If you think the Texas Attorney General is a reactionary because he’d rather see a gay Dallas couple remain married than possibly recognizing their marriage in a sideways kind of way by allowing them to get legally divorced, you don’t have to look farther than Louisiana to see just how really bad things are.
Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay of Hammond, La., went to the justice of the peace to get a marriage license on Oct. 6. Just to be clear, Beth is a woman and Terence is a man. They wanted to get opposite-sex married.
But they live in Louisiana. And Humphrey and McKay are an interracial couple.
So Tangipahoa Parish Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell denied them a marriage license. It wasn’t because he is a racist, he insisted. Instead, he said, “My main concern is for the children.”
Yes, children of interracial couples are at a disadvantage in this country, mostly because bigots don’t accept them. Children of gay and lesbian couples have that same trouble. Bigots taunt and tease them and use their own harassing behavior as proof that those children have a difficult time.
However, despite what Mr. Bardwell thinks, children of interracial couples do grow up to become president of the United States and even win Nobel Peace prizes.
In his defense, Bardwell told Associated Press, “I try to treat everyone equally.”
By that he means it was nothing personal. He equally denies marriage licenses to any and all interracial couples. I can just imagine his reaction to a gay or lesbian couple applying for that same license from him. And an interracial gay or lesbian couple would probably give him apoplexy.
The American Civil Liberties Union is preparing a letter to the Louisiana Supreme Court to remove Bardwell from office.
ACLU attorney Katie Schwartzman said, “The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry.”
Really? Tell that to Texas and 44 other states that deny gays and lesbians the right to marry.
— David Taffet
Really? REALLY? The SCOTUS has already made it clear that you cannot decide who can marry (unless, of course, you love someone of the same gender— but that’s a topic for another time). In the 21st century, this “justice” hasn’t a leg to stand on and, clearly, is in a good deal of trouble.
Reprehensible and Draconian. Shameful and ancient. Funny if it wasn’t so horrifying.
This country was founded on multiple nationalitys, kick him out of this country. Take his racist propaganda somewhere else. Let him know how you feel.
Keith Bardwell
Justice of the Peace
23288 Bardwell Road
Ponchatoula, LA 70454
(985) 542-1732
hmmm… “ACLU attorney Katie Schwartzman said, “The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry.”
Gosh, then why can’t a man or woman marry the same gender? Leave religion out of it, just apply the “married” status and provide the same legal rights equally to all humans and then that statement will be true.
Give me a call when blacks start to support gay marriage, then I might actually give a crap.
What’s the problem?
If gays/lesbians can’t marry, then mixed races shouldn’t marry either.
After all, we’re only talking about consenting adults, right?
Screw them all.
I applaud this man. In most states a JP is not “on the bench.” He is an elected official responsible for decisions on county/parish matters (roads, courthouse policies, funding of the sheriff’s dept., etc.) I imagine that under state law most are PERMITTED, NOT REQUIRED, to conduct civil marriages. Therefore, he can probably pick and choose between couples he chooses to marry. He is entitled to his opinions and his expression of free speech the same as anyone else.
There are a great many people who do not condone miscegenation, regardless of what the Supreme Court mandated. This court mandated a law, not a belief system. The JP did not break the law. He should no more be sought out and punished or harassed for having his beliefs than you should for having yours. Freedom is for everyone.
I personally believe that this is a man of great and rare courage and integrity. I salute him
Marriage? What’s that? Something about until death do us part? Poppycock! Today’s “marriage” is a dismal shadow of what was once the essence of a thriving society. Don’t even call today’s “marriage” anything approaching legitimacy, for the judge was precisely correct by stating that interracial marriages don’t last, which is borne out by the pandemic of black males who never knew who their father was, and are so incredibly irresponsible they fornicate as far and wide as possible. One thing we don’t need are more bastard children and correlated gang growth. If those abandoned children from lawless and irresponsible, untalented, slothfull fathers want a strong male, they’ll head for a gang or the local gay bar if Dad’s not going to stick around and do the right thing and bring his kids up in a Godly manner.
Ah, but liberal America, you just can’t find the time to really worry about bastard kids and gangs as a result of your undisciplined and perverted concepts of what constitutes “marriage” now, can you? Well, when they break into your home or shoot you down on the street like they’re doing all over Mexico these days, you’ll understand this a whole lot better.
It order is not imposed by the government, and the population refuses to really obey God in the real manner it needs to, then just stop worrying about some Louisiana judge who actually makes sense. The whole country and world is about to suffer unbelievable horror for its sins, especially the sin of abortion. The movie 2012 has a nice warmup act. Enjoy it, cause when the real thing hits, and it will hit soon, you won’t be laughing.
His excuse about the children is purely a justification because deep down he knows he’s wrong.
Apparently politicians are still finding ways to discriminate and show their own racial and gender prejudices through their own interpretations of the Bible. It is sad that so few people really understand the Bible and the reason we have the life of Jesus documented.
