Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her gratitude to the leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church for their support and promised to move the country forward, but the church’s leaders rejected a bill that would have ended the AME church’s ban on same-sex marriage. Harris criticized Republicans for attempting to regress the country and emphasized the importance of moving forward rather than looking back at outdated ideologies.
The AME church, a historically Black church in the U.S., has a predominantly Democratic congregation, with 92% of its members identifying as Democrats. Despite their strong ties to the Democratic Party, the church’s stance on gay marriage is at odds with the official Democratic Party platform. The church leaders have cited biblical interpretations that contradict the acceptance of gay marriage, leading to internal disagreements within the church.
Leaders of the AME church have been influential in Democratic politics, helping to support President Biden’s election in 2020 and campaigning alongside prominent Democratic candidates. The recent vote within the church to maintain the ban on same-sex marriage illustrates the ongoing divide within the congregation. While Harris has been vocal in her support of LGBTQ rights and denouncing anti-equality measures, she has not addressed the AME church’s position on gay marriage directly.
Despite her strong stance on LGBTQ rights, Harris has faced criticism from Republicans for allegedly shifting her policy positions for political gain. Republican lawmakers have pushed for anti-equality measures, sparking conflict with Harris and the Democratic Party over issues like transgender rights and bathroom access. Harris has maintained her stance against discrimination and has spoken out against what she views as extremist views within the GOP.
The Harris campaign did not respond to questions regarding the vice president’s awareness of the AME church’s position on gay marriage or her current stance on LGBTQ rights. The AME church declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital. Harris emphasized the importance of the upcoming election and urged the congregants to continue working towards moving the nation forward on issues like economic, health, and religious liberty. Despite the church’s rejection of the bill on same-sex marriage, Harris focused on unity and progress in her message to the AME church.
