'I do believe a certain hypocrisy is there.' Wiley is a prominent advocate of gay marriage. Wiley, pastor of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ in Maryland, says of black churches. 'Persons who are in the closet serve on the deacon boards, serve in the ministry, serve in every capacity in the church,' the Rev. Some male pastors themselves have been entangled in scandals involving alleged affairs with men. While many black pastors condemn gays and lesbians from the pulpit, the choir lofts behind them often are filled with gay singers and musicians. And the fact that they often hold leadership positions in their congregations is the worst kept secret in black America. Yet the presence of gays and lesbians in black churches is common. The Apostolic Tabernacle Mass Choir performs in Oakland, Calif., in 2010.Ĭhristopher Polk/WireImage via Getty Imageįairly or not, African-Americans have become the public face of resistance to same-sex marriage, owing to their religious beliefs and the outspoken opposition of many black pastors.
