African American Pastor in Maryland Responds to Anti-Equality Political Positioning by Area Ministers

BALTIMORE, MD — In response to a press conference earlier today at the National Press Conference, Rev. Dr. Brad R. Braxton — senior pastor of The Open Church in Baltimore — is available for comment.

Following President Obama’s recent announcement of support for marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans — and right on the heels of a unanimous decision by the Democratic Party platform drafting committee to endorse marriage equality in the party platform — a small group of African American pastors announced their intention to ask members of their congregations to vote against, or not to vote for, President Obama’s re-election in November.

As an African American pastor of a new, progressive Christian congregation in Baltimore, Maryland, Rev. Dr. Brad R. Braxton is available for comment on his belief in the full legal and social equality of LGBT Americans, and his unrelenting support for marriage equality.

Recent reports have surfaced that opponents of marriage equality — specifically the National Organization for Marriage — had created a strategy for rolling back the clock on LGBT equality by driving a wedge between African Americans and LGBT Americans (see CNN story here). These strategies neglect to acknowledge the reality that there are many LGBT African Americans living, working, and raising families across the country — and often face heightened discrimination based on the combination of systemic inequality based on race/ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation.