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Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed did his first national interview discussing his decision to change his stance on Gay Marriage today on MSNBC.
[READ: Atlanta Ranks Amongst Top 10 on U.S. Gayest Cities List... ]
Reed made an announcement earlier this week, stating he went through considerable personal reflection on the issue and changed his mind after discussions with Atlanta’s lesbian and gay communities, as well as his own father and chief of staff.
“This seems to me to be a natural place to be,” Reed said.
“Candidly, I didn’t feel any pressure. … If I wanted to play politics, I would have done it when I was in third place in the mayoral election [in 2009] and in front of the gay and lesbian community saying I was not supportive of marriage equality. … As a result of that, I suffered great political harm.”
Video of Mayor Reed’s interview below…
My evolvement, if you will, really occurred around moving from civil unions to being comfortable with marriage. And that’s where I ended up, and I intend to carry that message all over Georgia.
Reed also offered new detail on how his longtime friendship with Atlanta attorney Lee Schreter and her partner informed his switch:
They invited me to their wedding in New York and I was conflicted. I did not go because I would have felt like a hypocrite. But it did cause me to think more and more and then I talked to my dad, and he and I have been talking about this issue for some time. I also talked to my chief of staff who is a very religious woman.
And I concluded that there is a difference between marriage and civil unions, and rights that come with marriage. And if you really believe in equal protection, then gay and lesbian couples deserve the same equal protection under the Constitution that you do or I do.
There you have it. Mayor Reed is now on board to making Gay Marriage a reality in Georgia.
Thoughts?
Hey they are humans too who are we as humans to judge..to each is own..let them people so they thang..
In my "Wendy Williams Voice" How U doing Kaseem Reed"…..Things that make you go hummmm???
There has been an all out assault against Blacks to support the perversion of gay marriage since Obama supported it for political reasons….
I don’t believe in gay marriage and I won’t start just because some opportunist politician supports it….
Everyone has a right to support it or not support it…..
I still think gays are mentally sick. There is nothing natural about any of this shit and I hope Kasim has enough gays in his corner now for his reelection because I doubt any of the Christians will be voting for him.
There has been an assault on Christianity in this country for a while now. SMH.
Thats right and he should have stood is ground. God don’t like that at all. No they are not born that way. God don’t bring you here to go to hell. Its a choice
I love my gays but I do not support gay marriage…Ugh!! Im so happy to be moving away from Atl.
Sorry gays but marriage just doesnt make any sense for you all. This is not how God created us.Its fine if you are gay..but forcing everyone else to accept your sexualilty is just wrong! What about the KIDS gay people..do you think about how this is going to mentally effect our children of this country? This country is going into darkness.
you are exactly right!! You are exactly 1000% right!!
Shedad:
Yesss… What about the kids??? What about the hundreds of them that commit suicide every year because of sexuality??? Or, what about the people who want to be loved and to express love to others but r told they r wrong???
The other part of this is, what’s funny is people have nothing to say about fucking and having babies out of wedlock… As I recall that’s a sin too… There is more of that going on than gayness but noooobody has anything to say about that cause it’s common practice for u straight people that love God so much that you r willing to overlook the other sins to stand up for righteousness of reproducing.
Leaving Atlanta??? Gay people r everywhere dear…
Dana T.
Free Mind:
Really?! This is for you and anyone who thinks the way u do about this issue. Ummm… First off, Civil Unions r not marriages. Secondly, Society is set up to favor and advance couples who r married. They get insurance benefits, tax breaks and work benefits. This entire issue is about money. We (Gay people) pay the most in everything and really don’t have benefits to our advantage. If I’m with my friend for 25 or more years during which time we have purchased homes and cars and have money here and there, he dies, his family can step in an kick me out of our house and take our things and there is nothing I can do about it. This issue has nothing to do with religion.
Dana T.
It has everything to do with God (…but not religion). God made marriages for a reason:to procreate and set a solid foundation for the children we are raising. Not so you could get tax benifits! I wish it was another way for you all to get the benefits of being married… without the HOLY matrimony.
God gave humans marriage…and now you want to control it because you choose to be gay? Thats your choice we can’t change what gave made up for us human..His children. I mean do you really think "we" as humans were smart enough to make us MARRIAGE all by ourselves? Yea freaking right.
To hell in a handbasket is the next step!
I agree:)
America buying a one way ticket
America is Babylon and America will fall. There is too much shit going on in this country.
