Monday, June 13, 2011

Harold Ford Jr. Does Video for Marriage Equality

Posted by Jackson Baker on Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 3:46 PM

Today’s email tray brings news from “New Yorkers for Marriage Equality” that former Memphis congressman Harold Ford Jr., now working on Wall Street and a resident of New York, has done a full 180-degree turn on the opposition to same-sex marriage which he expressed as a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee in 2006.

Ford, whose trial run for a 2008 Senate campaign in New York was aborted, partly because of organized opposition by the state’s gay community to his candidacy, has now made a video for “New Yorkers for Marriage Equality,” in which he says the following:

“I’m former congressman Harold Ford, and I’m a New Yorker for marriage equality. I’m proud to say that my views on this issue of marriage equality have changed. I’ve listened, and I’ve learned. I believe committed gay and lesbian couples in New York should be able to marry. So join me and a super-majority of New Yorkers who view this issue as a matter of basic fairness. It’s time to get this done.”

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that a bill to legalize same-sex marriage is gathering steam in the New York state Senate and that the video featuring Ford's change of mind is being employed as part of proponents' campaign to pass the bill.

Says the Times article:

"Mr Ford, a Democrat who is now a New Yorker, long opposed such unions, even backing a constitutional amendment to ban them as a member of the House.

"The ad’s message, said Brian Ellner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group that made the video, is that lawmakers should not hesitate to change their mind on an issue of civil rights."

Here is the Ford video:

Comments (8)

Showing 1-8 of 8

Add a comment

The leopard changes its spots, eh?

report   
Posted by cr33 on 06/13/2011 at 4:33 PM

I am waiting for Harold to claim he is Jewish, too.

report   
Posted by tomguleff on 06/13/2011 at 5:11 PM

I think he's claiming to be Joe Lieberman, so you got your wish.

report   
Posted by Packrat on 06/13/2011 at 9:36 PM

Lord have mercy it's a miracle!

Or not.

report   
Posted by Jeff on 06/14/2011 at 7:25 AM

I checked copied and pasted Ford's statement in the Google's BS translator and it came back with:

"I was saying what I had to say to get elected in Tennessee. Now I'm saying what I have to say to get elected in New York."

report   
Posted by Jeff on 06/14/2011 at 7:26 AM

If legislation passes on Civil Unions it will be what it will be. I will trust God to sort things out in God's own time. As I opine the issue right now is that I must ask myself and dare ask you; if you are a person that believes in God; does your own marriage reflect your belief? That my friends is the question believers must answer and will be held accountable for. For my many brothers and sisters who are for whatever reason of their own conscience non-believers that are in heterosexual marriages ask yourselves if you are living up to your own vows? As for me,I thank God I won't be judged for what another chooses to do. I also thank God for the greatest gift other than my salvation, my wife.
WL. Henry,Jr.

report   
Posted by BIG Brother Fire on 06/14/2011 at 8:48 AM

Civil marriage is a civil right. Glad Jr. FINALLY wised up. (But I still don't trust him.)

report   
Posted by awculv on 06/16/2011 at 4:33 PM

I guess by his comments in the video, he does not plan on running for office in Tennessee again

report   
Posted by Wayne R> Serbin on 08/19/2011 at 8:47 PM
Subscribe to this thread:
Showing 1-8 of 8

Add a comment

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Most Commented On

ADVERTISEMENT

© 1996-2012

Contemporary Media
460 Tennessee Street, 2nd Floor | Memphis, TN 38103
Visit our other sites: Memphis Magazine | Memphis Parent | Memphis Business Quarterly
Powered by Foundation