On a leadership retreat in Miami, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People passed a resolution endorsing same-sex marriage as a civil right, calling the position consistent with the equal protection provision under the U.S. Constitution. In a month when several top leaders in politics and entertainment have come out to acknowledge their support for gay marriage, the century-old organization is against anything that tries to, "to codify discrimination or hatred into the law." Legal in six states and in D.C., same-sex marriage has been banned by passed amendments in 31 states.
"Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP's support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people," said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous.