I think they just just do it. I mean look how long it took just for interracial marriages to be alright. People love who they love. The people against it act like the folks are sleeping in the bed with them!
Ugh! It irks me when people equate homosexuality with just what goes on in the bedroom. That entire lifestyle is an abomination. And what I hate the absolute most about it is they get with people who can’t get them pregnant or have their baby, and then decide they want one. WTF??? More confused kids..just what we all need. Ain’t nothing ‘natural’ about 2 people of the same sex being in a relationship. They can miss me with all that ‘born this way’ stuff. That is an evil spirit straight from Hell. That’s where it came from and that’s where it’s going back to.
You said all that needs to be said about it in your statement.
Pretty soon Bestiality will become normal. Pedophilia will become normal. Shit, everything that was wrong in this country is now becoming right. The more people move away from the Bible, the more corrupt this country is getting. Pretty soon Christians will be bashed because of their religion. America is done.
Tb:
Christianity will b done??? Christianity has survived much worse and has done much worse… Tolerance. Is that anywhere in your formula about the degradation of the country, of the world?
Dana T.
That’s right!! Amen to that!! Im so sick of the "gay rights" propaganda as well…its is an abomination and God is not pleased!!
chile please:
Do you know that there r thousands, I mean thousand of black children n the system. No one wants them… You get it… NO ONE WANTS THEM…
While you and some of the others r on your crusades about how nasty gay people r n particularly if ur going to mention children being adopted, then be pro active and you and your friends and their churches go out and adopt these children that no one wants except gay people. I mean adopt them and raise them, not give money to charities or hospitals and turn your backs with the feeling of fulfillment cause you think you’ve done something. Don’t judge gay people in particularly the ones who really care about the children that your sista’s and brotha’s fuck, have them and then turn their backs on.
CRUSADE ABOUT THAT!!!
U guys should b ashamed…
Dana T.
*Stands up and Applauds…well said, Dana.
I can stand up and applaud to that…..so true…they just all talk…especially Christian….. they got it bad!!
@Nikki…
Not ALL Christians. If you are homosexual you belong to a certain category of people and are often stereotyped, looked down upon, bashed etc. Please don’t categorize all of what some ignorant mean spirited people say that claim Christianity. This Christian loves all people doesn’t matter what you bring to the table. My desire is the same as Christ and that is to show love. Yes, people can be born gay because the bible tells us that we are born into sin as a Christian my goal/desire for anyone livinging in sin is to be born again, spiritually that is. To be gay is a sin according to the bible which I believe in, the word is God breathed so I try really hard to live accordingly. With that being said, to me someone gay is no different from someone who lies, cheats, steals, kills, commits adultry, lust, etc. God views all our sins equally because someone is gay they not gonna burn more than someone who lies. People stop bashing and stop judging. Take the time out to identify your own sins and get it right with Christ. Your opinion is not God’s opinion he loves us all the same no more if you are a Christian and no less if you are gay. I don’t believe in Gay marriages but I won’t dare make someone feel bad about the decisions that they make. We all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Lastly, Judge not lest ye be judged. Spread the Love Christians!
Right!
This reminds me of those moments when you hear someone’s conversation end with "…….my best friend is black".
Rite!lol!
Mayor Kasim’s "EVOLVEMENT occurred…" when he realized that about 75% of his constituents were GAY! Atlanta is now the BLACK SAN FRANCISCO!
Judge not lest ye be judged. Live and let live.
You sure are blogging a lot lately BIGlien. Are you trying to cover the cost of the second seat on the plane that Southwest charges you. What’s it called? Girth tax? Fat tax? Please enlighten us.
I hope Southwest charges you an AZZHOLE TAX. That should render your deficit brain bankrupt. You’re about to sh*t It out you know. Maybe you wanna catch it in your sippy cup.
@say whay? I’ve never flown southwest…. but if I find the need for a 2nd, 3rd or 4th seat, I can definitely pay for it with outta the profits I make from all of YOUR clicks. I’m ever so grateful that you care for me enough to make sure I’m comfortable when I fly! (((hugs))) xxoo
My pleasure. Gurl, I’m happy to help.
@Say what?! Stupid dummy! Every breathe you take is a waste of natural resources. And therefore you should be charged a tax for all of the oxygen you are wasting.
Did u really start ur judgmental, dumbass, unintelligent, ignorant as hell post with a BIBLE VERSE?!? This has got to be the most ignorant mess I have read ALL DAMN DAY.
