Cor7:8-9 on what Paul’s thoughts on marriage were in general. Opps, when you actually read and study the WHOLE bible and not just versus it starts to paint a different picture then what Religion tries to tell us, of course that is why they refer to their followers as “sheep”!
Morons
May 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
OedipusTax – what a gawd-awful moron you are! hahahahahahahahaha
Double Standard
May 10th, 2012
11:13 pm
Interesting to me that Kasim Reed, a black man, can stand up and say that he does not support gay marriage – should I remind you, Sir, of the days that your people had to ride separate buses and use separate bathrooms? Remember those days, when you all cried for help and yelled “discrimination!” because you were treated differently? HOW IS THIS ANY DIFFERENT?
Student
May 10th, 2012
11:14 pm
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law.
I have learned a great deal from these posts and will try to share this knowledge
with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual
lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly
states it to be an abomination. … End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of
God’s Law and how to follow them.
When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They
claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus
21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2.
The passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself?
A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I
don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there ‘degrees’ of abomination?
Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a
defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my
vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27.
How should they die?
I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different
crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two
different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse
and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of
getting the whole town together to stone them? – Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we
just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people
who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
All of you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable
expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.
GAY IS NOT A CHOICE
May 10th, 2012
11:15 pm
For all you morons out there who believe and think gay is a choice, let me ask you a question: WHEN DID YOU CHOOSE TO BE STRAIGHT?
td
May 10th, 2012
11:20 pm
What rights are being violated by states saying that marriage is between and man and a woman? There is no rights being violated and the one think Obama said yesterday that I agree with is who can and can not get married is a states decision and the Federal government should stay out of it.
WRONG
May 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
TD, you do realize you live in the UNITED STATES, correct? Look up the definition of UNITED. How can we stand by our name if even our own states don’t stand united on issues like this, and of course many others. Leaving it up to the states only further segregates this country.
People
May 10th, 2012
11:28 pm
Get a grip, neighbors. Let’s find our commonalities instead of our differences. Of course we’re all different. We’re each complex and layered human beings. Can’t we stop trying to make it right and wrong, you vs. me, blah-blah-blah. We may not agree on religion or politics, but for the love of humanity – please let’s help one another and help ourselves to grow. Underneath it all we have the same values and want the same things. Do volunteer work, or something meaningful. Time is short. Change what you can. Start with yourself.
td
May 10th, 2012
11:41 pm
WRONG
May 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
Every state already has different laws about marriage. States have different age requirements. Some states have medical requirement before marriage. Some states say what degree of relationship a couple must be to marry.
States also have different laws on all sorts of issues. The age of consent is different in many different states, drinking laws are different and now in some states you can smoke pot and some states you go to jail for the same offense.
United States means we have some common areas that the Federal government handles for all the states (Defense, foreign policy…). Those are clearly defined in the Constitution. The rest of the laws are left up to the individual states as long as they do not infringe on Constitutional rights and protections. Marriage is not one of these rights or protections so it is left to the individual states and will remain so (as Obama correctly stated) unless the SCOTUS makes a judgement that it is a Federal matter or there is a Constitutional amendment to change the Constitution.
Mel
May 11th, 2012
12:13 am
WRONG, you are so right.
I have often wondered why the black community isn’t so accepting of homosexuals or gay marriage. They should know what discrimination feels like and agree to stand against it.
And so far, nobody has been able to give any explanations of how two people (of any sex) getting married negatively affects them. If what two other people do in their own lives affects your own marriage or your own belief system that much, neither were that strong to begin with.
President Obama, do the right thing. Make it legal everywhere.
Oblama
May 11th, 2012
12:54 am
Ignorance is rampant among the unbelievers…… God will judge you when the time comes and I pray you open your heart and eyes to the TRUTH. God gives you free will – use it wisely.
Oblama
May 11th, 2012
12:57 am
Mel – Sorry but Oblama may pick and choose the laws he wishes to uphold he has NO power to make laws – he’s not a dictator yet.
Oblama
May 11th, 2012
1:11 am
News Flash:: Opposing homosexual marriage does not make you a hater of homosexuals. Just like opposing marriage between humans and their pets does not make you a hater of pets. This election is about the economy, jobs and how to reduce this alarming multi trillion dollar Fed debt. All the rest is smoke and mirrors to distract us from what is most important for the survival of this country. As for comparing racial issues and sexual preference issues- sorry but they are completely different issues and comparing them is a sham.
