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Tx4obama

(36,974 posts)
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 11:43 PM Jun 2013

'God's law' cited as reason for silencing gay Pa. rep on DOMA

'God's law' cited as reason for silencing gay Pa. rep on DOMA

Openly gay state Rep. Brian Sims, D-Philadelphia, was blocked from talking about the Supreme Court's ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act Wednesday on the floor of the Pennsylvania House.

His comments to his colleagues were ended by a procedural maneuver.

In a part of the house session where members can speak on wide-ranging topics, Sims had just begun his remarks when he was shut down.

"I wasn't planning on chastising anybody. I wasn't planning on discussing how far we have to come in Pennsylvania or that we really have no civil rights in Pennsylvania," Sims said. "It was really just going to limit my comments to how important the cases were."

It takes just one legislator to end the impromptu remarks. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe was one of the House Republicans who objected.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/component/flexicontent/item/56656

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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'God's law' cited as reason for silencing gay Pa. rep on DOMA (Original Post) Tx4obama Jun 2013 OP
Teh P-A G-A-Y. onehandle Jun 2013 #1
Additional article on the link below Tx4obama Jun 2013 #2
. blkmusclmachine Jun 2013 #3
UPDATE: Lawmaker Asks House To Censure Republican savalez Jun 2013 #4
Thank you for posting the update :) n/t Tx4obama Jun 2013 #6
Anytime that Metcalfe begins to speak they should shut him down for being against gods laws. LiberalFighter Jun 2013 #5
I disagree modrepub Jun 2013 #7
That might be fine but it shuts down one so only the other gets to talks. LiberalFighter Jun 2013 #8
I'm with ya modrepub Jun 2013 #9

savalez

(3,517 posts)
4. UPDATE: Lawmaker Asks House To Censure Republican
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 01:05 PM
Jun 2013
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An openly gay Pennsylvania state lawmaker asked his legislative colleagues Thursday to censure an archconservative colleague who a day earlier had prevented him from making floor remarks about the Supreme Court’s gay marriage rulings.

Rep. Brian Sims, D-Philadelphia, asked the chamber to reprimand Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, at the close of session because of an interview Metcalfe gave to explain why he exercised his right to prevent him from speaking on the topic during session.

“His comments did not live up to the standards set by this body,” Sims said on the floor.

Metcalfe told WHYY-FM that Sims’ comments would have been “open rebellion against God’s law.” He told The Associated Press late Thursday he stood by those remarks.


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/openly-gay-pa-lawmaker-asks-house-to-censure-republican-who-blocked-his-remarks-on-gay-rights.php?ref=fpb

modrepub

(3,469 posts)
7. I disagree
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 05:12 PM
Jun 2013

The more people like Metcalfe talk the more people will become aware of what these people truly believe. What Metcalfe did was actually against the PA Constitution (preventing a citizen from exercising their freedom of speech). Given that I'm against anyone preventing someone else expressing their opinion (no matter how repulsive).

LiberalFighter

(50,504 posts)
8. That might be fine but it shuts down one so only the other gets to talks.
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 05:21 PM
Jun 2013

As long as they want to shut down one side then the other side needs to shut them down until they behave like adults.

At least with both sides able to talk there is 100% speech rights instead of 50%.

modrepub

(3,469 posts)
9. I'm with ya
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 05:56 PM
Jun 2013

The PA legislature is such a throw back. Most legislation is hashed out behind closed doors. Legislators are often far removed from reality, especially in the "safe" districts, which constitute at least 80%+ of the seats. It's a mess and things like this happen more often than they should.

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