DES MOINES, Iowa — The Rev. Keith Ratliff, president of the Iowa and Nebraska conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has resigned over the group’s national board resolution in support of same-sex marriage.
Ratliff, pastor of Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church in Des Moines, has long been an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage, and said he has been struggling with the group’s vote during a leadership retreat last month.
Rev. Keith Ratliff
On May 18, the NAACP passed a resolution endorsing marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Ratliff has previously complained that gay rights activists had “hijacked” the civil rights debate, reported the Des Moines Register.
“There is no parallel” between gay rights activism and the civil rights movement of the 1960s, said Ratliff, whose church has a predominately black membership.
“That is an insult to the civil rights movement.” He added, “Deviant behavior is not the same thing as being denied your right to vote.”
The NAACP resolution — coming on the heels of President Barack Obama’s historic support for marriage equality, and subsequent polling on the issue among African-Americans — stated that it was demanded by the equal protection guarantees written into the U.S. Constitution.
“When people ask why the NAACP stands firmly for marriage equality, we say that we have always stood against laws which demean, dehumanize, or discriminate against any person in this great country. That is our legacy,” said Roslyn Brock, chairman of the NAACP’s board, in a statement last month elaborating on board’s decision to support marriage equality.
Ratliff’s Iowa/Nebraska Conference includes NAACP branches in Lincoln, Omaha, Ames, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines and Sioux City.
Filed under: Iowa
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see ya bitch!
equality is NOT for everyone dumb ass…guess who WALKEd for YOUR equality? the GLBT community
dont let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!
You’d think more African American people would understand a cause like this, considering that it wasn’t too long ago historically speaking that we were much in the same position. The Civil Rights struggle is *long* from over, except it’s moved from color to sexual orientation. It is *no different.* How dare he quit over this. He of all people should understand exactly why the NAACP stands with the LGBT community.
Everybody’s equal, but some of us are more equal than others.
tired old bigot
buh-bye!
Good riddens.
NAACP, as long as you’re not gay? Ugh I cannot believe people!
I think Adam White hit it right on the head. Ratliff of all people should know what it means to have to fight for equality.
Well said Adam…LOL. Send me a friend request. Anyhoo the Rev. like so many other “Religous Loons” use their religion to justify their hatred of gay people. I hope the Rev. comes to his senses SOON…SMDH
If u compare the LGBT struggle to that for civil rights, u will start a firestorm of complaining from SOME African-American leaders.
Good for him!
let teh bigots resign..
Awww … to bad….
The civil rights movement has so many parallels to the LGBT rights movement. In both cases people are being subjugated and marginalized. If you can’t see that, your blind beyond hope
Again, I’m reminded of the guy who said “What’s next, penguin rights?” It’s “apples and oranges,” true, if you compare the historical details, but who made this a contest?
Bye bye bigot!
Sad. But there are bigots in every group. Sooner or later they reveal themselves. . .
Wow. Ill be at the conference in houston happier than ever!
No homo haters? Fine by me! I work for naacp and was glad they officially came out and supported lgbtq community.
http://www.imageleech.net/data/media/1/well_bye_2.jpg
“When people ask why the NAACP stands firmly for marriage equality, we say that we have always stood against laws which demean, dehumanize, or discriminate against any person in this great country. That is our legacy,” said Roslyn Brock, chairman of the NAACP’s board, in a statement last month elaborating on board’s decision to support marriage equality.
Complete and total nut-job.