Louisiana proudly reaffirms its status as a fundie shithole

[Darth Wong]

From CNN:

Gay marriage faces Louisiana test

Saturday, September 18, 2004 Posted: 10:05 PM EDT (0205 GMT)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Early returns indicated strong support among Louisiana voters for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages and civil unions, one of up to 12 such measures on the ballot around the country this year.

With only 4 percent of precincts reporting, 33,255 voters or 82 percent supported the amendment, with 7,194 or 18 percent against. The early reporting precincts were from all around the state although some urban areas, including those in New Orleans, which has a large openly gay population, had not reported.

It was expected to pass by an overwhelming margin, though court challenges are likely. The civil rights group Forum for Equality has promised legal action.

"The Forum for Equality membership has already authorized a lawsuit to be filed in the event that this were to pass," said attorney Randy Evans. A first round of court fights was turned away by state courts that said an election cannot be challenged until the vote is taken.

Another possible legal complication: delayed delivery on Saturday of voting machines to precincts in New Orleans, which has a politically strong gay population.

State director of elections Frances Sims said at least 59 precincts did not have voting machines when polls opened because officials with New Orleans' clerk of court's office failed to meet drivers who tried to deliver the machines earlier that morning. The problem was solved by midday.

Julius Green, 58, said he went to his polling place in New Orleans' Bywater neighborhood about 10 a.m. and found no voting machines -- just a crowd.

"I am angry. I'm very angry," Green said. "This is ridiculous. It makes people feel that their vote don't count."

The election problems could lead to challenges of election results. "I'm sure there will be lawsuits filed," Secretary of State Fox McKeithen said.

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 would prohibit state officials and courts from recognizing out-of-state marriages and civil unions between homosexuals.

Gay rights advocates say the amendment would deprive unmarried couples -- gay or straight -- of the right to enter into certain contracts and own property together.

Supporters of the ban disagree, including LSU law school professor Katherine Spaht, who helped write the amendment. "It doesn't touch private contracts," she said.

Still, advocates on both sides agreed it will be up to the courts to decide exactly what the amendment does and does not do.

First, however, courts may have to step in and decide if the amendment was legally adopted. In challenges that went to the state Supreme Court, Forum for Equality said the Legislature made several mistakes in putting the measure together, chief among them adding the ban on civil unions into the amendment. Amendments are supposed to have a single purpose, opponents said.

That challenge was turned away when the courts ruled that it was premature and could only be taken up after the vote was taken.

Similar amendments to ban same-sex marriage are on ballots in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. Petitions in Ohio are still being verified.

Gaah ... an overwhelming majority in favour of amending the Louisiana State Constitution to ban not only same-sex marriages but also same-sex civil unions, and also to eliminate recognition of out-of-state marriages or civil unions. I'm starting to wonder if you could pass a death penalty for homosexuality in rural Louisiana.

[BlkbrryTheGreat]

........ I'm starting to wonder if you could pass a death penalty for homosexuality in rural Louisiana.

Or Atheism for that matter...

[Gil Hamilton]

What I find interesting is how the drivers delivering voting machines to New Orleans, which has by fair the highest percentage of gay people in the state, managed to arse themselves to be late and thus not delivering them for some time. How curious.

[Knife]

Utah stands at about the same level. I'll vote no, but at this point, we need SCOTUS to unfuck all of this shit.

[Master of Ossus]

Utah stands at about the same level. I'll vote no, but at this point, we need SCOTUS to unfuck all of this shit.

If it doesn't happen at the SCOTUS level, then it never will. There are a DOZEN frickin' amendments that read a lot like this one coming before voters in the next year.

[Knife]

Utah stands at about the same level. I'll vote no, but at this point, we need SCOTUS to unfuck all of this shit.

If it doesn't happen at the SCOTUS level, then it never will. There are a DOZEN frickin' amendments that read a lot like this one coming before voters in the next year.

Yup. It'll set back consitutional law by decades.

[Master of Ossus]

What I find interesting is how the drivers delivering voting machines to New Orleans, which has by fair the highest percentage of gay people in the state, managed to arse themselves to be late and thus not delivering them for some time. How curious.

The article makes it seem as if the clerk of courts was responsible for the delay, and not the drivers. Also, 59 districts were delayed--not just the Big Easy.

[Mayabird]

With only 4 percent of precincts reporting, 33,255 voters or 82 percent supported the amendment, with 7,194 or 18 percent against. The early reporting precincts were from all around the state although some urban areas, including those in New Orleans, which has a large openly gay population, had not reported.

<snip>

Another possible legal complication: delayed delivery on Saturday of voting machines to precincts in New Orleans, which has a politically strong gay population.

State director of elections Frances Sims said at least 59 precincts did not have voting machines when polls opened because officials with New Orleans' clerk of court's office failed to meet drivers who tried to deliver the machines earlier that morning.

Riiiiiight. They all just forgot to go meet the drivers in the areas most likely to have people who would vote against the amendment.

