Rep. John Fleming, R-La., and Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., are hinting at punishment for any chaplain or servicemembers who participated in an informal same-sex commitment ceremony at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in May.
Akin sponsored legislation last year that would have silenced and suppressed chaplains who affirm equal marriage; both congressmen continue to push for passage.
Now, the Associated Press reports, the two politicians believe the unconstitutional federal ban on same-sex marriages — and state laws against civil marriage and civil unions — apply to any informal or religious ceremony, and not just formal civil commitments.
This expansion of antimarriage laws to cover informal and religious ceremonies would potentially threaten various forms of ordinary association that until now have been protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
That appears not a problem for these congressmen. One might conclude they believe that homosexual Americans, and the religious entities that support them, are exempt from constitutional protection.
Cute couple. Do they do everything together?
For some perspective: Fleming is the same Congressman who fell for the Onion article about Planned Parenthood’s $8 billion Abortionplex.
Well Benjamin, they are pretty stupid.
Idiot haters like this will never leave us alone in this country. I am so sick of this that my husband and I are planning to move to the UK when they have marriage equality. I’m sick of this right-wing BS.
Quit trying to make a statement and just get out of Louisiana. Go get married in another state where it’s legal and stay out of my state. Just follow the law!
Trudy,
Thank you for sharing with us your compassionate and enlightened viewpoint on this blog.
It’s not just your state, it belongs to everyone who lives there, including the LGBT people.
We will never stop trying to make our point, trying to reach hearts and minds, and trying to change the laws so that they are inclusive of ALL!
We will never stop.
Trudy’s probably still smartin’ over that dang abolition movement.
Yeah Trudy–that’s the right message. “If you don’t like injustice just get out.” If people all acted like you we’d still have slavery. You’re a great American.