Meanwhile in Oklahoma

[waauw]

http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/17/oklahoma-is-banning-atheists-from-getting-married-5107328/

In what has been described as a not-so-covert attack on gay marriage, a bill banning non-religious people from marrying and requiring all marriage licences be approved by a member of the clergy has been passed in Oklahoma.

The bill, which was approved by the Oklahoma state House last week and will now go to the state Senate for consideration, would restrict marriage only to people of faith.

But while it might seem on the surface like an assault on atheism, critics are saying that it is same-sex unions that the bill is not-so-stealthily attacking. By making the clergy – not judges and court clerks – the sole marriage licence issuers, it will be more difficult for gay marriages to take place.

‘Marriage was not instituted by government,’ said Rep. Dennis Johnson, who backed the bill.

‘It was instituted by God. There is no reason for Oklahoma or any state to be involved in marriage.’

Rep. Todd Russ, who sponsored the bill, told KSWO-TV that it stemmed from his personal opposition to marriage equality, saying same-sex marriage laws were ‘stuck down our throats’ by the Supreme Court despite Oklahoma voting ‘overwhelmingly’ against it.

Troy Stevenson, head of the LGBT advocacy group Freedom Oklahoma, said that the community would ‘fight back’ against the ‘discriminatory legislation’ – but added that there was a silver lining.

‘There are… 160 members of the clergy who have publicly declared their willingness to marry LGBT people [in Oklahoma],’ he said.

[KoolBak]

So I'm NOT married? this changes everything......

[AndyDufresne]

One of the great ironies is that in (1942) SKINNER v. OKLAHOMA EX REL. WILLIAMSON, ATTORNEY GENERAL: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case ... 1644873759 , though about sterilization, said marriage is "one of the basic civil rights of man."


--Andy

[notyou2]

So you have to be religious to marry your cousin now?

[saxitoxin]

f*ck Oklahoma. Oklahoma has shit on California.

The California Sodomy Suppression Act just needs 600,000 signatures to be put on the ballot.

a) The abominable crime against nature known as buggery, called also sodomy, is a monstrous evil that Almighty God, giver of freedom and liberty, commands us to suppress on pain of our utter destruction even as he overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha.

b) Seeing that it is better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God's just wrath against us for the folly of tolerating-wickedness in our midst, the People of California wisely command, in the fear of God, that any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification be put to death by bullets to the head or by any other convenient method.

http://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiati ... y%29_0.pdf

CALIFORNIA WINS AGAIN!

[/]

f*ck Oklahoma. Oklahoma has shit on California.

The California Sodomy Suppression Act just needs 600,000 signatures to be put on the ballot.

a) The abominable crime against nature known as buggery, called also sodomy, is a monstrous evil that Almighty God, giver of freedom and liberty, commands us to suppress on pain of our utter destruction even as he overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha.

b) Seeing that it is better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God's just wrath against us for the folly of tolerating-wickedness in our midst, the People of California wisely command, in the fear of God, that any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification be put to death by bullets to the head or by any other convenient method.

http://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiati ... y%29_0.pdf

CALIFORNIA WINS AGAIN!

It's a trap!
God totally would kill everyone if the gays didn't keep parading around with their rainbow flags.

8 Again God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “As for Me, I establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 I establish My covenant with you. Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood. Never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 Then God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations. 13 I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. 14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the cloud; 15 then I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow will appear in the cloud, and I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

He had to say it like seven times in a row and invent light refraction on the spot just so he wouldn't forget!

[mrswdk]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't that new bill in the OP also stop quite a lot of straight couples from marrying, as well as not stopping religious gay couples from marrying?

[muy_thaiguy]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't that new bill in the OP also stop quite a lot of straight couples from marrying, as well as not stopping religious gay couples from marrying?

Well, no one has ever accused Oklahoma of thinking things through very well, so there's that.

[Phatscotty]

http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/17/oklahoma-is-banning-atheists-from-getting-married-5107328/

In what has been described as a not-so-covert attack on gay marriage, a bill banning non-religious people from marrying and requiring all marriage licences be approved by a member of the clergy has been passed in Oklahoma.

The bill, which was approved by the Oklahoma state House last week and will now go to the state Senate for consideration, would restrict marriage only to people of faith.

But while it might seem on the surface like an assault on atheism, critics are saying that it is same-sex unions that the bill is not-so-stealthily attacking. By making the clergy – not judges and court clerks – the sole marriage licence issuers, it will be more difficult for gay marriages to take place.

‘Marriage was not instituted by government,’ said Rep. Dennis Johnson, who backed the bill.

‘It was instituted by God. There is no reason for Oklahoma or any state to be involved in marriage.’

