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Gay rights advocates gained two victories in Delaware this week: the senate defeated a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, and the House passed a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Two for one special, as Carlos would say.
The Senate bill would have made an existing state law that already defines marriage as between one man and one woman more difficult to overturn.
So, they already have the 'Sanctity of Marriage' law on the books, but the haters want to make it stronger?
Craziness.
Many Senators felt that amending the constitution was unnecessary and even inappropriate.
"I believe that the constitution ... should be not a place where rights are restricted but where there is a positive affirmation of the rights of all of the people of Delaware," Democratic Senator Brian Bushweller said.
Positive affirmation of the rights of all people. Novel concept, apparently.
Another Democrat, however, Robert Venables, sponsored the bill to make the already illegal same-sex marriage part of the Delaware state Constitution so the courts could not overturn the law. Venables said other states have seen their legal bans overturned when courts ruled the laws were a violation of civil rights.
Uh, yeah! Laws discriminating against a group of people are a violation of civil rights.
And then Venable brought out that often used message of fear when he said he believes legalizing gay marriage could lead to removal of restrictions on pedophiles or relatives marrying.
Yup. Gay. Pedophile. Po-tay-toe. Po-tah-toe.
Nicole Theis, executive director of the Christian group the Delaware Family Policy Council, believes the overturning of gay marriage bans in other states has forced churches to comply with the laws and schools to teach that homosexuality is acceptable.
"Whatever you put into public policy reflects what happens in the classroom," Theis said, holding up copies of children's books that depict gay characters. "I think most people would agree, how you want to live is up to you, but don't teach it in the classroom."
Um, Nicole? Honey? Let's think about this: you cannot teach people to be gay. Isn't possible. But one thing you can teach is hate, and you appear to have been a model student. So Theis, and her cute group of homophobes, will press on.
Democratic Senator Margaret Rose Henry said the amendment reminded her of discriminatory legislation that previously barred people of different races from marrying. "You couldn't marry who you wanted because you happened to be black and this is just like that....This is a bigoted effort in an attempt to hurt gay people who want to make a commitment to one another."
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And now, onto the House.
The vote was 26-14 in favor of prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, public works contracting, public accommodations and insurance.
That's the good news. The bad news is that similar legislation has passed the House three times before, but died each time in the Senate without a vote.
And it triggered the old "equal rights versus special rights" arguments.
House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf, chief sponsor of the bill, said, "This legislation is based on the very foundation on which our country stands -- that we treat all of our citizens with dignity and respect, and that includes respecting the human rights of all people."
Amen Pete; because it really is that simple.
The aforementioned hater Nicole Theis also used her time at the microphone to talk about the discrimination bill, lying through her perfectly white fangs, when she said, "We're not here because we support discrimination."
Yes, you do, Nicole. But in your warped mind, you think discrimination of gays is perfectly acceptable. Right?
Theis had an ally in Regnant Representative Daniel B. Short, who questioned the need for the bill, and worried about its impact on small businesses. He was joined by by fellow Repugnant Gerald W. Hocker, a small-businessman himself.
"I see no discrimination in the work force today," Hocker said. "We don't need this legislation."
But don't you see, fellas, discrimination doesn't show itself; it's insidious; it hides behind lies and deceit. And just because you don't always see it, doesn't mean it isn't there.
It's just like hate.
____________
Gay rights advocates gained two victories in Delaware this week: the senate defeated a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, and the House passed a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Two for one special, as Carlos would say.
The Senate bill would have made an existing state law that already defines marriage as between one man and one woman more difficult to overturn.
So, they already have the 'Sanctity of Marriage' law on the books, but the haters want to make it stronger?
Craziness.
Many Senators felt that amending the constitution was unnecessary and even inappropriate.
"I believe that the constitution ... should be not a place where rights are restricted but where there is a positive affirmation of the rights of all of the people of Delaware," Democratic Senator Brian Bushweller said.
Positive affirmation of the rights of all people. Novel concept, apparently.
Another Democrat, however, Robert Venables, sponsored the bill to make the already illegal same-sex marriage part of the Delaware state Constitution so the courts could not overturn the law. Venables said other states have seen their legal bans overturned when courts ruled the laws were a violation of civil rights.
Uh, yeah! Laws discriminating against a group of people are a violation of civil rights.
And then Venable brought out that often used message of fear when he said he believes legalizing gay marriage could lead to removal of restrictions on pedophiles or relatives marrying.
Yup. Gay. Pedophile. Po-tay-toe. Po-tah-toe.
Nicole Theis, executive director of the Christian group the Delaware Family Policy Council, believes the overturning of gay marriage bans in other states has forced churches to comply with the laws and schools to teach that homosexuality is acceptable.
"Whatever you put into public policy reflects what happens in the classroom," Theis said, holding up copies of children's books that depict gay characters. "I think most people would agree, how you want to live is up to you, but don't teach it in the classroom."
Um, Nicole? Honey? Let's think about this: you cannot teach people to be gay. Isn't possible. But one thing you can teach is hate, and you appear to have been a model student. So Theis, and her cute group of homophobes, will press on.
Democratic Senator Margaret Rose Henry said the amendment reminded her of discriminatory legislation that previously barred people of different races from marrying. "You couldn't marry who you wanted because you happened to be black and this is just like that....This is a bigoted effort in an attempt to hurt gay people who want to make a commitment to one another."
_________________________
And now, onto the House.
The vote was 26-14 in favor of prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, public works contracting, public accommodations and insurance.
That's the good news. The bad news is that similar legislation has passed the House three times before, but died each time in the Senate without a vote.
And it triggered the old "equal rights versus special rights" arguments.
House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf, chief sponsor of the bill, said, "This legislation is based on the very foundation on which our country stands -- that we treat all of our citizens with dignity and respect, and that includes respecting the human rights of all people."
Amen Pete; because it really is that simple.
The aforementioned hater Nicole Theis also used her time at the microphone to talk about the discrimination bill, lying through her perfectly white fangs, when she said, "We're not here because we support discrimination."
Yes, you do, Nicole. But in your warped mind, you think discrimination of gays is perfectly acceptable. Right?
Theis had an ally in Regnant Representative Daniel B. Short, who questioned the need for the bill, and worried about its impact on small businesses. He was joined by by fellow Repugnant Gerald W. Hocker, a small-businessman himself.
"I see no discrimination in the work force today," Hocker said. "We don't need this legislation."
But don't you see, fellas, discrimination doesn't show itself; it's insidious; it hides behind lies and deceit. And just because you don't always see it, doesn't mean it isn't there.
It's just like hate.
I have 99% of the credits to be a certified teacher in our state. Never ONCE we were told to teach marriage and heterosexuality. Also there is nothing in our grade level requirements about highway funding, state pension dispersal or insurance standards - ALL public policy.
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