In Brazil, the name of the Reverend Jess Jackson (photo) may not be very well known, but in the United States, it has weight.
Alongside the more famous Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson participated in the fight for the civil rights of black Americans and, in 1984 and 1988, he was a pre-candidate for president for the Democratic Party. As if these credentials were not enough, he was elected in a 2006 survey as the "most important black leader" in the country.
Religious, Jackson is also a pastor of the Baptist Church – but, unlike so many other Christians, he left homophobia aside and, since 2010, has become progressively known for supporting the civil rights of gays.
That year, the reverend, who had already spoken out against Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, spoke out, for the first time, in favor of same-sex unions – and called for the Proposition to be overturned. Unfortunately, in a plebiscite, it was approved, although it is still in progress. legal dispute.
Jackson, however, didn't back down – and recently proved that his change in position was for real. "Starting with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, with the inclusion of blacks, Hispanics, 18-year-olds and women, the opportunities are now limitless," he said, according to the website HumanEvents.com. Then, the reverend added that he "had no problems" with same-sex relationships – and, asked if he would perform the ceremony for a gay couple, he was positively adamant: "If they ask me to do it." What a difference in relation to Brazilian pastors, right?
The Democratic Convention ended last Thursday, the 6th, and, as expected, nominated President Barack Obama, who is also in favor of gay marriage, candidate for re-election. The Obama candidacy has received support from American LGBT community.
