Arkansas Republican Introduces Bill to Ban Same-Sex Marriage

[DonViejo]

Source: The New Civil Rights Movement



by David Badash
March 09, 2017 9:36 AM

'A Marriage Between Persons of the Same Sex Is Void'

Republican Representative Stephen Meeks has introduced a bill to ban same-sex marriage in the state of Arkansas. The bill, which already has 19 co-sponsors and support of at least on state senator, will also prohibit the state from recognizing the legal marriages of same-sex couples from out of state.

“Marriage shall be only between a man and a woman. A marriage between persons of the same sex is void,” HB 2098 reads. "It is the public policy of the State of Arkansas to recognize the marital union only of man and woman."

If all that weren't clear enough, the bill also states: "Marriages between persons of the same sex are prohibited in this state."

The bill even cites the historic Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court case that found same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage.

Read more: http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/arkansas_republican_introduces_bill_to_ban_same_sex_marriage

[uppityperson]

1. K&R with a sigh for wider exposure

[Bengus81]

2. Wasn't it Arkansas where they passed or proposed a bill stating

That a woman can't have an abortion unless the father also signs off on it?? Meaning if you can't locate that rapists or your ex boy friend you might be SOL.

[Aristus]

3. Jesus. When are we going to stop allowing the ass-scratching hayseeds to dictate public policy?

Fuck 'em...

[LonePirate]

4. The Republicans' war on the Constitution continues.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Make Inequality Great Again

ban women from the workplace while you're at it, will ya bubbas?
No sense in the little women feeling independent, they might try
to escape our protection and abuse.

[mountain grammy]

6. K & R

to expose this nonsense.

[NurseJackie]

7. I'll bet that Arkansas still has anti-miscegenation laws on the books.

[Initech]

8. Fuck these assholes!

[mreilly]

9. And there you have it.

This is why the Repubs are obsessed with overturning federal laws and "sending them back to the states." So backassward shithole red states can then discriminate and target whomever they like, and the Repubs in Washington can shrug and say "We just don't think this should be a federal issue, that's all."

Oh, but just let those uppity states do something they don't like such as legalize marijuana and suddenly it becomes a federal issue!

[forgotmylogin]

20. Enjoy being erased from the map, Arkansas.

Like there is much of anything there to go see anyay.

(Apologies to DUers who might reside there.)

[mreilly]

22. I feel the same way...

... apologies to our compatriots in red states, but I generally avoid red states. I live in Massachusetts and when I go to red states I find I have to keep my mouth shut and watch my back. This is why we're going to CA for vacation next month.

[BigDemVoter]

24. I agree. I lived there for 3 years and hated every moment.

As a gay man, I had to listen to so much mean spirited, casual "chit chat" that demeaned Muslims, gays, and racial minorities. It was dreadful. I don't EVER want to visit that shit hole again.

My apologies to the 3 people who were nice.

[dhol82]

10. Don't they have something important to worry about?

Idiots!

[SpankMe]

11. No doubt about it - Republicans are motherfuckers

Part of me almost wants Republicans to create Christian dictatorships in the states they dominate - ban marriage equality, criminalize abortion, eliminate the separation of church and state, sacrifice the environment for profits, deny scientific reality and weave this ignorance into public policy, eliminate intellectual integrity in higher education and in the journalistic media, create a police state...the whole right wing enchilada.

Then, all of the LGBT, pro-woman, equality- and environmentally-minded, pro-science, pro-intellectual people will move to blue states and create powerful bastions of truly free, open-minded, ecologically sustainable and enlightened societies.

I know there are "blue" people in red states, and these people don't want to leave their heritage and birthrights. I know that we shouldn't trash talk and flame on all of Texas and Kansas, as we'd be abandoning our fellow progressives who still live there and who are attached to those states by their heritage.

But...

I'm beginning to change my tune on this. Liberals in these ass-backwards states are just going to have to suck it up and leave. Syrians are making the tough decision to leave the only society they've known - becoming refugees seeking a new life in countries with social structures that are shocking to them. Well, blue folks in fucked-up red states are going to have to do the same. They'll have to move to California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and be accepted as refugees and change their stars.

I'm beginning to think that it's becoming hopeless. Republicans want "state's rights" so absolute, that we'll have two Americas living side by side, separated red and blue by borders and with completely opposite values. How we could still be called "United States" is beyond me. The total domination of executive, legislative and judicial branches in some states by Republicans have caused a schism that I don't think America can recover from. I've never been so pessimistic in my life.

[Chipper Chat]

12. If this passes and becomes law it would cause shock waves across the country.

It could be the straw that broke the camels back and threaten the existence of the "Union."

[OKNancy]

13. waste of time and money... if passed

it won't ever be law. The Supreme Court has already decided. The law would be unconstitutional and the lower courts will strike it down.

[dbackjon]

14. Don't be so blase

Marriage Equality only passed 5-4.

FUCKSTEINTRUMP has vowed to overturn it given a chance.



This is why the GOP wins - people like you keep saying "oh, they will never do that".



The GOP is the enemy. They must be fought everywhere, and defeated.

[OKNancy]

17. fighting it in court is not blase

I doubt it would make it to the supreme court anyway.
Every shitty bill that the creeps here in Oklahoma have tried to pass has been overturned.
I'm thinking the same will happen to our neighbor in Arkansas.

But never say or write on DU that I'm blase or don't care. You don't know me.

[Sunlei]

16. Republicans ALWAYS squander millions of Americans money on their discrimination 'bills'

[Sunlei]

15. gay hater-Republicans cram gov. bills like a Corporation crams consumers with fraud bill charges.

REPUBLICAN CRAMMERS

cram·ming


/ˈkramiNG/


noun

noun: cramming; plural noun: crammings

the fraudulent practice of adding unauthorized charges to a customer's phone bill.

[J_William_Ryan]

18. Such is the reprehensible

right's contempt for the Constitution, its case law, and the rule of law.

[sinkingfeeling]

19. When I moved to Arkansas in 1991 it was an all-Democratic state. Bright,

naturally beautiful and rising out of the bottom 5 of states. And our governor was running for president.

Now I can't wait to sell my house and get out.

[rickford66]

21. Demand that a chromosome test is required for every marriage.

Only an XX and XY can be married. Statistically there will be enough variations that the law will be repealed.

[Turbineguy]

23. "We're not happy,

until you're unhappy!"