'Complaints filed against AL probate judge for refusing same-sex marriage licenses' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Complaints filed against probate judge for refusing same-sex marriage licenses - Yes! If your refusal to do your job robs folks of their hard-won rights, you pay the price.  

Jeffress: Gay Marriage Is 'The Greatest Sign Of The End Times That We See In Our Country Right Now' - Whatever happened to the good old days when doom-and-gloom prophets looked the part. Somehow appearing on television shows, radio shows and in front of scores of folks while dressed like a GQ model (and I haven't even mentioned the bank account) kinda paints you as not credible.

South Dakota Lawmaker Says It Was A ‘Significant Error’ To Allow Transgender Student Athletes - For Pete's sake, stop picking on our transgender children! 

 Alabama marriage equality tantrum slap in the face to all Americans - From time to time, I will include posts I've already written in the news briefs because I feel said post makes a point which should be shared as much as possible. This is such a post. We need to emphasize the following point continuously: "Exploiting your religious faith to get your way when you lose in federal court is not American."  

How 'Respectablity Politics' Muted The Legacy Of Black LGBT Activist Pauli Murray - Another lgbt of color historical figure we don't know about yet . . .

Alabama marriage equality tantrum slap in the face to all Americans

“I will never perform a so-called same-sex marriage. A federal court can put me in jail for life, and I will still never perform a so-called same-sex marriage. As a believer in the Word of God… I cannot in good conscience participate in a purported marriage ceremony which I strongly believe would profane the sacred institution of marriage.”

 “This is not about hating people. Each of us needs to treat every other human being with dignity and respect, regardless of our diametrically opposing viewpoints on this divisive issue. But tolerance is a two-way street. Either there is tolerance for all or there is tolerance for none. I want tolerance for my personal religious viewpoint.”

Alabama Probate Judge John Enslen  thinks that not only his personal religious beliefs supersedes federal law and the rights of United States citizens who fairly win their court cases, but also mandates that he should get away with the dereliction of his sworn duty on the taxpayer's dime, even if some of those taxpayers are the people whose rights he is deliberately ignoring.

Regardless how anyone feels about marriage equality, it is an issue which is being decided fairly by the federal courts. We are not a theocracy but a secular nation of laws - - laws whose constitutionality are generally decided in the courts. Those states who oppose marriage equality have been unable to provide proof as to the constitutionality of their laws. Plain and simple. That's why they are losing. In spite of all of their rhetoric about "activist judges" and "black robed tyrants," those against marriage equality have provided no proof that any chicanery has been going on. Heck, they can't provided proof that their policies against marriage equality is sound. That's why they are throwing tantrums now. Because they don't have any other options.

But this next step Probate Justice Enslen, and a few other judges in Alabama are taking is dangerous to not only the rights of same-sex couples, but all United States citizens.

If state judges can get away with ignoring a federal ruling simply because they do not agree with said ruling on whatever grounds, they are giving themselves precedent to ignore any and all federal rulings they do not agree with.
Today it's marriage equality. Who knows what it may be tomorrow?

If this mockery of our legal system is not contained now, we are going to see lots of trouble in the future . . . and with other things besides marriage equality.

Exploiting your religious faith to get your way when you lose in federal court is not American. And it's certainly not Christian.

AL Chief Justice Roy Moore throws facebook tantrum over success of marriage equality

For the most part (we still have to work on a couple of things), marriage equality has successfully come to Alabama.

And that leaves state chief justice Roy Moore in an ugly mood. Moore has been very vocal against the federal decision and last night, tried a last ditch effort - an unsuccessful last ditch effort - to stop it.

Seeing that his plan failed, Moore posted an unbelievably vicious post on Facebook. It has since been taken down but Right Wing Watch saved a copy of it:

And apparently he wasn't done yet:

Moore also posted a statement from his wife, Kayla, who leads the Foundation for Moral Law, a legal group founded by Moore. Kayla Moore’s statement cites Leviticus to condemn homosexuality as an abomination and slam the federal court’s ruling.

 “Founded by Chief Justice Roy Moore, The Foundation for Moral Law's goal is to be the sword of the spirit for Christians all over who don't want to see Alabama or America become the next Sodom and Gomorrah,” she said. “We will continue our battle against evil, and judicial immorality.”

 She called on gay people and their allies to turn away from their “sexual lust” and turn to God:

 “Today the sacred institution of marriage is being destroyed by the LGBT community and liberal politicians who ‘want change’ as did our President; and they make their rulings based on their emotions and not law. Every human being wants to find meaning in their life, some find it in religion, some find it in material things, certain people find it in sexual lust; however, all they need is Jesus Christ. We as Christians do not condemn homosexuals; instead we point them toward eternal life through Christ Jesus.” 

I know there is an eagerness to call Moore and his wife names and laugh at their folly. However, let's be analytical about this. Moore actually did us a favor.

People on his side of the argument have been careful to shield the simple fact that their disagreement with marriage equality is one deriving from simple homophobia.

"It's about protecting marriage," they say to us. "We have no problems with homosexuals living the way they want, but they have no right to redefine marriage for the rest of us."

Moore proves that  behind the careful rhetoric and talking points, the disagreement with marriage equality has always been about animus against the lgbt community.

