In an interview with CNN‘s Anderson Cooper Thursday, Julian Bond, social activist and former chairman for the NAACP, reaffirmed his position that marriage is a civil right which all Americans should be entitled to regardless of sexual orientation. The interview follows news that the National Organization for Marriage may have had intent to create a political wedge issue between African-Americans and the LGBT community after secret campaign documents were revealed Tuesday.
“You see the push for equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans as a civil rights movement,” said Cooper.
“Very much so, of course, it’s exactly the same,” replied Bond. “It’s a right that all Americans have and no reason why gay and lesbian people ought not have these rights too. These are universal rights.”
According to CNN, fifty percent of African-Americans are now in favor of gay and lesbian marriage.
Bond added, “I don’t care if you’re gay or straight. This is something you need to be concerned about.”
