Kamala Harris thanks AME Church leaders for support despite organization's anti-gay marriage stance

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, thanked African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church leaders for their support this week and assured them that she is committed to advancing the nation on their behalf. However, it appears that the church leaders are not in favor of gay marriage.

During their 52nd quadrennial conference, which was held in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, August 28, AME church leaders decided to reject a bill that would have lifted the organization's prohibition on same-sex unions.

Kamala Harris slams Republicans for pulling US backward

In a speech to conference delegates that same day, Kamala Harris criticized Republicans for attempting to take the nation backward. 

“We face a choice between two very different visions for the future of our nation. One, ours, that is focused on the future. The other focused on the past,” Harris told those in attendance, per the New York Post. “But we are not going back.”

Gay marriage was legalized by the federal government in 2015

The federal government approved gay marriage in 2015. 

The AME church is a US-based organization with a large Black membership. It began as a result of racial hostility that existed in the Methodist church in the late 18th and early 19th centuries between Black and White members. According to Pew Research Center, 92 percent of AME church members today identify as Democrats.

AME Church leaders played key role in electing Joe Biden as president 

Leaders of the AME church have been associated with President Joe Biden's election in 2020 and have accompanied well-known Democratic candidates on their campaign trail this year. The church has a sizable network of Democratic members, but its views on same-sex marriage continue to diverge from the official Democratic Party position.

According to a 2004 declaration made by church leaders, homosexual marriage is not consistent with their interpretation of the Bible. This information was obtained by the pro-LGBTQ NGO Human Rights Campaign.

More lately, there has been internal conflict on the issue, as demonstrated by the 896 votes against and 722 votes in favor of repealing the church's ban on homosexual marriage on Wednesday.

Kamala Harris seems unbothered with the AME church’s stance on gay marriage

Kamala Harris has harsh words for Republicans on other "anti-equality" issues, even if she doesn't appear to care about the AME church's position on gay marriage.

In the past, she called Republican senators who have pushed to bar biological men from using girls' restrooms, restrict access to drag shows for youngsters, and confine transgender care to adults "extremists." 

“These so-called leaders have proposed and passed more than 75 new anti-equality bills across our country,” Harris said at a Pride Month event last year, per White House. In the meantime, Harris has been mocked by Republicans as a "political chameleon" who changes her stance on policy to suit her political agenda.

Kamala Harris' campaign dodges questions regarding her awareness of AME church’s stance

The Harris campaign did not reply to inquiries about the vice president's knowledge of the AME church's position on gay marriage before recording her speech, which was shown during the conference, or whether she continues to support same-sex marriage rights. 

Harris told the congregation on Wednesday, "This is the most consequential election of our lifetime," and expressed gratitude to them "deeply" for their support and efforts to turn out the vote. Harris touched on economic, health, and religious liberty problems throughout her brief speech, but she did not address LGBTQ issues.

Additionally, she begged the attendees to “do all we can to move our nation forward.”

She said, “As the Gospel of Luke tells us, faith has the power to shine a light on those living in darkness and to guide our feet in the path of peace. In moments such as this, faith guides us forward. Faith in the promise of America: freedom, opportunity and justice – not for some, but for all.”

Internet says Kamala Harris will do anything for vote

Netizens slammed the US Vice President as they claimed that she could go to any limit to get votes from her fellow citizens of her nation.

One X user tweeted, "She will say whatever you want her to say for a vote. She would sell her soul to be president." Another added, "She will do anything for a vote."

"She has no idea what the hell she says. And we’ve all seen it," remarked one, while someone else wrote, "She’d throw her step daughter under a bus for votes so there’s that…." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.