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Loading ...W. Va Southern Baptists press for gay marriage ban
11.11.2008 9:58am EST
(Charleston, West Virginia) The West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists has joined a socially conservative political action group in calling for an amendment to the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
The Convention, which represents about 200 Southern Baptist churches in West Virginia, has unanimously passed a resolution calling on the legislature to take up a proposed amendment.The resolution also calls on other denominations in the state to join it in its call to action.
Last month, the Family Policy Council of West Virginia demanded Gov. Joe Manchin convene a special legislative session to put the amendment on the ballot.
Manchin ignored the pressure, saying the state already has a law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples.
The Council continues to insist the issue to be taken up by the legislature, and points to a poll it took showing 73 percent of registered voters support amending the constitution. Amending the West Virginia constitution requires approval of the legislature and a vote by the electorate.
The Council says it wants a proposed amendment put to voters next year.
West Virginia’s so-called Defense of Marriage act was passed in 2000. It not only limits marriage to opposite-sex couples, but also bars the state from recognizing gay marriages performed out-of-state.
I’m not religious (x-catholic)..by I swear to God…IF I win the lottery..Im getting the Hell out of America…this country sickens me.
If a West Virginia married couple get a divorce, are they still brother and sister?
Just one more example of why churches need to lose their tax-exemption. If they are going to morph into political organizations seeking to influence legislation to affect the civil-rights of non-believers, so be it; but they are not entitled to use our tax-dollars to do it.
All churches should lose their tax-exempt status and then they can enter the political fray to their heart’s content. Perhaps then, we’ll get an answer to that age-old question. “Whom would Jesus H8?
“Last month, the Family Policy Council of West Virginia demanded Gov. Joe Manchin convene a special legislative session to put the amendment on the ballot.”
Are you serious? There are FAR more important things for our state government to be worrying about right now than banning Same-Sex Marriage.
The shear fact that they feel so threatened by gay marriage attests to how weak their beliefs must truly be. How sad
I wonder if Frank knows that for those of use who live here and cherish West Virginia, his comment sounds as bad as “F—–” or “N—–”? And that it’s just as idiotically misinformed?
In Frank is what Queer compatriots are like, I prefer WV’s Southern Baptists.
TAKE AWAY THIS CHURCH’S TAX EXEMPTION! If they are politicking from the pulpit, they are not eligible for any tax breaks.
Christopher…
Frank’s attempt at humor was, perhaps, misplaced in this discussion, but as someone who lived the 1st part of my life in Mississippi I know where you are coming from. Let me just say though, placing your faith in the Southern Baptists of ANY state is a bad idea for a gay man. They will destroy your sense of self-worth, and all the while they are “loving the sinner”, they will never, never stop trying to pray the gay away. They dont’ like us…period. Never have, never will. Try to remember that one of the brilliant things about our big ol gay community is the whacked out sense of humor that generally makes the straights of the world cringe. I LOVE that about us! I won’t apologize for Frank, but I will say to you, take the grain of salt with the comments and stay with us here. We need all the help we can get right now.
Does anyone really expect anything different from West VA? I live in KY. Being backwards is a regrettable source of pride here. We can all thank the Bush Administration for a country that values the bible more than the Constitution.
I have always said (sometimes in sadness)
the religious right wing-nuts will never stop us.
If you look how far we have come in the past 20 years. They are really panicked and that is why they are doing all of this so fast..
Think of them like a Jake Brake on a 18 wheeler. The Jake Brake is designed to slow the truck down, but it will never stop it.
If you were coming down a steep grade the Jake Brake is what would allow you to get through the steep winding road with out crashing. It make take you a bit longer to get to your destination but you will get there safely.
These low to NON educated folks are the reason the church has an audience in the first place. They are sitting there captive and being told that this is Gods will by “One person” that has to intimidate them with fear and guilt.
If any of you remember, about 10 months before Jerry Falwell assumed room temperature, he was going around every where saying that from now on he was going to use all of his clout and all the money it took to defeat the gay agenda on every front.
You can bet he would have been on the front lines to defeat Obama. So some how there must be a God. A God that is looking out for ALL of his children, because he smite Jerry Falwell Ker-Plunk and allowed Obama to win hands down.
In some ways it might be better for us not to have all rights at one time. I know this sounds crazy but typically there are to many of us worrying more about what were going to ware to the bar
or who were going to date next, who is hot and who is not.
I hope with all my hart this is the biggest wake up call in our history. We have taken to much for granted for to long.
If this kick in the ASS hurts as much as it should then you brothers and gay sisters will strap an ice pack on your butt, contact your local LGBT head quarters, ask what you can do to help the cause. Donate what money you can but most of all donate your time as it is needed.
A little time donated now will help secure your victory for a life time.
Besides you will be around your own kind working for a worthy cause,….And what a great way to meet new people. Imagine that.
Call 5 of your friends and tell them to 5 of their friends and them to call 5 of their friends.
Now get off your whinnie butts and make a call and see what you can do.
West Virginia can be a pretty socially backwards place, but I think there are certainly more dangerous places to be gay. I’m sure the desperate lack of diversity, culture, and education has a lot to do with homophobia here. It’s a shame that West Virginians aren’t concerned with ACTUAL problems, like a failing education system, a weak economy, and environmental degredation. =| booo.
we have got to become more pro-active instead of always being reactive it’s time we catch them with their pants down so to speak its much easier to defend our positions that way
Don’t hate the haters; GET EVEN! Write your Senators and Congresspersons, both State and Federal, and demand an IRS investigation into ALL 501-C(3) donor-deductible tax-exempt organizations. THEN demand an investigation of civil rights violations against ALL minorities in non-religious institutions run by them, ESPECIALLY those that received “faith-based” funding from the Busch-Reich. IF THEY GET ANY KIND OF GOVERNMENT MONEY, THEY CAN *NOT* DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANYBODY (except GLBT people, of course … write your representatives about passing that non-discrimination bill. DO IT NOW).
If you don’t work and give, don’t sit on your well-boinked butts expecting our enemies to hand us our civil rights on a silver platter. They’d LIKE to hand us our HEADS, and that’s NO exaggeration.
Bud Burgoon-Clark
San Diego, CA
Happily married to my husband;
take my wedding ring off my cold, dead hand if you dare
“The West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists has joined a socially conservative political action group in calling for an amendment to the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.”
What a fucking surprise.
$5 to the first person to give me their e-mail address or mailing address. I want to send a few choice words along the line to them. Tell them how I feel….