In a society where luxuries and those who can afford them also run the churches and dictate civil laws I stand in awe of how little those same people carry the sentiment of Jesus. Jesus states to His desciples “by this will all men know you are of me, that you have LOVE one toward another”. He also tells them the GREATEST of the commandments are that you love God and your neighbor as yourself. Through the entirity of Jesus’ ministry we see Him showing UNCONDITIONAL love to prostitues, lame men (which were by the law unclean to regular society), a woman who had been declared by the law as unclean as she had “issues” with her female anatomy, etc. We also see him chastise the Scribes and Pharisees (hypocritical and selfrighteous “upper class” church folk) and the Politicians who ultimately crucified Him because His purity of heart made their perversions of the law and of God’s message of love look bad. So IF (in caps for a reason) many of today’s Christians are really Lovers of God and their fellow man, why do so many of them use the Bible to indoctrinate hatred and justify their own prejudices? The reality is very few really attempt to live up to the term Christian (like Christ).
You can’t seriously condem people for their skin pigmentation and be a Christian as the Justice in Louisana who denied a marriage liscense to an interracial couple just today. I would even venture to debate a person’s belief in Christianity when they lobby secular government to enforce laws such as don’t ask don’t tell or the “defense of marriage act” by the following logic. Jesus Himself was an advocate of separation of Church and state (render unto Ceaser what belongs to him and render to God what belongs to God). One of the reasons is because Politicians are bought and sold on the free market of lobbyists everyday and thus politics is a corruptable lifestyle (every man has a price). But also legislating “sin” doesn’t save anyone’s soul nor does it bring anyone into the knowledge of the gift of God or the Love therein. In example, by not allowing gays to serve in the millitary it doesn’t make the political intentions of the military Godly, nor does it bring salvation to those who are serving that aren’t attracted to the same sex. The DOMA ammendment is silly as well due to the fact that the divorce rate in the U.S. is above 50% for heterosexuals. It seems that rate is a constant for both Church attendees as well as non church attendees. Being that marriage is an individual union by each couple, allowing same sex couples to call their unions “marriage” does not dilute the validity of another couple’s marriage. Only the indiscretions and mis-communications and disagreements etc of each INDIVIDUAL marriage can strengthen or dissolve each union.
AGAIN since following civil law doesn’t create Christians, why are so many “churchfolk” so concerned about what “sinners” do? Isn’t the “job” of the churchfolk to spread the LOVE of God by showing unconditional love to everyone so that the gift of Jesus be shared throughout all humanity? It is an impossibility to share a gift we haven’t received ourselves right? If we are loved unconditionally we would love unconditionally right? So why do divisions remain? There are church’s that believe you have to vote with certain political parties to be a “true christian” (which again is a violation of the teachings of Christ). There are “church’s” (using that term loosely) that are built on racial prejudices which is a violation of the teachings of Christ. And to add a different spin on it, there is still rampant racial discrimination in the gay community (which is ironic since they are lobbying for equality).
So what now? How do we correct all of the ignorance and discrimination that occurs? It starts by making this type of ignorance and behavior socially unacceptable in our own circles. If someone discriminates against a homosexual or a puertorican or a black peroson you should speak up and tell them that’s no longer acceptable behavior. We as an entire race that God created (the human race) cannot truely unite if we are hating each other for subtle differences that really don’t matter. Did Christ not sacrifice for all? Surely He did!!! So grow up and act like you have some sense. Whether you are Christian or not the principles of love and unity and reconciliation are principles taught universally in most religions thus they must be ingrained in humanity’s spiritual being. Step out of the box and Be that mature person in your group that reaches out to someone you wouldn’t normally consider “worthy” of your attention. It’s humbling to realize how small the world really is when we show love one toward another and how much we all really go through the same types of issues whether black, white, yellow or green with purple polkadots. Be real with yourself. Love yourself enough to love others!!! Peace and Blessings to all!!!
this is man deserves the darwin award for being the biggest tool out there. most marriages in general do not last. This guy’s opinion, although he has every right to it, is way of base. i am 34, and a half black and half white and live in texas of all places. maybe 34 years ago when this justice of the peace started this was a big issue but today that is just stupid. to say one that ” i have tons of black friends” is a bigots greatest lie. because all of the races of people i actually do know no one cares what color the parents are much less if the kids are interracial. this justice of the peace has set man kind back a 100 years. if this is all based on his experience then he needs to get out of his bigot box and get some better experiences and some real black friends as well as other races. i feel ashamed for a man who can admit that this is the way he acts in public office workplace. it reflect bad on his co-workes, employees, and frankly the town on which he presides. after all he was electet by people in that town to be a justice of the peace. if that happend in my town i would see his job end or leave town. if we can’t as a people finally rid ourselves of people who view other humans and their rights as second to their own fanatical view then we will never acheive “The Dream”. that is something that i, an interracial child, holds to be the core of our country’s success.