I aint’ lyin’ Michelle. You beatin’ HELL outta THIS drum and I aint’ mad atcha. I think you KNOW I’m gonna love you like Jennifer Holiday. Okay,this dude changed policy (not core beliefs which he SHOULDN’T) for political gain. Why he needs to broadcast this is beyond me. He gettin’ ready to "come out"?? Just vote dude. Gay folk aint’ checkin’ for you. He could pass right through this transition unnoticed but just like a bitch he just gotta get attention. I PERSONALLY will be SO glad when we no longer have to HER about "THE GAYS". I have never equated "THE GAYS" with the "BLACK STRUGGLE". We can SEE the BLACKS. The "GAYS" are invisible unless calling attention to their sexuality which no one really cares about because there IS a gay member in EVERY family whether they recognize it or not. Take Romney with his (mysteriously conceived) five sons. With all that proclaimed bible thumping testosterone, that blond son is obviously gay and if you notice tries to set himself definitively apart from his proposed athletic siblings. Marriage is defined in the bible. So is a man’s role in his position in marriage. So are many things intended for humanity. That "spare the rod spoil the child" was misinterpreted when in extreme will send your azz to jail.Extreme in those times might have been a child questioning his father. Had Abraham not been interrupted he would have killed his child trying to prove his obedience to God. I DO believe that God exists but I also believe that he is a loving God and your hearts intent along with your DEEDS is what redeems you. You can visit an asylum and hear every scripture memorized and recited from the most devious incarnates. Just because you can read does not mean you can comprehend. But most of all, in ALL the sinning we do..what makes one sin more judgemental than another? Taking tithes in the name of God and not USING THOSE TITHES IN THE NAME OF GOD is the absolute WORST sin in my comprehension of the word. The so called pastors and condemning folk know who in their church or community is in need but they’d rather give that $5+ to the pastor and NOT KNOW where God’s tithes have gone rather than tithing straight forward to people in shelters, warm meals from the drive through to folk on the street, etc. This is what I choose to do and expect nothing in return. Energizes MY soul AND I know that MY tithes went STRAIGHT to God in the name of HIS SON Jesus, no middle man involved. Whatever judgement made on who I am will and can only be handed to me by HIM.
Amen, again I concur… Sin is Sin, so alotta ppl may find themselves on Judgement day standing right next to some gay individuals…there are alotta glass houses around…be careful….
*waves church fan and starts to hum Blessed Assurance…did you take em to church up in here, Versatile?And the church doors are now open….Speak, chile!
Of course he’s changing his stance now that Obama has supported it…all of these "Leaders" are actual followers.
Exactly and they are leading these lost sheep astray….
Free Mind:
Careful… It says in the Old Testament that one would have a better chance at fitting through the eye of a needle than getting into Heaven. Let that sink in a lil…
Dana T.
All these Sheeple need to be voted out of office. And everybody knows once the POTUS endorses something…within a few years the laws change.
I voted for the POTUS because Romney is an arrogant ass. But, I’m not here for any of these politicians. They will say and do anything to get into office and then proceed to making themselves richer.
Mayor Reed look like he used to sing Brian McKinght songs at weddings to pay his way thru college back in the 90′s lol!
"One Last Cryyy…Before I leave it all behinddddd"…oo, I can hear him now..too funny!
ATLien, you know Reed only won because black folks were afraid that white lady Mary Norwood was gonna finish laying waste to the wasteland that is South Atlanta. Black folks feared she had plans to help Buckhead become its own city (she did).
Congrats for standing up for equality but he is otherwise a liar and a lousy mayor. He totally ignores any areas south of I-20. He’s traveling across Europe and eating high on the hog while Oakland City/Lakewood/Mechanicsville/Pittsburgh are becoming increasingly more violent slums filled with drugs, hookers and kiddies with handguns. Oh, and some crappy shopping centers.
Reed can’t hide his goals behind that barely intelligible speech: He wants John Lewis’ seat.
Some of you seem to forget that not too long ago, your black asses weren’t even considered human beings by the U.S. courts and government. Just 147 years past slavery, and only a little over 50 years past Jim Crow, I’m stunned that black folks are so eager to endorse government sponsored oppression against another group.
And yet the notion of a Romney presidency scared the beejeezus out of most black folks. Why? Because Romney and his peeps feel about us the way some of you feel about gays.