Animus and homophobia can't stand up in court and that's the reason why Moore's side is losing the argument in the courts.

'Roy Moore FAILS to stop marriage equality from coming to Alabama' & other Monday midday news briefs

Supreme Court Refuses To Stop Gay Marriages In Alabama - In the words of a good friend of mine - "Roy Moore, your face is cracked . . . and on the ground." 

Same-Sex Couples Begin Marrying In Alabama After U.S. Supreme Court Action - More information regarding what just happened in Alabama, including pictures of the happy couples getting married. This is soooo cool! 

 Judge Hands Alabama Same-Sex Couple Roy Moore's Order Instead Of Marriage License - HOWEVER, there are some judges who need to get with the program.

Southern Poverty Law Center Adds Ben Carson To List As An Anti-LGBT Extremist - About time, too. Carson has been losing his mind.  

Florida Lawmaker Says Using Restroom Is A Choice For Transgender People - . . . . WHAAAAT!!!!  

 Sam Smith conquers Grammys with four top awards - Let's not forget last night's very significant moment. An openly gay young singer wins four Grammys and pretty much everyone is happy. Wouldn't have happened when I WAS Sam Smith's age.

AL Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore orders state officials to not issue same-sex couple marriage licenses

Moore

I just got this tip from Joe Jervis' site.  After clamoring for so long for someone to actively defy federal court decisions for marriage equality, the anti-gay right has found their hero. And it's an old ally of theirs:

Via Huntsville's NBC affiliate:


Late Sunday night, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an order in which he instructs state probate judges to neither issue nor recognize a marriage license for same-sex couples.

The order states, "Effective immediately, no Probate Judge of the State of Alabama nor any agent or employee of any Alabama Probate Judge shall issue or recognize a marriage license that is inconsistent with Article 1, Section 36.03, of the Alabama Constitution or § 30-1-19, Ala. Code 1975."

It continues to say that if any probate judge fails to follow the state constitution, "it would be the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer of the State of Alabama, Governor Robert Bentley... to ensure the execution of the law."

The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta rejected the State of Alabama's request to issue a stay pending an appeal of the State's ban on gay marriage. That rejection paves the way for same-sex marriages to begin on Monday.

 WAFF has a crew working to uncover more details and is in contact with experts to determine what impact this order may have for couples preparing to wed Monday morning.

Moore's action comes a day after a small number of those opposing marriage equality gathered on the state capitol building to protest the federal court's decision.

What happens next is anyone's guess but needless to say things just got a bit hairy in Alabama. No doubt, anti-gay organizations such as the Family Research Council and the National Organization for Marriage as well as personalities such as Fox News's Todd Starnes will rally folks to Moore's side.

However, Moore cannot trump federal court decisions.  Also, what he has done just transcended marriage equality and rooted itself in stickier territory.

State judges, or anyone else for that matter, cannot just decide to defy federal court decisions simply because they disagree with them. If Moore is allowed to get away with this when it comes to marriage equality, he reduces and trivializes our very legal system.

'Anti-gay activist accuses Katy Perry of 'pushing' homosexuality, Satanism during Super Bowl halftime show' & other Friday midday news briefs

Linda Harvey: Katy Perry's 'Firework' Promotes Satanism, Super Bowl Halftime Show Pushed 'Homosexual Agenda' - Let me guess . . . it was the sharks.  

This Evangelical Radio Host Is Making The RNC's Israel Trip Pretty Awkward - The Bryan Fischer/RNC Israel trip controversy rages on. They were asked told not to do it and only Reince Preibus listened.

My Transgender Life -- Transitioning at Age 64 - A fascinating and very important story.  

'Public Discourse' helps Supreme Court see religious animus that drives anti-equality movement - Oh yeah. No animus towards lgbts here. When those who oppose you help your argument, don't interrupt.  

Duke And Steve's Story From The Let Love Define Family Series - Speaking of which, now that we have heard from the liars with regards to same-sex families, let's shed some truth on the matter with this family.

Judge knocks down anti-gay 'experts' during SPLC lawsuit

While there is so much attention focused on marriage equality and the question of 'religious liberty,' the Southern Poverty Law Center is pushing a lawsuit which could have far-reaching effects on the so-called "ex-gay" industry.

And after what happened in court yesterday, things look like they are in SPLC's favor.

According to a press release from the organization:

A New Jersey judge ruled today that several prominent proponents of gay-to-straight conversion therapy will not be allowed to testify in an SPLC consumer-fraud case against a conversion therapy organization.

Superior Court Judge Peter F. Bariso Jr. excluded Joseph Nicolosi, Christopher Doyle, Dr. James Phelan and Dr. John Diggs as witnesses for the defense, holding that their opinions are based on the false premise that homosexuality is a disorder.

Bariso wrote that “the theory that homosexuality is a disorder is not novel but – like the notion that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around it – instead is outdated and refuted.”

. . .  The 2012 SPLC lawsuit, filed on behalf of former JONAH clients and two parents of former clients, charges that JONAH, its founder Arthur Goldberg and counselor Alan Downing violated New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act. It claims JONAH used deceptive practices to lure the plaintiffs into their services, which can cost some clients more than $10,000 per year.

SPLC's press release also points out how each failed witness would have contributed to the defense's case.