Smell the fear and desperation.
Several hundred Christian fundamentalists gathered on the south steps of the Capitol today in a rally that was less about the defense of traditional marriage than about preparing for civil disobedience if, as expected, the U.S. Supreme Court later this year declares bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
Beneath a sweltering sun on the first truly hot day of the year, the preachers who spoke at the rally alluded to the idea that a nation that allows same-sex marriage is one teetering of the edge of a fiery maw. “It’s hot,” said Rick Scarborough of Vision America. “I don’t know if it means we’re closer to the sun or closer to hell.” The Bishop Sterling Lands of the Family Life International fellowship told the crowd “family is a Kingdom priority,” and added, “Satan holds marriage as high a priority as God does.”
But there was the unmistakable feeling that they knew their triumphs over the gay rights movement were rapidly slipping away as one federal court after another around the country declares bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, as unconstitutional as racial segregation or bans on interracial marriage. We won, the speakers declared one after another, and now the federal courts are taking our victory away. (A federal judge has declared the Texas ban unconstitutional but put his ruling on hold until rulings from higher courts.)
“It’s not about being anti-anyone. It’s about being for marriage between a man and a woman,” said Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. “The second issue, which is as important, is standing up for the right of the people in a state to determine the decision for public policy in their state, not the federal government.”
I’m not interested in snarking on these fools. They’ve lost, and they’ll be judged with all the harshness that history can bring. I have no idea – and I suspect neither do they – what kind of civil disobedience they can do when same sex marriage is legalized, but if they manage to come up with something that puts them behind bars, it’ll be fine by me. I might sign up to do some prison ministry for them while they’re inside. It’d do them some good.
OK, I guess I did want to snark a little. It’s hard not to, and it’s the level of discourse they deserve. On a much brighter and more substantive note, congratulations and mazel tov to Nicole Dimetman and Cleopatra DeLeon on the birth of their daughter. Let the beauty of that stand in contrast to the ugliness these idiots brought to the Capitol. The Trib and the Observer have more.
I’m just so relieved that Paxton has used taxpayer resources to make sure that gay people can’t take UNPAID leave to stay home with sick loved ones.
Remember their names! Years from now, they’re going to deny ever opposing equality.
Where did I leave my pitchforks? Damn them all!
Sorry, I guess i got a little snarketatious myself.
I am a former christian. They ran me off. Not afraid now to say that most of these Christian hicks are just mean spirited power hungry backward neanderthals. Who will they run off next ?
It’s great to see the Leg wasting our time and money on this nonsense. It’s not like people are getting taxed out of their homes, roads are crumbling and education needs to be addressed or anything.
For people who claim to hate Sharia law, some of our legislators sure seem to idolize their views.
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