Leslie
May 11th, 2012
1:18 am
I totally disagree as God destroyed the world because of homosexuality as this is an abomination. God created men to love, care, honor and respect women as homosexuality is forbidden as it is a cursed world. People expect God to accept everything they do but when they change his laws and show him no respect, or disobedience his way will prevail or humankind will pay an expensive yet deadly price. Although I have nothing against homosexuals it is the one law that should be upheld regardless of all temptations. As we live in a world that worships the love of money, materials and lasciviousness over humankind and forgot about what it means to show compassion for the next person less fortunate. Jesus came to this world as a sacrifice to God that humans are obedient to his words and law but approving gay marriage contradicts the reasons for his death. Again, its an abomination
Tiessa
May 11th, 2012
1:22 am
Although President Barack Obama feels that supporting gay-marriage is an awakening for an American dream waiting to happen, I disagree as this is a total abomination that rebukes the sacrifices of God the creator of all living and mortal things. In the beginning which should never be forgotten, God created man to love, care and honor a woman. After his destruction of the world was due to homosexuality it is a lesson to mankind to never tempt his ways in the future. Its never to late for God to destroy the world as the end is nearer than most people imagine. Homosexuality is one situation that does not need to be released as it is like unleashing Satan from the pit. You never know what God will do to this world as he watches in both approval and disapproval of all people rich, poor, middle or disabled. As this world is way past the honor and love of God because people worship fame, money, lasciviousness and put materials before his words or law. No man regardless of wealth, degree, or fame is above God as we are constantly lead to believe these things.
Tiessa
May 11th, 2012
1:32 am
No one has the right to compare the discrimination of African Americans to the unethical actions of being homosexual as these are two different situations as the children of Israel underwent racial injustices. When it comes to homosexuality it is forbidden as a law and rule of God (Jehovah) no one has the authority to break, disobey or dishonor his laws or rules.
For the wages of all sins is death, and its sad I had a male cousin to be homosexual he died due to AIDS. He fought a tough battle with the disease that claimed his young twenty-eight year-old life and later confessed that he was gay, yet was a married man with child. So matter what the world wants to create the world has a creator God and his first destruction of his world was because of seeing homosexuality, something that he wholeheartedly disapproves.
Miamis
May 11th, 2012
1:38 am
God is already merciful with the United States as he spared people from droughts, floods, tornadoes, earth-quakes, oil leakage, wars now we are tempting him as we are defying his laws and rules as allowing gay-marriage as law of man. What is written in stone and blood should not be removed as God’s law will never change therefore its not lawful that man breaks it.
Shells
May 11th, 2012
2:09 am
There is no rational reason to consider homosexuality “evil” or “disordered” or “unnatural”. It harms no one, it produces love and happiness, and it’s found in over 100 other species. It’s obviously not a choice, either – I know I never chose to be straight, but if I had had a choice, it would be stupid to choose the choice that shrinks your dating pool and makes so many people hate you.
The only objection to homosexuality stems from religion, which is every bit as irrational as the stone-age moral system it has codified into ritual and superstition. When people tell me how Christianity is all about love, I have to chuckle a little bit before remembering how much damage and hate it creates every day without any reason, evidence, or logic behind it or its moral proclamations whatsoever.
larry
May 11th, 2012
5:26 am
talk about not standing for anything at all – the mayor is a coward -he needs to do some more thinking after all this time- come on Mayor Reid-time to become a man one way or the other-or play it safe and admit that you go both ways and come on out of that dirty little closet that you are cowering in lol
Madison
May 11th, 2012
7:52 am
Let’s go over a few “sins” that, in my experience, does much more to damage the American family. Gluttony and Substance abuse (alcoholism): Remember the “your body is a temple?” Obesity and judgment impairing consumption wrecks havoc on the family. Just drop in to your local family court to watch.
Adultry: Studies show that the fallout from infidelity is one of the most life altering events for families, even adult children of cheaters suffer emotional distress for the rest of their lives.
We love to vilify public figures who commit these sins, but I suspect anti-gay sermons FAR outnumber anti adultery sermons in the fundamentalist churches of our nation.
One other interesting fact, the religion most closely associated with the conservative movement is represented in Georgia prisons at a rate twice that of its representation in the general population.
Tom
May 11th, 2012
8:14 am
Here’s the real issue regarding these “marriage amendments”…..
They’re not within the proper and intended purpose and scope of a constitution. Our form of government uses laws to restrict activities and constitutions to prevent said laws from infringing upon the rights of individuals or classes of individuals.
The popularity of these so-called “marriage amendments” is the attempt to change the rules when playing by the rules hasn’t been working. Anti-gay marriage groups haven’t been able to draft legislation banning gay marriage that wasn’t highly-susceptible to constitutional challenges on the basis of being discriminatory (unconstitutional). So…what do they do? They work to change the “rules”…the constitution.
It’s like when your little brother got tired of losing to you in Monopoly. What did he do?…well…after crying and complaining to your mom and all the other standard stuff? he announced that he was changing the rules.
