"The text of Rev. Longcrier's question is as follows: 'I'm Rev. Reggie
Longcrier, I'm the Pastor of Exodus Missionary Outreach Church in Hickory, North
Carolina. Senator Edwards says his opposition to gay marriage is influenced by
his Southern Baptist background. Most Americans agree it was wrong and
unconstitutional to use religion to justify slavery and segregation and deny
women the right to vote. So, why is it still acceptable to use religion to deny
gay Americans their full and equal rights?'
'In answering Rev. Longcrier's question, Senator Edwards made an important commitment to not allow his personal religious beliefs to restrict the rights of any American,' added
Rev. Creech. 'We congratulate him and encourage all leaders and candidates to
give serious consideration to this issue and how they will represent the
interests of this nation.'
'Millions of gay Americans struggle every-day against the misuse of religion to perpetuate prejudice and inequality,' said Creech. 'These individuals don't just fight bigotry when they're denied the right to marry their partners, they combat it on the street, in the workplace, in their children's schools, and in every other aspect of their lives.
Religion-based prejudices pervade and profoundly shape the daily experiences of
these people and I'd like to commend my friend Rev. Longcrier for furthering the
national dialogue for those and all Americas on this critically important
subject.'"
I thought that his was one of the most well thought out, and best worded questions of the debate. It really addresses the root of the fact that gays rights are humyn rights, and that the right to marry among other rights have been denied people based on religion in the past. It was wrong then, and it is wrong now.
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