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Loading ...Straight interracial couple denied marriage license in La.
10.16.2009 9:01am EDT
(Hammond, La.) A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to a heterosexual interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.
Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.Neither Bardwell nor the couple immediately returned phone calls from The Associated Press. But Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist.
“I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house,” Bardwell said. “My main concern is for the children.”
Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.
“I don’t do interracial marriages because I don’t want to put children in a situation they didn’t bring on themselves,” Bardwell said. “In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer.”
If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.
“I try to treat everyone equally,” he said.
Thirty-year-old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.
Humphrey told the newspaper she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell’s wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples.
“It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009,” said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. “The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry.”
The ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said.
“He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it,” Schwartzman said.
According to the clerk of court’s office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce.
Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate and Social Security card.
The license fee is $35, and the license must be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge. The original is returned to the clerk’s office.
@ robertocucina: You’re crazy if you think that this is “Classic right wing m.o.”! I challenge you to find just one high profile Republican politician who believes that interracial marriages should not be allowed. That being said, I do agree with you that it is incidences like this that will ultimately weaken the opposition’s validity. People will slowly begin to realize that disallowing interracial marriages for religious reasons is no different than disallowing same-sex unions.
What’s that old saying, “If you don’t like interracial marriages, then don’t get one!”? Yeah, I think that’s right, lol.
I am seeing that more and more christian groups are complaining that the LGBT Community should have no rights. Well What would they say if they had to pay taxs on the gounds that there chruch’s or just taxs period. They already are listed and a non profit org. why what makes them special. What if we closed our walets, and stopped paying taxes to support them. if all the tax money that we made as a gay community stayed it would look really bad it would look segragated all over again like black and white,was many years ago. and no look history is repeating itself. Our government would fall in a huge hole if the LGBT Community bannded together and took a stand for who we are. every day i read more and more about what is happening to the LGBT Community and keep thinking that we are headed right for another Stone Wall of history and it will be bigger than the last one and more devistaing than the last one. Churchs wanted the state to be seporate well then stay out of political issues. other wise lets reverse the law that states that church and state are seporate. and make it the way is use to be. So the next question in my mind is ..
At what cost will it take for Equality
We are a nation of freedom and I see no freedom when I am told No to some thing that is MY RIGHT.
Why should I be surprised? Why should I care? Until gays can get their marriages recognized universally in the US, judges should stop allowing anybody to get married. Too bad it wasn’t a couple who voted for prop 8.
>Legal changes don’t actually trickle down into societal changes till no one is left alive who remembers the old times.
In order to be a Justice of the Peace, you have to have a license from the state. (I’m a counselor…I have a license from the state to administer counseling as a health-care service. Your barber/stylist has a license.)
If you don’t uphold the law, the state can yank your license. For most of these licensed professions, it’s against the law to do business without a license.
He’s not obeying the law. The state should yank his license (and probably will). Done! *snap*
White sheets (KKK) are coming back into fashion again…..or perhaps they never went out….
Yet another reason we need to unite the fight.
http://stuffqueerpeopleneedtoknow.wordpress.com
If they can stop us from getting married, they can stop anyone from getting married. Take note.
Hmmm….this asshole probably believes that interracial couples undermine marriage too. Classic right wing m.o. The more absurd statements they make, the more they weaken opposition to same sex marriage.
Can’t say that I’m really surprised that someone would be so self-righteous as to attempt to interfere in others lives this way. here’s to hoping that they sue his pants off.
I guess I read this as an optimist. Although I find this deplorable – he’s using the same arguments that the theocrats use against gay marriage (i.e. tradition, protecting marriage and children and goes against my personally held beliefs). I am hoping that this man is 1) either making a point or 2) the US, at large, will be able to intelligently see the problems with the anti-gay marriage through this debate.
I can’t say I’m astonished that someone in power still holds these opinions. Legal changes don’t actually trickle down into societal changes till no one is left alive who remembers the old times. I am fairly amazed that they thought somehow they had the right or power to ignore the rule of law. Opinion is their right as an American. Acting on that opinion, especially when it contradicts the law is not.
OMG! Is this guy insane… Next we’ll be reading about how its against his religious and moral beliefs.
these people seem to become emboldened by a change in weather. Bigotry is a life and well in this country.
Here they go again! This time it is protecting “potential” children.
Holy crap!
This is total BS. It’s so sad that these idiots use “Protecting the Children” as an excuse for bigotry and discrimination.
I hope that they sue the living shit out of that so called justice.