I'm getting suspicions about something similar happening in Georgia. The rural bumblefuck fundieholes are all going to overwhelmingly support the anti-same-sex marriage amendment this November. However, parts of Atlanta are rather liberal and there is a large homosexual population in the downtown area. And of course, there's the fact that urban areas tend to be more liberal and freethinking than the boondocks anyway, and Louisiana has more than its fair share of the boonies. I have no evidence that anything bad will happen in Georgia in fall, but I've got my paranoias.

[Master of Ossus]

With only 4 percent of precincts reporting, 33,255 voters or 82 percent supported the amendment, with 7,194 or 18 percent against. The early reporting precincts were from all around the state although some urban areas, including those in New Orleans, which has a large openly gay population, had not reported.

Holy frazzle nizzle, Batman! Eighty-two percent? EIGHTY-TWO FUCKING PERCENT in those districts voted in favor of the amendment? JESUS!

[Darth Garden Gnome]

Holy frazzle nizzle, Batman! Eighty-two percent? EIGHTY-TWO FUCKING PERCENT in those districts voted in favor of the amendment? JESUS!

No kidding. The fact that it's being proposed in my state as well isn't exactly reinforcing my faith in humanity.

[Darth Wong]

I imagine that Einy must be furious about this.

[Mayabird]

Holy frazzle nizzle, Batman! Eighty-two percent? EIGHTY-TWO FUCKING PERCENT in those districts voted in favor of the amendment? JESUS!

It mentions that some urban areas are left out. I would think that means these are all rural/semi-rural precincts, which shocks me not at all.

[Raptor 597]

........ I'm starting to wonder if you could pass a death penalty for homosexuality in rural Louisiana.

Or Atheism for that matter...

haha, they haven't gotten this one yet. Though the social outcasting would be as bad as death. However, rural Louisiana has oodles of gay people which are members of the mainstream social circles. You see they are "fighting an infestation of sin and evil" striking them at the very core. And yes Louisiana is frankly the worst shithole I've ever seen. The Cajuns just spice it up with good food, loads of alcohol, and wilden drunken sex. If anyone wants a tour on the collaspe of humanity give me a call.

[Veramocor]

Gaah ... an overwhelming majority in favour of amending the Louisiana State Constitution to ban not only same-sex marriages but also same-sex civil unions, and also to eliminate recognition of out-of-state marriages or civil unions. I'm starting to wonder if you could pass a death penalty for homosexuality in rural Louisiana.

I hate to say it Darth but I don't think this is fundamentalism. I think if you put this up for a vote in almost every state it will pass. Especially if you do it during a state wide election and not a national election (less people interested invoting.)

I know a few people who say they could care less if gays get married. People who do care and hate gay marriage are more motivated to go to the polls.

[Loner]

I wonder if my idea for kicking most of the southern states out of the union, and giving it to Mexico will be met with any protest.

[Rogue 9]

I wonder if my idea for kicking most of the southern states out of the union, and giving it to Mexico will be met with any protest.

Yes, much.

[frigidmagi]

I wonder if my idea for kicking most of the southern states out of the union, and giving it to Mexico will be met with any protest

I protest! I refuse to be handed over like a bad Fruitcake! Or suffer because I have bunch of idiots for nieghbors. You dislike the ignorence? Perhaps you should actually help some of us set up some decent fucking schooling turd.

[Raptor 597]

Gaah ... an overwhelming majority in favour of amending the Louisiana State Constitution to ban not only same-sex marriages but also same-sex civil unions, and also to eliminate recognition of out-of-state marriages or civil unions. I'm starting to wonder if you could pass a death penalty for homosexuality in rural Louisiana.

I hate to say it Darth but I don't think this is fundamentalism. I think if you put this up for a vote in almost every state it will pass. Especially if you do it during a state wide election and not a national election (less people interested invoting.)

I know a few people who say they could care less if gays get married. People who do care and hate gay marriage are more motivated to go to the polls.

Yes and no. You see virtually everyone mobilized personally to go out and vote for this. Nearly all of the candidates running supported the amendement and I didn't hear one who was indifferent to any degree just silence and hatred. The rural voting whites in this state, despite how eloquent they are still trained by Catholicism or other religions for hatred. It really starts to show when people reach voting age and are aggravated because they are only moderately successful. The only thing saving this state voter wise is New Orleans and they are losing control.

[Master of Ossus]

I hate to say it Darth but I don't think this is fundamentalism. I think if you put this up for a vote in almost every state it will pass. Especially if you do it during a state wide election and not a national election (less people interested invoting.)

Sadly, that's probably true. There's even a law against gay marriage in California. However, that in and of itself does not mean that it isn't related to fundamentalism. See, people only have a stigma against gay marriage because of Judeo-Christian religious tradition. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't give a damn.

I know a few people who say they could care less if gays get married. People who do care and hate gay marriage are more motivated to go to the polls.

That would actually be interesting, since I would think that gays would be massively motivated to go to the polls to protect their rights. However, I wonder if the people who were more or less indifferent and would vote in a national election but not a statewide one would vote more strongly for or against gay marriage.

[Master of Ossus]

It's over.

