Topic: Gay Marriage

Role of religion in presidential campaign heads 2008 ‘Top Ten’ church-state stories

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 29, 2008 |

From radioactive clergy to media inquisitions, religion was a hot topic in this year’s race to the White House, according to editors of Church and State Magazine.

The role of religion in the presidential campaign tops the 2008 “Top Ten” list of top church-state stories, according to the editors of Church & State. The monthly magazine published by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, is the nation’s only news periodical devoted exclusively to the intersection of religion and government.

Said Church & State publisher Barry W. Lynn, “It was a wild and crazy year. To tell you the truth, I’m glad it’s coming to a close. I’m hopeful 2009 will be a lot better.”

After studying the past 12 months of news, the editors selected the following 10 stories as the most important and most interesting church-state developments for the year. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Opinion, Politics, Spirituality | No Comments

Gay marriage: race isn’t a scapegoat

By David W. Shelton | November 12, 2008 |

Three anti-gay marriage amendments were passed in this year’s election, and some gay activists are pointing fingers at the black community while ignoring their own failure to educate the very groups who would later vote against them.

This year’s election was indeed a bittersweet moment for those of us who supported President-Elect Obama and also gay marriage. While Obama was elected to be the 44th president of the United States, all three of the proposed constitutional amendments in Florida, Arizona, and California passed, even with slim margins.

I am keenly aware of what these election results actually mean. For me, there are two things: First, that voters were willing to write discrimination into their states’ constitution. Second, that gay marriage supporters spent a lot of money and time in trying to reach the wrong people.

One of the most frustrating consistencies in the gay marriage debate is in just how little discussion really occurs. No one really talks about their views on same-sex nuptials, unless they know they’re in safe territory to voice their opinion. Pastors tell their flock that gay marriage will lead to the downfall of society, and nearly everyone in their congregation will nod their heads and “amen” without ever once questioning whether such an absurd statement is actually true. On the flip side, pro-gay activists and politicians will opine on their positive views on gay marriage to their own crowds, whether they’re in campaign rallies or poetry readings. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 9 Comments

“Letter from 2012″ scrapes the bottom of the hate barrel

By David W. Shelton | October 28, 2008 |

Focus on the Family Action sends out a letter from the viewpoint of 2012 — is it future history — or just more hateful rhetoric meant to strike fear in the conservative base?

With the new “Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America” that has been released by Focus on the Family Action, an activist wing of Dr. James Dobson’s rightwing organization, we’re reminded of just how hateful such groups are when faced with the prospect of losing an election. I’ve often said that this election is literally between hope and fear, and I’ve never been more convinced of that than I am right now. With just over a week to go, the “fear” camp is pulling out all the stops.

Since it was released to the public last Wednesday, the now-infamous letter has stroked the breast of fear like no other document in recent months. The letter’s writer is unidentified (after all, who’d want to actually put their name to such garbage?). It is nothing more than one “horrible” example of “liberal policies gone wrong” after another.

It shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone that the first three paragraphs of the actual “results” of an Obama presidency point to the very core of Reich-wing fear: national gay marriage and gay men serving as scoutmasters. The very possibility of these two things is so frightening that they must be the first to rattle the cage. First on the list of possible liberal-stacked supreme court rulings would be the legalization of gay marriage: «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics, Spirituality | 5 Comments

Gay marriage wars: here we go again

By David W. Shelton | October 22, 2008 |

After nearly two years of barely a peep from the lips of both Republican and Democratic campaigns on the issue of gay marriage, it appears to be roaring back with a vengeance. Just when I had the (rather ignorant, it seems) hope that the American public would finally be over their need to use the gay community as political target practice, alas.

The often-fiery debate of gay marriage isn’t back by accident either. After dual court wins in California and Connecticut, gay couples have two more states in which they can exchange vows. Those same rulings, however, have brought with them the extra baggage of rage and irrational paranoia — usually from those to whom the issue should matter the least.

Let me say one thing perfectly clear. Senator Obama, Senator McCain, Senator Biden, and Governor Palin — I am not your pet little issue that you can pull out of your political backsides just so you can score with your base. Yes, I’m gay. Yes I would very much like to be able to marry my incredible partner one day. But I have no intention of sitting idly by while you and your campaigns use me and millions of other gay and lesbian people across the country for your little pet issues. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 2 Comments

Neither candidate supports gay marriage – and that’s okay

By David W. Shelton | October 6, 2008 |

Amidst all the talk of the bailout and the apparently imminent recession, issues related to same-sex relationships have taken a back seat. As I’ve stated before, this is actually a very good thing. In the Vice Presidential debate last week, gay-related issues got a whopping one question amid the winks and grins.

