Some disagree this is a civil rights issue, but...
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/03/national/03GEOR.html?th
"In interviews with more than a dozen black legislators, most were reluctant to characterize their position as a stand against discrimination. Like many of those who oppose a constitutional ban, Representative Earnest Williams of Stone Mountain said comparisons between the struggle for black civil rights and the pursuit of gay marriage were disingenuous.
" 'You just can't equate sexual orientation to racial discrimination,' Mr. Williams said. 'You can make a choice of who you want in your bedroom, but you can't choose your skin color.'
"Even so, some who oppose gay marriage "” and opposition on that point was nearly unanimous "” said the idea of amending the Constitution to restrict the aspirations of a group of people was troubling. Representative Georganna Sinkfield of Atlanta cited previous state laws that upheld slavery, curtailed voting rights and outlawed marriage between blacks and whites.
" 'What I see in this is hate,' Ms. Sinkfield said, standing outside the ornate House chambers between votes. 'I'm a Christian, but if we put this in the Constitution, what's next? People with dark hair? You're opening the floodgates for people to promote their own prejudice.'
"For the most part, black elected officials, at least publicly, have portrayed their opposition as a matter of political pragmatism. Conservative Republicans, they say, are using the issue as a wedge between Democrats and rural whites, and as a way to send religious conservatives to the voting booths in November.
" 'This whole thing is designed to whip up a frenzy to get people to the polls,' said Senator Ed Harbison, chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. 'We have to see this for what it really is. ' "