Opposition to gay marriage is rooted in homophobia. If you don’t agree with homosexuality, that’s your right. But don’t act like bigotry is a solid foundation for government policy.
I hate to tell you all this but the Supreme Court is gonna rule in favor of gay marriage. That’s because marriage is essentially just a legal classification. That being said, any American citizen has the right to seek that status. The justices already know this. There is nothing in the Constitution that says two men or two women can’t get married.
So get ready for some outrageous gay weddings.
Doubting Thomas:
Yessss…. You gets it in… I live fo u…
LOL!
Dana T.
Thank you!It’s a mess that the oppressed has the nerve to support the oppression. Do better, black folks!
@Doubting Thomas, just because you’re upset, you shouldn’t stoop so low, by using inappropriate language. Are you comparing being gay as the same thing as being a slave, or are you comparing same-sex marriage as the same the as being a slave?
@Marty
You’re not the FCC. That’s the problem; dear, you can’t regulate speech or anyone’s sexuality. This isn’t a Southern baptist revival. ITS A WEBSITE fool. I purposely chose the language I did to illustrate and underline a point. But I suppose that went over your weave-clad head.
Of course slavery isn’t the same as gay marriage so that was a silly question. However, discrimination and bigotry and attempts to inject them into law go hand in hand. Do you think immigration would be a problem for many whites if Mexicans looked like Northern Europeans? And let’s suppose Mexicans were black. Don’t you think the government would have put up a fence (an electric one!) if black people were crossing the border illegally by the thousands every day?
Did you know the first prison in America opened the very same day the slaves were freed? Many of the laws in existence throughout the South (so-called blue laws) today were aimed against newly freed black people in the 1860s.
The government has no business taking rights away from people. How would you like it if the gov’t decided you couldn’t be with who you chose to be with because it offended some people? And yet you think you have the right to deny people THEIR rights because you feel think you’re better than them. Get over yourself.
Doubting Thomas:
Like I said, U gets it in…
Marty, I’m a man who’s black and gay. Soooo, I could compare the two and a lot more. Internally, we black folk still have issues with our own color. For years black people have expressed that light skinned blacks were more beautiful, more desirable and have better advantages. I know you’ve probably heard your brother or uncle or some dude say, "I’mma get me a bone, red bone".
You guys can try and hide behind the Bible but understand, all is written and it all applies to all of us.
Dana T.
"Did you know the first prison in America opened the very same day the slaves were freed?" See, you dropped some knowledge and I definitely caught it. You also have made me laugh too loud for telling Marty,"But I suppose that went over your weave-clad head."
The gays are powerful in ATL. He better get with them or step aside and be replaced.
People have the right to love who they love. Just make sure you are honest. Hate to read stories of people being killed or done bodily harm because their spouse found out they are sleeping with the opposite sex, or stories of people decieving their lovers into thinking they were naturally born of another sex.
I agree.
"Reed made an announcement earlier this week, stating he went through considerable personal reflection on the issue and changed his mind after discussions with Atlanta’s lesbian and gay communities, as well as his own father and chief of staff."
Did you ask the Lord, Mr. Reed? If so, what did He say?
Womp. All you bible-thumping hypocrites can save it. I’m not here for all that. Because you clearly didn’t take a high school government class: your religious beliefs/dogma/bigotry has NO PLACE in our government. Who gives a shit what 4 passages in the bible have to say because it’s not relevant to the issue at hand. Look up the Establishment Clause (reading is fundamental). The issue at hand is that you have a group of individuals (tax-paying mind you) that do not have the same rights as others because of who they love, and that’s not ok. So fuss, quote bible verses, pray all you want because in a few years marriage equality will be achieved. And stops saying stupid stuff like "this is the end of times" blah, blah, blah, same-sex relationships exists in nature and have since the beginning of time. GOOD DAY, ignorant black people.
I’m curious what heaven the sinners on this blog will get into while they judging Gays, because most people talking have no moral ground to stand on themselves. The bible speaks of a lot of sins; I suggest concentrating on the ones you’re guilty of. If you hate Gays then just say that, but don’t try to cover up your hate with something as honorable as the bible. People are only fooling themselves taking about everyone else’s sins, but the reality will hit when they end up in Hell themselves. To sit and debate heaven/hell with a group of sinners behind a keyboard is pointless.
