Marriage New Watch: May 18, 2014

Marriage News Watch: January 27, 2014

Marriage News Watch: December 30, 2013

Marriage News Watch; September 23, 2013

The Next Step For Equality in Arkansas

From Arkansas Matters:

A ballot title proposal aiming to repeal Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 83, which prohibits same-sex marriage, has been approved by Attorney General Dustin McDaniel.

McDaniel issued the opinion Thursday afternoon, which states that the amendment, if passed, would not make same-sex marriage or civil unions legal in the Natural State, but would grant power to the General Assembly to pass laws relating to same-sex marriage.

Arkansans for Equality submitted the proposal, which must now collect a predetermined amount of signatures before appearing on the 2014 ballot.

To clarify, if this ballot measure passes in 2014, that does NOT mean the state would have marriage equality on the books. The ballot measure is purely to overturn the state's current constitutional definition of marriage: only between one man and one woman, thus precluding same-sex couples from having a marriage recognized by the state of Arkansas.

Arkansas AG Ends Plan to Arm Teachers

From USA Today: 

A plan by a small Arkansas school district to arm 20 teachers and staff with 9 mm handguns has run aground after the state attorney says the program is not covered by state law. 

The Clarksville School District was trying to mount its program using a little-known state law that is meant to apply to licensing private security agencies. 

A state lawmaker requested the opinion a day after The Associated Press reported on a plan by the school district in western Arkansas to use more the teachers and staff as volunteer security guards armed with concealed handguns. 

"Simply put, the code in my opinion does not authorize either licensing a school district as a guard company or classifying it as a private business authorized to employ its own teachers as armed guards," Attorney General Dustin McDaniel wrote.

Something sensible happened in Arkansas? It's pretty much a miracle. 

Arkansas Starts Arming Teachers

Marriage News Watch: July 22, 2013

Tweet of the Day: April 14, 2013

Arkansas GOP'ers: Slavery Was "A Blessing" (& more)

GOP Candidate: Death Penalty For Rebellious Kids

From Think Progress:

A candidate for the Arkansas legislature, Charlie Fuqua, says children who don’t demonstrate “respect for parents” should be put to death, the Arkansas Times reports. Fuqua is a former member of the Arkansas legislature and has received support from the Arkansas Republican Party and two sitting members of Congress.

 Here’s the key passage from Fuqua’s 2012 book, “God’s Law: The Only Political Solution“:

The maintenance of civil order in society rests on the foundation of family discipline. Therefore, a child who disrespects his parents must be permanently removed from society in a way that gives an example to all other children of the importance of respect for parents. The death penalty for rebellious children is not something to be taken lightly. The guidelines for administering the death penalty to rebellious children are given in Deut 21:18-21

Pretty much every child, at some point, disrespects their parents. As such, the Republican is essentially advocating for the deaths of EVERY child. Isn't this the party that's always claiming to be for a culture of life and saying "think of the children?" This is why religious law should NOT be used to make American law. Scripture can be and has been used to justify some truly horrific things from slavery to abuse to murder.

Sad Beyond Words

I'm not going to bother commenting on this story. It speaks for itself. From Blue Arkansas:

Last night, I got the most chilling phone call I have ever received.  It was Jake Burris, Ken Aden’s campaign manager.  Last night, Jake and his four kids had come back to their Russellville home.  As they were getting out of the car, one of his children discovered their family cat dead on the front porch.  One side of the animal’s head had been bashed in and an eyeball was hanging out of its socket.  But there was something even more horrifying to be found on the corpse.

Written across the animal’s fur in black marker was the word “LIBERAL“.

Is this really what America political "discourse" is coming to? You can read the full story HERE.

The Wrap-Up: January 18, 2012

Pastor Rick Warren

In an effort to keep Mitt Romney from the GOP nomination, Christian conservatives have found a candidate to support.

I had previously posted a video of Bryan Fischer (from the so-called American Family Association) where he pretty much outed himself as an HIV denialist. Denunciation came from a very surprising source: Pastor Rick Warren.

The (lone) sponsor of a transphobic bill in the Tennessee legislature had some strong (and ignorant) words about transgendered people. 

CNN gives us another reminder of how DoMA has a negative affect on people and families.

These anti-gay religious denominations think that discrimination is the same as religious freedom.

Rep. Steve Womack

Some Minnesota legislators are taking action against that state's attempt to constitutionally block marriage equality.

An Arkansas congressman loses his cool when faced by his constituents.

Here is the curious case of a man who, despite being elected, is prohibited from serving his office.

It appears that lots of Wisconsinites want Governor Scott Walker out of office...and I mean lots.

Cyndi Lauper has something to say about one of the songs Mitt Romney has been using in his campaign.

And lastly, a belated  happy birthday to First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.