Christian activist Meeke Addison holds a strong view against the practice of same-sex marriage, which the Supreme Court legalized last week in a 5-4 vote. She works as a radio host in Mississippi.
According to Tina Susman of the Los Angeles Times, 36-year-old Addison has spoken out against gay marriage, using commentary usually associated with "fire-and-brimstone preachers and politicians." She took offense at the idea that same-sex marriage was a civil right.
"I'm a black woman, so when I think of a civil right and the fight for freedom, it kind of strikes a chord for me that your sexual preference is not equal to the color of my skin, an immutable characteristic," Addison said in an interview on Saturday. "It's offensive, just that what you want to do in your bedroom is the same thing as the color of my skin and who I am."
Addison emphasized to Susman that she was only speaking for herself, not for black people in general. However, Susman cited statistics from the Pew Research Center on how public support for same-sex marriage in the United States broke down according to race and ethnic demographics.
"A poll this month showed that 59 percent of whites and 41 percent of blacks favored same-sex marriage," Susman wrote, citing Pew. "In 2001, the races were roughly equal in their support, with whites at 34 percent and blacks at 32 percent."
Addison, who works as a radio show host with a "honey smooth" voice on a Christian-based network, told Susman that she is deeply and proudly religious. In fact, when it came to divisive social issues like same-sex marriage, she aligned with "right-wing conservatives."
"When you come across passages that condemn homosexuality, you don't dispute that," Addison said, believing that one who lives according to the Word of God cannot be both gay and Christian. "It is never supported biblically, so for a Christian to say they are a Christian and they are also homosexual ... if you go according to Scriptures, they're mutually exclusive."
Addison warned her listeners that there was a "demonic" and "evil" threat facing traditional marriage. Now that same-sex marriage is the law of the land, she feared that threesomes and foursomes could demand for their rights to get married too.
"We could be entering a time where the fire could be turned up under the feet of Christians, and I don't mean that in a good way," Addison said on her radio show.
According to Susman, Addison, a married mother of four children, grew up in New Orleans with her mother and siblings; her father left their household. Despite that setback in her family, Addison learned from her mother that marriage was an honorable institution, which she teaches to her own children.
"She always wanted us to know that, and that has shaped my world view: that marriage is important," Addison said. "That the structure of family is important and we don't get to change that just because we want to."
According to Susman, Addison expressed relief that religious leaders would not be compelled to perform same-sex marriages thanks to the Supreme Court's decision. However, she expressed concern that private businesses such as florists and caterers would be legally required to serve same-sex couples planning weddings.
"I think each case will present an opportunity for the Christians to learn whether or not they're going to really be able to live according to their convictions," Addison said. "I think we're going to have to wait and see how that plays out."
