tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665762.post113165959890882936..comments2023-10-28T05:39:10.909-04:00Comments on Straight Not Narrow-Presenting Jesus Beyond the Walls: The "Threat" of Same-Sex MarriageUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665762.post-1131987462133904062005-11-14T11:57:00.000-05:002005-11-14T11:57:00.000-05:00Ironically, the measure is named the "Marriage Pro...<I>Ironically, the measure is named the "Marriage Protection Amendment."</I><BR/><BR/>Yeah, and it's not the first time by any means. The anger is often built on a foundation of fear. The move is not meant to be malicious. A similar move, with equally similar language...<BR/><BR/>In 1912, Rep. Seaborn Roddenberry (R-Ga.) proposed this amendment to the Constitution: "Intermarriage between negros or persons of color and Caucasians... within the United States... is forever prohibited." The amendment did not pass, even though the majority of Americans opposed interracial marriage and advocates argued this amendment was necessary to save the sacred institution of marriage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665762.post-1131739088105919342005-11-11T14:58:00.000-05:002005-11-11T14:58:00.000-05:00As a man who cannot legally marry my Partner in 49...As a man who cannot legally marry my Partner in 49 of the United States, I draw attention to the lessons already learned in the one state that has permitted it: Massachusetts. This is taken from an article in <I>Bay Windows Online</I> -- <B>State Rep. Eugene O'Flaherty, an influential opponent of civil marriage rights for same-sex couples, now says that he is opposed to the current effort to put a gay marriage ban on the 2008 ballot. During a lengthy interview with Bay Windows, O'Flaherty also says that as House chair of the legislature's Joint Committee on the Judiciary he will recommend that the legislation not be passed should it come before his committee, as it likely will.<BR/><BR/>The Chelsea Democrat has long been an obstacle to gay rights ranging from his opposition to simple domestic partnership legislation to his attempts to block implementation of the Supreme Judicial Court's Goodridge decision, which found that the state constitution guaranteed the rights of lesbian and gay couples to marry. As one longtime State House observer says of O'Flaherty, "He hasn't [just] opposed the gay community, he has led the fight against the gay community viciously and vociferously." <BR/><BR/>But a number of factors have convinced the five-term legislator to change his position. The lengthy debate on marriage, O'Flaherty says, has consumed too much of his time as a legislator. "I want to try to dispose of this issue," he says. "It's occupied the last three years of my life; a lot of time, a lot of energy and I'd like to apply that to healthcare. I'd like to apply that to some of the other issues that we have in front of us, that as far as I'm concerned, are much more important to our constituents at this point."</B>Michael Doddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00942287172727040371noreply@blogger.com