Rep. Todd Russ, who sponsored the bill, told KSWO-TV that it stemmed from his personal opposition to marriage equality, saying same-sex marriage laws were ‘stuck down our throats’ by the Supreme Court despite Oklahoma voting ‘overwhelmingly’ against it.

Troy Stevenson, head of the LGBT advocacy group Freedom Oklahoma, said that the community would ‘fight back’ against the ‘discriminatory legislation’ – but added that there was a silver lining.

‘There are… 160 members of the clergy who have publicly declared their willingness to marry LGBT people [in Oklahoma],’ he said.

Marriage is an ecclesiastical issue.... so per the assault on Atheism, Athiests everywhere say it with me!

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!!!

[Phatscotty]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't that new bill in the OP also stop quite a lot of straight couples from marrying, as well as not stopping religious gay couples from marrying?

Guess so, but it's cool because the government will soon ban religious people from civil unions.

People used to be able to figure these kinds of things out on their own.
'We want a ceremony by the priest at the church' OKAY!
'We want a judge to preside down at the court house' OKAY!

[JBlombier]

I think it's ridiculous a state can even make a rule like this. I know they are the United States, but they're united for America's benefit. They all got one president. Why is Oklahoma even allowed to do this?

The following example is insane if you compare it in size, but to me it really feels like the Dutch province Limburg (or any other) decides they wanted to pass the bill in the OP. That isn't even a possibility here. They have very minor influence on the nation's law and I am very glad about that. Is it because the USA wants to maintain a certain amount of nationalism within their states, to keep everyone happy?

We're in the 21st century and most civilized countries have accepted gay marriage to be the exact thing that is: an act of love. We all know there are still countries which will give you the death penalty for being gay and that the USA isn't one of those countries. Still, this news saddens me thoroughly. It also surprises me that the Oklahoman authorities have the right to do this. Perhaps someone will fill me in why they have the right to this, because I really thought there was a nationwide bill about this. Maybe that was too much wishful thinking.

[saxitoxin]

The following example is insane if you compare it in size, but to me it really feels like the Dutch province Limburg (or any other) decides they wanted to pass the bill in the OP.

This ain't the U.S. flag and Oklahoma makes big slabs of red, juicy, Grade-A meat, not cheese and tulips.

[notyou2]

In a sense, each state has certain powers and the federal government has certain powers. The state has dominion over many things, the federal government less so, or none at all. Much of this is being contested before the courts.It is similar in Canada. As an example,education falls under the province not the federal government, so does health care. However, the states have more individual power than the provinces do.It is almost like each state is its own country, but not quite.

[DoomYoshi]

For once I agree with Oklahoma. Marriage should not be a tax or legal status at all. It should only represent a religious WASP status.

[Symmetry]

For once I agree with Oklahoma. Marriage should not be a tax or legal status at all. It should only represent a religious WASP status.

That's a pretty racist stance to take. Why do you think only marriages between white people should be recognised?

[DoomYoshi]

For once I agree with Oklahoma. Marriage should not be a tax or legal status at all. It should only represent a religious WASP status.

That's a pretty racist stance to take. Why do you think only marriages between white people should be recognised?

Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don't think anyone else should either.

Follow this link, and tell me how far you need to scroll to find a black Adam and Eve:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=adam+and+eve+painting&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=AwcPVb2XJYqwggSx4IL4BQ&ved=0CB0QsAQ&biw=1668&bih=932

We have undisputable proof that Adam and Eve were white, and therefore Africa should actually belong to Europeans. Viva la Colonialism!

[DoomYoshi]

In a more legal sense, any law in the Bible Belt which refers to religion really only refers to WASPs.

Try to convince them that your Imam let you marry 9 4-year olds.

[Symmetry]

Ah, you were joking. I apologise. Sarcasm and Irony are tough things to convey via the interwebs.

[Phatscotty]

I think it's ridiculous a state can even make a rule like this. I know they are the United States, but they're united for America's benefit. They all got one president. Why is Oklahoma even allowed to do this?

except marriage is not a federal issue. In America we have historically tried as best we can to shun the notion of 'one size fits all' Each state can still make most of their laws the way it sees fit (legally)

[Symmetry]

I think it's ridiculous a state can even make a rule like this. I know they are the United States, but they're united for America's benefit. They all got one president. Why is Oklahoma even allowed to do this?

except marriage is not a federal issue. In America we have historically tried as best we can to shun the notion of 'one size fits all' Each state can still make most of their laws the way it sees fit (legally)

DOMA is a federal law, so unless you were ineptly trying to say that it shouldn't be a federal issue, you're wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act