A Black Clergyman's Response to Bruce Springsteen Backing Gay Marriage

The "Boss" stands in solidarity with Garden State Equality, many of us who are clergy,

and thousands of other New Jersey residents who support marriage equality. We say, 

"Hip, hip, hooray!"

My wife and I have lived in New Jersey for four years, we are in our 70's, have never attended

a Bruce Springsteen concert, but have had occasion to boast that we live 3 blocks away

frome the Stone Pony! We have never been in the Stone Pony, but its history of relationship to Springsteen and Sringsteen to it, has become a part of our history.

The joining of Bruce Springsteen's support for marriage equality with the magnificent work

of Garden State Equality says much about the credibility of the efforts of GSE to bring

marriage equality to New Jersey.

As I said in an e-mail to Steve Goldstein, the CEO, cheerleader and organizing genius

of Garden State Equalty, my Monday in Trenton with the many supporters of

Marriage Equality brought back memories of the March on Washington and the

Selma to Montgomery March.

The Civil Rights Movement "back in the day" has become alive in this "Movement." As an African American clergyman who was a foot soldier in the "Movement," I have no time to debate the differences in the struggles of black persons and the struggles of gays and lesbians. Of course there are differences! But, prejudice, bias, and bigotry are prejudice, bias and bigotry whether directed at persons who are black, or persons who are gay. I long for the day when more persons in the African American community will become advocates/allies of gay rights, and more gay persons will become allies/advocates of the many issues important to the black community. I have for years sought to be a "bridge over the troubled waters" that divide the poor black and brown community and the gay community. The passage of the marriage equality bill may signal

the beginning of new efforts to deal with the education and econonomic issues that confront

poor brown and black people.

One of my friends and mentors is a writer and teacher who lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

She writes of those who stand on the sidlines, who are afraid to take a stand, who are infected

with the anger and bitterness of others. She says of writing, but it applies to me as I Iive my

life as a clergyman or to Bruce Springsteen as he lives his amazing public life as a musical

icon, and to all of us who support marriage equality and all of life:

My friend writes words that really ring true when she says "the issue is not whether our writing will be political. If we are silent, our silence is political. If we write our writing is political. No one has seen the night sky exactly from your trajectory. No one has loved exactly the people and places you have loved. Who will tell that part of the earth's story, if you do not?"

Thanks to Garden State Equality, the wonderfully magnificent group of clergy marriage

equality supporters I met on Monday in Trenton, and to Bruce Springsteen. Remembering his

"Born in the USA", I say if marriage equality can not be achieved in New Jersey, who wants

to live in, or have their children, "Born in New Jersey"?

Julian Bond of the NAACP on Monday, Bruce Springsteen on Wednesday, and all of the

rest of us day in and day out. If this does not encourage support for marriage equality, by the

New Jersey Legislature, what will?

Rev. Gil Caldwell is a retired Methodist Minister in Asbury Park, New Jersey