Sarah Posner caused something of a stir over at Religious Dispatches when she put the new DNC hire on the hot seat on his views on women's choice and marriage equality for LGBT Americans.
Posner: So you’re not a supporter of same-sex marriage yourself?
Harkins: No, no, no. But again, I’m not a bomb-thrower in terms of saying things that will get a rise out of a crowd because I just don’t think that’s, again, intellectually honest.
He didn't deny it once, but three times. That's pretty adamant.
DNC’s Brian Bond: “I have spoken at length to Rev. Harkins on this issue”
So much so, the DNC had to rush into damage control.
Brian Bond, formerly of the White House staff, now working as
Democratic National Committee's Director of Constituency Outreach assured LGBT community members in a letter:
“Rev. Harkins is a progressive faith leader who supports the right of same-sex couples to equal benefits and equal protection under the law. I have spoken at length to Rev. Harkins on this issue, and like many Americans who are continuing to develop their views on this subject, he currently supports civil unions for LGBT couples. However, he has also said ‘traditional marriage’ does not have a clear definition, and he is firmly committed to what he calls ‘the important, productive conversation that is underway’ regarding the institution of marriage and the evolving perspectives on this subject.”
To mischaracterize Rev. Harkins’ views and demonize him as a roadblock to equality for LGBT Americans is not helpful to the ongoing effort of building coalitions in our journey to full equality. The crux of Rev. Harkins’ political perspective is a fundamental belief in the equal and inherent value of people of all identities and backgrounds – that is exactly why the DNC has tapped him to lead our party’s faith outreach program. And Rev. Harkins has said that inclusion of LGBT faith leaders will be an important part of those efforts.
Do I wish Rev. Harkins was on the record as an active supporter of same-sex marriage? Of course I do – just like I wish 100% of the American public was in favor of same-sex marriage, including my President.
Wow.
Well, in fact Brian, Harkins is on record as a active supporter of same-sex marriage. Did you not consult the Google?
It's funny in all those extensive conversations Bond had with Harkins, Harkins neglected to mention that like Boss President Barack Obama, the Reverend has undergone a "de-evolution" on the topic of gay marriage.
Aravosis dug this nugget up from the history of Washington, DC area clergy rallying to support marriage equality. The source article at The Washington Post. The WaPo article is ironically titled: "There is this myth out there that you can't be pro-God and pro-gay." Gee. You know what would dispel the myth? Clergy in prominent positions standing up in uncompromising support for the LGBT community.
The pledge reads:
Declaration of Religious Support for Marriage Equality
We are District of Columbia clergy and religious leaders of many faiths, races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. We represent religious institutions in every ward in the District. We have worked together over many years for peace and justice and now join our voices again to speak a faithful word for freedom and equality.
We declare that our faith calls us to affirm marriage equality for loving same-sex couples.
Our religious traditions and scriptures teach us that wherever love is present, God is also present. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is our human capacity to love one another. The ability of two people to enter into relationships and form families of love and care is one expression of this gift. It is holy and good. We therefore affirm the right of loving same-gender couples to enter into such relationships on an equal basis with loving heterosexual couples.
We recognize that there are principled differences on this issue within the religious community. We affirm that the state should not require any religious group to officiate at, or bless, same-gender marriages. However, the state also should not favor the convictions of one religious group over another by denying individuals their fundamental civil right to marry whom they love.
Recognizing that there is heartfelt disagreement on this issue, we call on all people of the District of Columbia to engage in a respectful and loving dialogue on marriage equality. As religious leaders, we commit ourselves to such a dialogue and encourage our colleagues on all sides of this issue to do the same.
God is love and love is for everyone. In this spirit we raise our voices in the struggle for the right and freedom to marry.
"Dr. Derrick Harkins, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church" appears among the hundreds of names on the pledge, reproduced in this post from 2008 by
Laurel Ramseyer at Pam's House Blend.
So it seems DNC LGBT liasion Brian Bond was part right, part wrong. He did assure the LGBT community Harkins is leading ally, which is true of his past and we can be grateful to Harkins for doing exactly that at a key time during the DC marriage equality fight. And good for him.
But why then is Bond asserting Harkins only supports "civil unions" now?
Is Bond unaware of Harkins past positions? Did he discuss them with Harkins?
What does this apparent position change say about what the LGBT community can expect of Harkins and the DNC in the future?
What Is Going On Here?
I am not sure what is going on here. There are of course a few possibilities that I see, probably more.
• Harkins changed his mind. But Why?
• Harkins did not understand the nature of the pledge he was signing. Maybe an assistant is responsible for it?
• The Democratic National Committee put pressure Harkins to "moderate" his public views so as to not seem "too controversial," or place public pressure on the party at large to fall in line with their new Faith Outreach Director. Harkins may still support marriage equality, he's just now "afraid" to say so publicly.
In the next 12 months, the LGBT community will be facing difficult fights on the topic of marriage equality at ballot boxes in Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, in state houses like Maryland and New Hampshire, and probably other fronts. It's important to know who our fair-weather allies when we look for support from our "friends."
A wise Man of God once said:
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends.”
What do you suppose he meant by that?
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