Evangelicals seem to be leading the charge to support the marriage amendment. Dozens of them gathered on the steps of the Franklin County Courthouse Friday knowing this may be the chance of their lifetime to not only keep gays from marrying by law, but making it unconstitutional.
"One man and one woman," said Rev. Donnie price. "That will only be the marriage that we honor."
Amendment supporters said their objections to gay unions are based solely on the Bible.
"You can read in Romans. It shows what the flesh do - man with man, woman with woman. But God didn't make it like that," said Rev. Randolph Spivey.
Although the only black preacher at Friday's rally, Spivey is hardly alone in the African-American community. Polls have shown black voters overwhelming support Amendment One, although that support has eroded some.
Last month, Public Policy Polling showed African-Americans favored banning gay marriage by a margin of more than two-to-one.
"If you are any kind of a Christian, or you do go to church, or start going to church, you'll know that's what it means - it's a man and woman," said Jesse Nelson.
This month, the numbers slipped to 51-percent supporting the amendment and 39-percent opposed but the supporters are vocal, especially when some, who see the proposed amendment as discriminatory, point out that irony.
"Discrimination impacts the will of a person. It breaks you down and makes you less than a man or a person. But homosexuality -- that's a preference," said
Some black leaders believe it's a conservative plot to divide the black community before the general election in November.
"It has nothing to do with being a Republican or a Democrat at this time. We're standing upon the scriptures," said Williams.
With a now meaningless presidential primary, it could be the marriage amendment that drives turnout on May 8.
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