Louisiana Constitutional Vote
Its a sad day for Louisiana and the United States of America thanks to the voters of Louisiana yesterday, Sept. 18, 2004.
A proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages and civil unions was passed in a state-wide election. Louisiana already has a law stating that marriage can be only between a man and woman, but supporters of the amendment want to protect that law in the Constitution. The amendment also prohibits state officials and courts from recognizing out-of-state marriages and civil unions between homosexuals. The amendment appears to have been approved by about 78 percent of the vote. Turnout was limited for a state election (only 27 percent of the 2.8 million voters eligible voted) so that means fewer than 600,000 voters (1 in 5 roughly) have amended the state constitution to condone the continued discrimination and persecution of homosexuals. So much for equal rights and individual liberty and freedom.
There was a strong grassroots lobbying campaign for the amendment backed by conservative Christians in the state. For those that don't know, Louisiana is dead center in the bible-belt and most of the state is either Catholic or Southern Baptist. This is a state that once spent millions of dollars trying to outlaw teaching evolution in schools so yesterday's vote is not really surprising. Even in New Orleans, where attitudes are more progressive and there is a politically strong gay community, the amendment was passed. What a pity.
I'm not proud to be living in Louisiana today. The intense hatred by so-called Christians sounds very similar to what you'd expect at a Ku Klux Klan meeting, only it is heard in churches and at political rallies. Christianity is supposedly about love and forgiveness but you couldn't prove that to me right now. Since these Christians have managed to legislate their hatred and fear of homosexuals into state sanctioned descrimination against them I wonder what will be next? Prison? Execution?
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For those that are interested - and not that it makes any difference - I am a white, heterosexual male that has been happily married for 22 years. This amendment has no affect on me personally. I do however find the amendment totally offensive and I am outraged that this type of hatred goes not only unchecked, but that it is supported by both the media and such a majority of the electorate. Louisiana, and the rest of the world, should know better in this day and age.