Race, Religion and Same-Sex Marriage

Without drawing much attention to it yet, one of the leading groups promoting same-sex marriage has taken an interesting tack, one that implicitly acknowledges the complicated relationship between gay Americans and another minority group not firmly on their side.

Two weeks ago the Human Rights Campaign inaugurated a new effort to move public opinion nationwide by unveiling a video testimonial, being distributed on the Internet for now, in whichCory Booker, the mayor of Newark, speaks up for same-sex marriage, not yet legal in New Jersey.

Last week came another testimonial, from the comedian and actress Mo’Nique. And this week the latest of the videos, which will likely become TV commercials down the road, is being released. It stars Julian Bond, the former chairman of the N.A.A.C.P.

In its infancy the H.R.C. effort, called Americans for Marriage Equality, has showcased three prominent black Americans in a row. That’s no accident.

In some perfect world where human nature is less messy and history less fraught, any and all people who had ever suffered discrimination would find common cause, gathering together under one big anti-bigotry banner.