Page 4 - aruba-today-20190817

A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 17 auguSt 2019
'A heavy lift': Religious black

voters weigh Buttigieg's bid

By MEG KINNARD he's still an unknown. "The duce himself to the elec-
Associated Press most damning comment torate. But in some corners
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — was at a clergy breakfast, of South Carolina's faith
Joe Darby, a South Car- and when his name was community, according to
olina pastor in the Afri- brought up another guy Darby, first impressions may
can Methodist Episcopal said, 'Yeah, that's the guy have already hampered
Church, pondered a sensi- who kissed his husband on Buttigieg's on-the-ground
tive question that he knew TV.'" debut efforts.
In this Friday, June 21, 2019 photo, Democratic presidential can- was on the mind of his con- Buttigieg's husband, Chas- Jon Black, an AME pas-
didate, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks at a forum gregation. Would black ten, has not traveled to tor along South Carolina's
hosted by the Black Economic Alliance in Charleston, S.C. voters be able to reconcile South Carolina to cam- coast in Bluffton, said that
Associated Press their conservative religious paign. Chris Meagher, But- he presumes the church will
doctrine with voting for a tigieg's spokesman, said ultimately move past any
gay candidate for presi- voters are still getting ac- divisions over homosexual-
dent? quainted with the mayor, ity and same-sex marriage,
"It's a heavy lift in the black who this month became as it did previously with di-
church," says Darby, who the first 2020 Democratic vorce.
is also a Charleston-area candidate to hire a faith "If we can get in a time
NAACP leader. "Just as no- outreach director. machine and go down the
body who is racist likes to "Pete is focused on meet- road 25 years, I think the
say, 'I'm a racist,' nobody ing folks where they are," issue would be resolved,"
who is homophobic in the Meagher said. "It just Black said. "It may take us
black community likes to means quantity of time and 25 years to make that turn,
say, 'I'm homophobic.'" spending time with folks but we've always support-
In South Carolina, the first and making sure that he's ed the disinherited, disen-
state with a predominantly listening to their concerns franchised. ... We've got
African American elector- and that they're hearing his to stand with those peo-
ate, part of the dialogue plans and his policies and ple who may be the most
focuses on a conflict be- his values." threatened."
tween a cultural openness Besides his overt expres- The church as a whole may
for same-sex marriage and sions of his faith, Buttigieg not make that change
the deeply held religious also has offered a broad anytime soon, but Black
convictions that could im- policy agenda for African said he didn't feel that the
pede support for the 2020 Americans and has been issue of Buttigieg's sexuality
race's only gay candidate outspoken on the issue of would override his support
— Pete Buttigieg, the may- race. But he consistently if his policy positions prove
or of South Bend, Indiana. polls in the low single digits strong.
The historically diverse field among black voters. "If it gets down to two or
of Democratic presidential Buttigieg, 37, has acknowl- three candidates and one
hopefuls is overflowing with edged he has ground to happens to be gay, I don't
options. But it is also forcing make up in terms of mak- think that would be a prob-
conversations about the ing his case to African lem for black communities,"
roles — if any — that gen- American voters in South Black said. The attempt to
der, race and, for the first Carolina, where he also square a willingness to hear
time, sexuality should play attended a Black Eco- all candidates out with a
in voters' decisions. nomic Alliance forum this faith-based attitude to-
Black voters comprise more summer. On Friday, he sat ward issues of homosexual-
than 60% of South Caro- for an interview with black ity is surfacing in conversa-
lina's Democratic elector- church leaders in Atlanta. tions in some church com-
ate. But an overwhelming This weekend, he'll return munities. Seated in a base-
majority of African Ameri- to South Carolina, planning ment fellowship hall, as
cans — 79%, according to a series of town halls and Wednesday night services
a recent Pew study — also attending an AME church boomed in the sanctuary
identify as Christians, which service. above, several members
some church leaders note His marriage didn't come of Nicholtown Missionary
can contribute to internal up directly at the Atlanta Baptist Church in Green-
strife between their reli- event, but Buttigieg drew ville, South Carolina, mulled
gious convictions and how audible murmurs when he over the intersection of
they feel about a gay can- casually mentioned his hus- sexuality and what many
didate, if they think doc- band. of them agreed should be
trine says it's wrong. "I'm married to a teacher, 2020's top imperative.
"I'm interested to see how and he's a proud teacher," In some circles of faith,
Buttigieg is going to play," Buttigieg said during an an- LaVelle Pitts said, relying
said Darby, saying that the swer to a question about on biblical crutches like the
mayor "does the best job of student debt. story of Sodom and Go-
articulating his faith of any With six months until South morrah as a condemna-
of the candidates" but is in- Carolina's vote, Buttigieg, tion of homosexuality can
herently running up against like many others in the be convenient, but it's not
barriers with those to whom field, is still working to intro- the full story.q