These “marriage amendments” are improper and, like other various amendments to constitutions throughout U.S. history (both at the state and U.S. level) which tried to do the job of laws rather than the job of the protection of rights, will all eventually be repealed.
Don't Tread
May 11th, 2012
8:29 am
Sounds like he needs to put his “beliefs” aside and toe the party line.
joe725
May 11th, 2012
8:44 am
Agree with ND–can we talk about real issues–getting out of Afghanistan quickly before we spend another 180 Billion–personal freedom–let them do what they want–we won’t “catch” anything from them marrying–
Dorothy
May 11th, 2012
8:56 am
Kasim, come out, come out wherever you are.
Kasim? Is he a Muslim?
td
May 11th, 2012
9:11 am
Tom
May 11th, 2012
8:14 am
Good argument but it is totally wrong. Show us where being able to get married is a protected right in the Constitution? If it is not a protected right then all of your assumptions are fact less.
clyde
May 11th, 2012
9:12 am
Wrestle away,Kasim.
When gay marriage becomes legal my wife and I are contemplating divorce and then just living together.
Tom
May 11th, 2012
9:15 am
td
You’re off on a tangent. There is no right to marry in the Constitution (U.S. or other, afaik), but that’s not the point. Constitutions are intended to (in part) restrict the government from instituting any law that infringes upon the rights of life, liberty, property, etc, of any person or class of persons.
Not every right you have is specifically enumerated in any constitution.
Rick James
May 11th, 2012
9:19 am
@Cutty
Hell there are rumors out there that Kasim was a homosexual. I have been hearing that for years
——————————————————————————————————————————
Me too Cutty..
Lynn
May 11th, 2012
9:20 am
@Truth Spoken: it must be very hard to be your sister.
Richard
May 11th, 2012
9:21 am
I love that phrase: “While I am still wrestling with my own personal beliefs on the issue of marriage…”
Mr. Reed has missed the point. First of all, I’m sure his personal feelings on marriage aren’t in question. Everyone has their personal beliefs, and by the time we’re around 30-years-old, they don’t change much.
Mr. Reed needs to realize that this is about one question: Can a free society that is supposed to apply laws to everyone in the same manner justify restricting legal protections to a specific group of people based on religious views?
Intown
May 11th, 2012
9:24 am
Dear Mayor Reed: Come out on the right side of history. Support the civil rights of gay human beings. You’ll never win state-wide office anywway, no matter how careful you’ve been to chart a bipartisan course in your career. You’ve got a “D” after your name.
td
May 11th, 2012
9:29 am
Tom
May 11th, 2012
9:15 am
“government from instituting any law that infringes upon the rights of life, liberty, property, etc,”
Really, then please explain how the Federal government and state governments allows abortions? You are talking about being able to feel good about gays being married totally protected by the declaration of independence but on the other hand our government is sanctioning the taking of human life is not protected.
You see the holes in your argument?
td
May 11th, 2012
9:30 am
Intown
May 11th, 2012
9:24 am
Please show us where the marriage is a civil right or even a right?
Morning Reads: Friday 5/11/12 Edition — Peach Pundit
May 11th, 2012
9:32 am
[...] Kasim Reed doesn’t appear ready to evolve on gay marriage. [...]
Tom
May 11th, 2012
9:32 am
By the way, even with Loving v. Virginia nullifying the remaining miscegenation laws in 16 states in 1967, it wasn’t until 1998 and 2000 that the States of South Carolina and Alabama, respectively, officially removed the anti-miscegenation language from their constitutions.
td
May 11th, 2012
9:33 am
Richard
May 11th, 2012
9:21 am
We do not protect the rights of the unborn and allow the murder of millions of unborn children each and every year.
Where is marriage a right for anyone?
Tom
May 11th, 2012
9:35 am
btw, from the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Loving v. Virginia 388 U.S. 1 (1967)….
“Marriage is one of the ‘basic civil rights of man,’ fundamental to our very existence and survival…. To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State’s citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not to marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.”
Taipei Personality
May 11th, 2012
9:37 am
Coach at 8:27 – Exactly!
double
May 11th, 2012
9:38 am
Not all divorces are an abomination-Not so with homosexuality-All depend on how much you tithe-You can judge a man by how he treats his dog.
Jerome Horwitz
May 11th, 2012
9:39 am
I believe the Bible also calls for avoiding pork and shellfish because they are unclean and the stoning of adulterers. So if you believe in what the Bible says better stay away from that BBQ joint and Red Lobster. And maybe you should stand in line to toss a few rocks newt’s way. Can’t pick and choose – either you believe or you don’t. Bunch of BS hypocites who use the Bible to justify being a BIGOT. You people act like stupidity, arrogance, and ignorance are virtues.
td
May 11th, 2012
9:40 am
Tom
May 11th, 2012
9:35 am
Race is protected in the Constitution by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments. Where is gay marriage protected? This SCOTUS is not going to stretch and pull same sex rights into a racial decision as precedents.
