Given that blacks and evangelicals are extremely loyal to their respective parties, the issue presents intriguing possibilities to political strategists.
A May 7 memo by Republican pollster Richard Wirthlin calls a federal marriage amendment "an ideal wedge issue." It says supporting such an amendment "does not alienate the base" while potentially peeling a percentage of African-Americans away from the Democrats.
"In sum," the memo concludes, "it is an issue that if handled properly can work very much to the advantage of Republican candidates, if it gains some visibility prior to the 2004 election."
Democrats acknowledge that theoretically, they could lose black votes. But they say it's unlikely.
"There's a real phenomenon here," said William Galston, professor of civic engagement at the University of Maryland and a former domestic policy official for the Clinton administration. "But what is also the case is African-Americans tend to be cross-pressured on a range of issues and are
intensely suspicious of relationships that take them where they don't want to go."
Consider the Rev. Walter Fauntroy. In a long career of religious and political activism, he organized civil rights marches with Martin Luther King Jr., went to Congress as a District of Columbia delegate and helped found the Congressional Black Caucus.
Fauntroy supports the marriage amendment idea. He does so, he says, because the family unit in the African-American community is already under assault, and changing marriage only worsens the situation.
"I'm unalterably opposed to anything that redefines marriage as anything other than an institution for two purposes, the socialization of children and the perpetuation of the species," he said.
Fauntroy is a spokesman for the Alliance for Marriage, a nonpartisan group pushing the marriage amendment. The alliance also has been endorsed by two large, predominantly black denominations: the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Church of God in Christ. That gives the uphill push
for a constitutional amendment "special credibility," said alliance president Matt Daniels, because a key argument for gay marriage is that it's an extension of the civil rights movement.
While important, the issue is rarely discussed in black neighborhoods, Fauntroy said.
"When I step outside the door of this church, nobody is going to ask me, 'Rev, what do you think about gay marriage?' That may be a nice discussion in some places, but it isn't on the radar screen here. People here are saying, 'Lord, have mercy, I don't have health care; I need more income.' And, 'Reverend, get my boy out of jail; all he had was an ounce while the guys pushing it only got a misdemeanor.'"
In contrast, conservative activists say concern about gay marriage is electrifying the evangelical Christian community, rivaling abortion as an issue. Oct. 12-18 has been deemed "Marriage Protection Week," with pastors encouraged to preach about marriage and voters urged to call their representatives in support of the constitutional amendment.
Gary Bauer, a 2000 presidential candidate who now directs the group American Values, said, "I have not seen in 30 years of battle an issue resonating like this one."
© 2003 Religion News Service.