In that debate, Moderator Gwen Ifill asked Senator Biden if he supported “as they do in Alaska, granting same-sex benefits to couples.” His answer was a resounding, “absolutely.” He further said that under an Obama administration, there would be no distinction between same-sex couples and heterosexual couples. When pressed on whether he supported gay marriage, he said no.

Palin’s response was, well, pathetic. It was the same kind of yammering she gave Katie Couric on the topic only a day before that she has “dear friends” who were gay and that she would “tolerate” and “be tolerant” of same-sex couples. Never mind the fact that she’s said before that she believes that sexual orientation is a choice that can be “prayed away.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

The tyranny of the majority

By David W. Shelton | June 17, 2008 |

I recently read an article by Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle on Chief Justice Ronald George, who wrote the decision which granted same-sex marriage for California gay couples. It was an in-depth story on the life of this man, and what led to his ultimate belief that equality for all people is a fundamental, constitutional right. One particular segment stood out to me.

In the article, Egelko outlines how George and three other California Supreme Court justices pulled from another marriage quality issue from history, interracial marriage:

George’s same-sex ruling relied heavily on the court’s 1948 decision on interracial marriage, written by a renowned liberal, Justice Roger Traynor. No other state’s court had ever recognized a constitutional right for interracial couples to marry, and the U.S. Supreme Court did not do so until 1967.

A lesson from that case, George said in the interview, was that laws denying “certain basic rights could not be justified just because of history and tradition.”

He recalled a trip with his parents to the still-segregated South as a teenager, when he was shocked to see whites-only signs on drinking fountains and restroom doors.

“It sensitized me to the fact there are minorities of all sorts of types who can be victimized by the majority,” George said. Protecting vulnerable minorities, he said, is “one of the purposes of the courts and of our Constitution.”

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | No Comments

California’s Proposition 22 struck down

By David W. Shelton | May 15, 2008 |

BREAKING NEWS

SACRAMENTO— In a ruling delivered today by the California Supreme Court, Proposition 22, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, was deemed to be unconstitutional. The 4-3 decision was delivered today at 10:00 AM PST.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Ronald M. George said:

“…in light of the conclusions we reach concerning the constitutional questions brought to us for resolution, we determine that the language of section 300 limiting the designation of marriage to a union “between a man and a woman” is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available both to opposite-sex and same-sex couples.”

The full text of the decision and its dissents can be read here.

Sections: News, Politics | 3 Comments

My problems with (King?) Bush

By David W. Shelton | July 6, 2007 |

In 2000, we were met with a very interesting choice for President of the United States. The Clinton administration was coming to a close with Vice President Al Gore emerging as the heir-apparent. Gore was everything that Clinton was not, apparently. Gore was from Tennessee (he had a home in Carthage), he was a successful senator, and now had a bird’s-eye view of the Federal government as Vice President of the United States.

Alas, Gore also had the appearance of being a stodgy dullard with no personality whatsoever. Further, Americans weren’t too sure about electing yet another member of the Executive branch that might have been a part of “Monicagate” (or is that “Lewinskygate?”). Gore was perceived as an “evil” liberal, and talk radio show hosts had a field day with his lack of charisma.

Enter the popular governor of Texas, the only Republican who could have unseated the equally-popular Democrat, the late Anne Richards. George W. Bush was well-liked, had a sense of southern charm, and loved to wink at audiences. He instantly rose to stardom as the Republican nominee for President in the 2000 election. His message of “compassionate conservatism” won the hearts of the media as well as voters. He won my vote as well. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 5 Comments

Gay Marriage Debate to air on NewsChannel 5+ Tonight!

By David W. Shelton | October 24, 2006 |

As reported on Out & About Newspaper’s website:

A live debate will air on NewsChannel 5+ (cable channel 50) on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.  between Randy Tarkington, campaign manager of Vote No on One and David Fowler, president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee.

Chris Clark will moderate the debate, which will air as part of Openline. The show will reair on Tuesday at 10 p.m. and Wednesday at 11 a.m. Click here for the rest of the article.

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Why marriage matters, personal stories from real Tennesseans: Jason & Steven

By Bill Larson | October 15, 2006 |

Steven & Jason
Nashville, TN
1 year together

We met for the first time 9 years ago, and up until a year ago, we dated off and on. Last year, we decided to get serious. Not being able to get married worries us because we aren’t getting the same legal rights as everyone else. We can’t have the same insurance, and if something were to happen to either of us, a life insurance policy wouldn’t be able to help the other. We won’t be able to see each other in the hospital if something serious happens, and without a ton of legal documents and fees, we won’t be able to make decisions for the other if we need to.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9091899728395436929

Visit the Vote no on 1 Tennessee website for more information.

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