Tom
May 11th, 2012
9:44 am
Famous last words, td…..famous last words.
Where is any marriage protected?
Again, I will stand by my prediction that all of these “marriage amendments” will be repealed/overturned within my remaining lifetime (and I’m in my 50’s).
willmentor
May 11th, 2012
9:47 am
Why are we using government to legislate this? It is shameful. There are to many other problems that we have in this country. I belive that homosexuality is wrong. If they want to be together in a common union, call it that and not marriage. That is something that belongs to heterosexual couple. We have lost the meaning of he word if gay and lesbian couples can use this word as a bond. It is sad that we have to make a point to understand the homosexual community but at the same time they don’t want to respect us and keep marriage between a man a woman. I don’t go around having staying in parties because I’m heterosexual. All of this attention for what? If you want to be homosexual – fine be that way. Just don’t look to me for approval because I most certainly don’t look for anyone elses’ in my marriage.
look or you might just miss it
May 11th, 2012
9:48 am
all these post remind me of this joke (by the way I am horrible at jokes so I know I will butcher this one)
A guy is out fishing one morning and all of a sudden his boat starts taking on water. A fellow fisherman comes by and asks the guy is he needs any help. The fisherman replied, no thank you God will provide. A few minutes later a ferry boat passes by and offers assistance but once again the fisherman replies, no thank you God will provide. An hour goes by and the boat is taking on more and more water when a rescue helicopter comes by to offer assistance and to their amazement, the fisherman once again refuses the help. Eventually the boat sinks and the fisherman drowns. The fisherman wakes up in a daze and is face to face with God and before God can speak the fisherman begins to question where he was in his time of need. God quickly replies that he tried sending a fisherman, a ferry and a helicopter for help but he refused them all. Don’t let religion blind you…..
willmentor
May 11th, 2012
9:51 am
@ Jerome Horwitz . It is evident you stopped reading the Bible too early. God said whatever he created was clean. That was put to rest a long time ago. You want to talk about ignorance…Ha! I laugh as you look in the mirror to find out what true ignorance is.
willmentor
May 11th, 2012
9:57 am
Thank you North Carolina for passing Ammendment 1. Follow the example Georgia. We don’t hate you just because we don’t agree with you LGBT.
Aaron Burr V Mexico
May 11th, 2012
10:04 am
Truly Dorkish talking about ‘litmus tests’ for the Democratic party is also hilarious.
The South = TRASH
May 11th, 2012
10:13 am
@ willmentor – this is exactly why people are leaving GA and NC by the numbers. Atlanta is no longer the desired city it was 6-7-8 years ago. While being gay is NOT a choice, choosing where you reside IS a choice, and why live surrounded by backwards redne*ks, ghetto blacks, crooked pastors, corrupt police departments, closet mayors, etc etc etc. when there are far better places to live, like California and Colorado, where the state actually provides equal protection because they recognize that gay is NOT a choice and they choose to view you as an equal citizen. Some of the states in the south don’t even have provisions regarding hate crimes – talk about backwards. The best decision I ever made in my life was leaving that dump of a city, Atlanta. Good riddance!
Listen up!
May 11th, 2012
10:14 am
There are two aspects of some marriages: spiritual (religious) and legal. When I married my first husband, we were in a church amongst friends family and God taking our vows. In the eyes of the church and God, we were married. However, according to the state, we were not married until the minister signed the license and returned it to the clerk’s office. Its the legal aspect of this that is the debate. Atheist marry every day and they have absolutely no belief in God whatsoever! But their union is legal and recognized. Let’s just get this out of the way. I am a Christian trying to work out my own soul’s salvation! While it is our mission to tell others about Christ, we are not Christ and we can’t save anyone nor send anyone to hell. I believe the act of homosexuality is biblically wrong. However, I also believe that these things in and of themselves is not going to condemn anyone. David was considered a man after God’s own heart, but guess what? He committed adultery with Bathsheba, got her pregnant, tried to get her husband to sleep with her to hide the fact that he was the father and then when that didn’t work, he sent the man to the frontlines of war and he was killed. God punished David, but continued to bless him throughout his life. Thank God we humans don’t decide because we all live in glass houses! I digress…two men or two women marrying is not going to diminish my covenant with God and my husband any more than an atheist. Before anyone jumps on the fact that I said first husband, let me clarify. My first husband didn’t take his covenant as seriously as I did and decided to explore other women. The bible does recognize a divorce where adultery is involved. I am now happily married to a man that does take it seriously and we been moving along quite nicely for almost 11 years now!