A Pew Research Center survey of 1,514 Americans. Of those surveyed last month, 154 identified themselves as black.
Opposition among blacks
Year Percentage
1996 66 percent
2012 49 percent
Favor among blacks
Year Percentage
1996 26 percent
2012 39 percent
DAYTON — Local members of the black community are split on the impact President Barack Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage will have on black voters in November.
However, comments about the issue suggest that black evangelical voters are the most likely to keep Obama’s belief in mind before they cast their votes.
Obama’s historic public statement earlier this week came after a recent national survey revealed that black Americans’ opposition to gay marriage is softening.
“In my opinion, it’s a strong possibility that they will not vote for President Obama. I’m talking about black people in general, whether they are believers in Jesus Christ or not,” said Daria Dillard Stone, 61, founder of Sharing Ministries in Dayton.
She went on to say that the reason most black Christians may not vote for Obama will be because of the Bible’s stance against homosexuality. When asked what the reason would be for blacks who are not Christians, she said, “We don’t like to talk about homosexuality. It’s a secret sin.”
Steven House, 29, a Springfield DJ, doesn’t think Obama’s beliefs will have any impact on black voters.
“I don’t see a lot of African-Americans paying attention to that when they go to vote,” he said.
He went on to say that he is glad Obama went public about his thoughts on gay marriage because “you should know how your president feels about (certain controversial issues).”
Todd Smedley, 36, owner of Delivery Kings in Dayton, said if you polled most black people in America and asked them if they were for gay marriage, he believes most would say no.
However, results from a Pew Research Center survey released April 25 show that blacks opposition to gay marriage dropped to 49 percent in April, down from 66 percent in 1996. Also, blacks in favor of gay marriage increased to 39 percent in April from 26 percent in 1996.
The Washington, D.C.-based research center compiled its data after Princeton Survey Research International conducted telephone interviews of 1,514 people across the country. A total of 154 of those surveyed between April 4-15, identified themselves as black.
“Democrats accept the fact that most Democrats accept gay marriage. Blacks really don’t agree with gay marriage morally, but they still call themselves Democrats,” Smedley said.
In 2009, the Pew Research Center reported that the electorate in the 2008 presidential election was the most racially and ethnically diverse in U.S. history, due to the fact that nearly one-in-four votes were cast by non-whites.
The research center determined that 131 million people voted in 2008, according to Census Bureau data. Blacks made up 12.1 percent of voters while whites cast 76.3 percent of votes.
The Rev. Crystal Jackson Moore, 50, of the Greater Dayton Christian Connections, applauded Obama, and she thinks his stance will cost his some black Christian votes.
“I think he will lose a portion of it, but not a major portion,” she said. “Just because he is supporting gay marriage, it doesn’t negate all the rest of the things that he has done for the African-American community and the country as a whole.”
Both Dillard Stone and Smedley believe Obama’s endorsement is a political move.
“He is willing to do whatever it takes politically to stay our president,” Dillard Stone said.
“He is going to calculate his political future,” Smedley said.
Daryl Ward of Omega Baptist Church in Dayton said he disagrees with Obama’s belief and believes that the issue would affect those who Ward considers to be “seriously, theologically conservative.”
“He is a politician. I don’t look to politicians to decide how I think about morals and values,” Ward said. “I still support him as president and I am going to be voting for him for a new term.”
Pastor Darryl Grayson, 43, of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Springfield, said Americans should not be focusing on one issue when it comes to voting.
“He is entitled to his opinion,” Grayson said. “I’m not going to base my opinion on whether or not he should be president or not, based on one issue.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2414 or kelli.wynn@coxinc.com.
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