National Council of La Raza passes freedom to marry resolution

Earlier this month, on June 9, the board of the National Council of La Raza unanimously approved a resolution supporting the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. NCLR is the largest Latino civil rights group in the country, and their endorsement is reflective of a Latino community that has consistently shown majority support for marriage for all couples.

The organization will formally present the resolution next month in Las Vegas, where it is hosting its annual conference. NCLR president Janet Murguía praised the board decision in an interview with The Washington BladeShe said:

NCLR has taken a strong stand on marriage equality and our Board of Directors wanted to affirm and support that decision, which I very much appreciate. That unanimous vote recognizes that marriage equality and LGBT issues are, and need to be, part of NCLR's core civil rights agenda.

The NCLR's endorsement comes a month after a similar show of formal support from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), one of the largest civil rights organizations in the country.

Latinos have consistently supported the freedom to marry - both nationwide and in key states. An April 2012 study from the Pew Hispanic Center found that 59 percent of Latinos in the United States say homosexuality should be accepted by society, and a March 2011 study suggested that 67 percent of Latino Catholics support legal recognition for same-sex couples. The Latino community understands the importance of strong families, and it widely realizes that marriage is the best way to protect all couples. 

Support for the freedom to marry from the NCLR - and among the broader Latino community - is critical to our goal of winning marriage for same-sex couples nationwide. The community's commitment to family and respect for others is on full display when Latinos support the freedom to marry, and we should continue to encourage and celebrate these important steps forward.