I will keep this short, I was quite surprised there was no diary about this already.
For the first time in history, the NAACP endorsed a resolution today opposing measures against marriage equality.
The resolution passed by the organization's board of directors says "the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens."
NAACP President Benjamin Jealous said, "Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law." He cited the equal protection provision in the 14th Amendment, which is one of three post-Civil War amendments securing African American freedom and rights.
They did not expressly endorse same-sex marriage, but rather came out opposed to measures denying equality.
(UPDATE: this is not true, CBSNews entirely misinterpreted this. See below.)
"The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the “political, education, social and economic equality” of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment."
emphasis mine.
The ramifications of this could be somewhat big, especially if the NAACP becomes more actively involved. Another nail in the coffin of bigotry.
UPDATE: The CBS News story linked above was misleading and misrepresented the statement. It appears the NAACP did endorse marriage equality, and did not stop a step short.
UPDATEx2 Here are some links that interpret the NAACP's statement more accurately.
ABCNews
Baltimore Sun
The NAACP itself!