The Age of _____: Arkansas Ramps Up The Hate

Well, Hair Furor, who ran on a campaign of hate, has been in office a little more than a month now and already his hatred of anyone who is “other” has spread around the country.

In Arkansas, last week, a bill has been proposed to make marriage only between a man and a woman; damn that pesky Supreme Court ruling.

In the Arkansas Legislature, twenty Representatives and one Senator introduced House Bill 2098—with Republican, because ... of course, Stephen Meeks as lead sponsor—which would not recognize marriages between two people of the same sex, even if the marriage happened in a different state or country:

“Marriage shall be only between a man and a woman. A marriage between persons of the same sex is void.”

And if the law passes, no marriage licenses would be issued to same-sex couples, and already married same-sex couples would no longer be entitled to the benefits of marriage.

And, in an effort to make themselves appear less hate-filled, less homophobic, this bill would not prohibit an employer from “extending benefits to a person who is a domestic partner of an employee.”

Domestic partner, good; marriage, bad.

But that’s not all ... at least fifteen other bills have been filed in Arkansas that negatively affect the LGBT community. 

There’s SJR7, sponsored by Senator Jason Rapert, a Republican because ... of course, which calls for marriage to be defined in the United States Constitution as between one man and one woman.

And there’s the Healthcare Freedom of Conscience Bill," sponsored by Senator Brandt Smith, another Republican because ... of course which would allow doctors, nurses, and social workers to refuse treatment to people that may "violate their consciences" by, you know, being gay

The proposed House Bill 1628 would also allow healthcare providers to not be civilly or criminally liable for declining to offers services that violate their conscience unless the patient's life is at stake. So, if you’re queer and you’re not dying, medical “professionals” in Arkansas can be all, “I can’t because God hates Fags.”

Another bill, Senate Bill 774, would require everyone in public schools, colleges, and government buildings to use the bathroom of their "designated sex" and not the gender with which they identify because transgender persons are perverts you know, who use the bathroom, not to pee, but to molest the children. It’s sponsored by Senator Linda Collins-Smith, another Republican because ... of course.

Luckily, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson objected to a previous “bathroom bill” and is repeating those objections for Collins-Smith’s bill.

But we have a fight on our hands; it wasn’t all said and done when the Supreme Court said the LGBT community deserves equal protection, equality, under the law. After the election of ____ the haters have become emboldened and are now taking aim at our rights in many states around the country, and, if you’ll note, most of those proposing Hate Bills are Republicans.

That should tell you something; that should tell you who to support, and who to vote out of office.

The fight is not over, the march goes on ...

THV 11