Celebration, disappointment on the Supreme Court steps

WASHINGTON—“You shouldn’t be here,” a young woman said. She leaned forward, her face flushed, a tiny gay rights equality flag stuck in her hair.

Chauncey Killens, the African-American man staring down at her, didn’t seem to belong. Over his shoulders he wore a sign that said, “Marriage always equals one man and one woman.” Around him, by the marble steps of the Supreme Court, a crowd of gay activists and supporters cheered the news of today’s Supreme Court decision.

“They’re celebrating,” the college-aged, gay rights supporter told Killens. She spun around and walked away. Killens stayed.

The crowd included same-sex couples and other spectators, all declaring the decision marked a time of new acceptance for America. They sang, hugged, and smiled. Killen and a handful of others watched with disappointment.

“I don’t care what the courts do,” Killens said, “Wrong is wrong.”

He stood on the sidewalk underneath the Supreme Court’s white marble columns. A policeman guided cars past the crowd and journalists jockeyed for position to get the best photographs. A transgender man in high heels posed with his friend, who wore a long black cloak and white wig. Spectators snapped photos on their iPhones. Giant red “equality” flags waved above the crowd.

Around the corner, a Methodist group held a communion service, the basket of bread draped with rainbow colored streamers.

“We give thanks today for God’s love,” the leader said.

Emily Pickens-Jones was among those taking communion. A student at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, Pickens-Jones identifies as pan-sexual, someone interested in all sexual choices across genders. She grew up in a San Francisco neighborhood where gay couples were normal. “I’ve been wanting this all my life,” she said while holding up a homemade sign, colored in markers, claiming Christians are called to love everyone.

But Ronald Brock said Pickens-Jones has it wrong: “Our definition of love and God’s definition of love is not the same.”

Brock, a white-haired man with “Jesus” on his baseball cap, stood about 10 steps away from Killens holding up the edge of a sign that came up to his shoulders. It read, “For the wages of sin is death,” and “We must obey God rather than men.”

Journalists stopped by, cameras flashing, microphones held up. He had the reporters lean in close so he could hear their questions. He said Christians have not been active enough in opposing same-sex marriage.

“The best I get from Christians is they come up quietly and shake my hand,” he said. “This is why this has taken place, because they don’t care.”

Brock said he does not argue with the gay activists he meets. He quotes Scripture. They tell him that Jesus ordered love for all. He said that’s why he holds up his sign. It’s a form of love.

The problem is, homosexuals seem to care more than Christians do, Brock said.

“We’re a bunch of cowards,” he said. “This is our fault.”