This is really a dead issue. The fight over gay marriage has already been lost by bigots and closed-minded people. And though it took many on the ONCE-formidable religious right years to accept that, like Jerry Falwell’s fight against integration in the 1950s and 1960s, gay marriage was the last battle on the frontier of the social/cultural landscape that they would lose. And that’s because, quite simply, any policies that seek to strip away rights in a democratic society are destined to failure. Today, more than ever, the majority of Americans do not endorse state-sponsored discrimination of any kind.
The bestiality-compared-to-gay-marriage comment made by a reader was crude and pointless. At issue is choice between two consenting, informed adults. And, according to law, if an activity is not illegal than how can it be banned? Bestiality is unlawful; homosexuality is not. So in the end, the Supreme Court will end up endorsing gay marriage, whether you like it or not.
Deuteronomy 22:13-21 states a marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed.
Now what do you have to say bible beaters? Does this still apply or have things ‘evolved’.
Sat down somewhere.
Uh oh. Got ‘em with that verse. The Bible thumpers are suddenly silent.
Yes indeed….they always want to bring up the bible when it comes to a gay issue……they the ones sinning the most….let it be what its gonna be and let god do the judging!!! Word!!!!
So, he gave this "elaborate" statement to say that he realizes the LGBT community voice is indeed louder in ATL than he thought?And that the past elections have shown him their votes are real?He’s an idiot for ever doubting them, especially being an Atlanta gov’t official. No one is hearing anything you have to say Mr. Reed, your stance is so irrelevant at this point.
@Suthernhummingbyrd
And you know what suthern? Reed is symptomatic of everything that’s wrong with black "leadership". In every city in America, you have these black elected leaders who get politically anointed by the local churches and then they go on to get elected–and spend a lifetime in politics doing absolutely nothing.
The church, the NAACP, and elderly people turn out voters and end up having pivotal voices in debates that they are totally out of sync with. They either just blame rap music or white folks. Its the worst form of entitlement ever.
Racist white politicians never feel threatened by black officials because they know something we don’t: They’re all sellouts, fighting for the same team: The almighty dollar, via corporate lobbyists and other special interests.
These black politicians think its enough to cut ribbons and blame Republicans but guess what? They need to earn their paychecks. Get their hands dirty. Don’t just blame the parents. We’ve all watched helplessly while the criminal justice system has evolved into a meat processing factory: Its product? DARK MEAT.
There aren’t simple answers. But we HAVE to start thinking about putting black leaders in office who are going to do the hard work and tell some truth for a change. Get in the fight and help save our communities. And not just leave our inner cities high and dry and rife with assorted mayhem and black on black crime.
I definitely agree. We as a community have to DEMAND officials who are willing to put in the work! If they are not willing to get down in the trenches and fight for the causes that affect our communities, then we need to STOP ELECTING THEM. How ignorant are we as a people to continue to make these politicians richer, and ourselves poorer on the illusion that they are actually sympathetic to our issues?Very ignorant, and the white politicians count on this. They don’t mind letting a few like Mr. Reed slide thru-like you stated, they already know they are only going to do so much. And when we as a community start taking responbilities for our own issues and actions, and stop placing the blame on
"the man" and other absurd things, we will see the demise of politicians in office like this joke of a mayor. Doubting Thomas, ty for that breakdown. Everyone really needs to pay attention to what you’re saying.
Shebad:
LOL!!! I love the way black folk adopt the European way of living and through the years and no real fault of our own we have succumb to their ways of life with no true connection to our own. Marriage??? Once upon a time we didn’t know anything about it. Once we were exposed to it we couldn’t perform the ceremony, we had to come up with our own Jumping The Broom version.
And now just like our anglosaxon brothers and sista’s a lot of us have developed a sense of superiority and entitlement complexes. I chose to be this way??? To defy my GOD??? I chose to be a black man??? To be hated and feared by the majority of the world??? On top of it all I am a person who is just trying to do the right things in life so that when it’s my turn to report back to GOD I have some things of value to share. My Gayness…
I’m not a killer…
I’m not a rapist…
I’m not a thief…
I don’t go around promoting violence…
I love people even when I think they don’t love themselves…
I’m very respectful of others…
I’m not a liar…
I’m not a hustler…
I don’t have multiple baby momma’s…
I’m not a cheater…
and I try not to judge you. I say all of this cause a large amount of gay people share my perspective.
Also,I’m stating all of this to remind everybody that there are much worse things one could b or do in the world. Case in point, what just happened this past Friday in Connecticut?
Dana T.