Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, 90, is often referred to as the “Dean of the Civil Rights Movement.” During the course of his life Dr. Lowery has focused his attention on issues such as voting rights, education and the basic economic problems facing the African American community. Rolling out had the opportunity to have a personal conversation with Dr. Lowery during a recent visit to Dallas. Dr. Lowery shared his thoughts on President Barack Obama’s upcoming re-election and the same sex marriage debate.
On President Barack Obama’s re-election …
He’s going to have a tough time anytime as an African American … we have people who are unable to adjust to change and he represents change … he represents progress … and he’s going to have a tough time yes …. But I think he’s going to make it … I think his statement about equality in marriage is evidence of the kind of character he has … he’s open, he’s honest, he’s straightforward, [and] he’s fair, generous. And I think that’s the kind of support President Obama needs in the Congress to help get through the kind of legislation that he needs.
On President Barack Obama’s support of same-sex marriage …
The black Church like everybody else has a different opinion … and they have a right to their opinion. I just hope that they will think it through and my position is that I believe in equal rights … And you can’t believe in equal rights for some people and not equal rights for the other. Either you believe in equal rights for everybody or you don’t believe in equal rights for anybody… and I’m not going to discriminate against anybody on the basis of their race, color, sex, sexual orientation or anything … I’m not going to do it. I think God wants us to love one another as we are and … if I make a mistake it’s going to be on the side of inclusion not exclusion.
