West Virginia’s Republican State Sens. Donna Boley and David Nohe are working with their colleagues in the House of Delegates to draft legislation that would let voters choose whether to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Haven’t we been here before? With more violent imagery?
Yep! Back in 2009, lawmakers tried this same stunt. In the House it was overwhelmingly shot down.
But this time Boley and Nohe think they’ve got a chance to get their bill put before the full Senate for a vote. The draft, which matches one being trafficked in the House, would have voters yaying or naying this: “Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for same-sex relationships to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities or effects of marriage.”
Unsurprisingly, the West Virginia Family Foundation is tripping over itself in glee: “Senate Joint Resolution 5 and House Joint Resolution 18 will constitutionally protect marriage as only between one man and one woman,” says the group’s president Kevin McCoy, “preventing activist judges from radically redefining marriage in our state.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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Now let’s hope this time around, advocates for marriage discrimination lose the sniper cross-hairs they were using in last year’s failed campaign to ban same-sex unions. (Wait for the 1:00 mark.) Because, you might have heard, this type of imagery is no longer kosher. As you can see in this 2009 video promoting WVForMarriage.com, from the Georgia-based Campaign Secrets, gays have straight families in their sights! RUN!!!
[photo via]
Steve
Actually, activist judges could just declare that amendment unconstitutional in regards to the federal constitution
justiceontherocks
What has 60 teeth and an IQ of 50?: the West Virginia legislature.
Jarae
Its funny how the only black person/child in this video was during the adoption part and they copied and pasted the pic of a black kid into a white family. This video made me lol!!!
Gigi
Couldn’t watch the entire thing. Every time I heard the narrator say the word “marriage” I wanted to hurl!
Marc
@justiceontherocks: I think you’re being generous on the teeth – the I! is questionable as well.
Jay
So if you’re not Christian, it should be totally fine to gay marry right?
Thank goodness I wasn’t raised Christian.
Jim Hlavac
I would like our most visceral opponents to come full forth and say what they feel. I know it’s counterintuitive — but the most outspoken our opponents are the better it is. Far too many Americans have already decided that we are no threat to anything. I know too that our most hate-filled opponents think they are on an upswing. God bless them, for the more they think they’re getting somewhere, the more they’ll fail. Makes no difference if they win in the short term — in the long term we win because all the different cases will perforce require the US Supreme Court to rule on the matter — and even if they rule against us now, it’ll crystallize the debate — like Hardwick v Bowers led to Lawrence v Texas — whatever laws or rulings are against us now, we’ll win in the end. For some 35 years I’ve watched this charade. And we ultimately win, for the nation doesn’t have the heart, the mind or the courage to really arrest us all and deport us as the FRC and it’s varied ilk want. The more shrill they are now the better in the long term it will be. Though I recognize that not everyone can see this reality, I can’t repeat it enough: Our most vociferous opponents are our best friends. Let them speak, and encourage them to be more vocal. It can only do us good.
Adonis-of-Fire
Fuck straight families, marriages and pregnant women are disgusting, I hate screaming children…if I didn’t do the bitch I don’t have to put up with her screaming kid.
GregorVonK
@Jim Hlavac: You make an interesting point, BUT this vid is particularly odious!
Matthew
Honestly, I feel like this argument is seeded by ignorance and lies. Therefore, if anyone who is unsure about any part of this please contact a gay person and find out the truth, rather than be brainwashed by decades of bigotry in the hills of West Virginia. They scream reform in the name of lies and discrimination. Find out the truth. Ask someone, and if you want my opinion and my truth, ask me. [email protected] is my e-mail.
Marie
Firstly, what the hell does gay marriage have to do with religious freedom? And secondly, since when did “god” sanction marriage as “one man, one woman”? Seems to me that the man after god’s own heart… King David… had lots of wives, as did several other old testament men. The church is full of sheep who follow the church’s teachings blindly and don’t pay attention when their leaders contradict themselves constantly.