Same-sex marriage ban approved in Louisiana
Opponents promise court challenge
Sunday, September 19, 2004 Posted: 1:20 AM EDT (0520 GMT)


NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Louisiana voters overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment Saturday banning same-sex marriages and civil unions, one of up to 12 such measures on the ballot around the country this year.

With 95 percent of precincts reporting, the amendment was winning approval with 79 percent of the vote and support for it was evident statewide.

Only in New Orleans, home to a politically strong gay community, did the race appear to be close, and even there the amendment was passing by a small margin.

Christian conservatives had conducted an intense grassroots lobbying campaign for the amendment, which had been expected to pass easily. The civil rights group Forum for Equality had already promised legal action against it.

"It's gratifying to see the people of Louisiana had an opportunity, as distinguished from judges, having the final say on the issue of whether traditional marriage will continue to be the fundamental institution in our state," said Darrell White, a retired state judge and consultant for Louisiana Family Forum, which pushed for the amendment.

John Rawls, a lawyer for Forum for Equality, reiterated the group's contention that the amendment does far more than stop gay marriage and that it could affect many private contracts between unmarried couples, gay or straight.

"I am disappointed that so many Louisianans either did not read the amendment or are so afraid of gays that they voted for this amendment anyway," Rawls said.

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 would prohibit state officials and courts from recognizing out-of-state marriages and civil unions between homosexuals.

Voting machines delivered late to some polls
Rawls said there were many possible grounds for challenging the results in state and federal court. One appeared Saturday, when voting machines were delivered late to some New Orleans precincts, keeping some from casting ballots for hours.

State director of elections Frances Sims said at least 59 precincts did not have voting machines when polls opened because officials with New Orleans' clerk of court's office failed to meet drivers who tried to deliver the machines earlier that morning. The problem was solved by midday.

Julius Green, 58, said he went to his polling place in New Orleans' Bywater neighborhood about 10 a.m. and found no voting machines -- just a crowd.

"This is ridiculous," Green said. "It makes people feel that their vote don't count."

Gay rights advocates say the amendment would deprive gay and straight unmarried couples of the right to enter into certain contracts and own property together.

Supporters of the ban disagree, including LSU law school professor Katherine Spaht, who helped write the amendment. "It doesn't touch private contracts," she said.

Still, advocates on both sides agreed it will be up to the courts to decide exactly what the amendment does and does not do.

First, however, courts may have to step in and decide if the amendment was legally adopted. In challenges that went to the state Supreme Court, Forum for Equality said the Legislature made several mistakes in putting the measure together, chief among them adding the ban on civil unions into the amendment. Amendments are supposed to have a single purpose, opponents said.

That challenge was turned away when the courts ruled that it could not be brought before the election.

Similar amendments to ban same-sex marriage are on ballots in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. Petitions in Ohio are still being verified.

Good luck in the courts, for everyone involved and affected.

[Butterbean569]

Don't people realize this is the same fuckin thing as racism? Man....pathetic.

Last week we were talking about this ammendment in my Political Science class and damn....I was a small majority that was defending it. I dunno, maybe people didn't want to defend it cuz then people would think they were gay themselves or something, but only me and 2 girls were defending it in a class of 40.

Of course, the "best" arguement that I heard for this ammendment was the bullshit religion shit....

The funniest thing was when some religious chick was talking about how "marriage is the very foundation of this country." HAHAHAHAHAAAA! I tore her a new one, it was very very awesome and it shut her up pretty quick. I can thank this board for some of the debating skills I used...who said you don't learn things on the internet

Didn't seem to matter though, cuz then another person started bitching about it......

[Darth Wong]

What's maddening about these fuckers is that you can demolish their arguments, grind them into the dirt, and piss on their withered remains. Sometimes you'll even get them to acknowledge that this happened.

But guess what: they seem to press a "reset" button in their heads and simply go right back to the point where you started to argue with them, as if their defeat never happened.

I actually had one ass-clown once tell me "OK, you're obviously much better at arguing than me. But I'm still right."

[Sea Skimmer]

Don't people realize this is the same fuckin thing as racism? Man....pathetic.

I think racism is also rather strong in Louisiana. The people just don't care.

I also love the part about no longer acknowledging out of state marriages, which is blatantly against the United States constitution.

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

<Ventmode=1>
<Warning: Category 5 Vent in Progress>


YOU MOTHERFUCKING GODDAMN FUNDYCRAT CHRISTIAN FASCIST TERRORIST FUCKTARDED GRABASTIC PIECES OF SUBHUMAN HATFUCKING SHIT!!! WHAT FUCKING BEARING DO YOUR BIGOTED HARDHEARTED FUCKING HOSTILE "FEELINGS" HAVE ON WHAT TWO OR MORE CONSENTING ADULTS DO IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR OWN MOTHERFUCKING BEDROOM OR WHETHER THEY HAVE THE SAME BODY PARTS SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO GET MARRIED!? YOU, THE NAZI BIGOT PIG, ARE WHY THIS NATION IS IN SUCH A FUCKING TRAINWRECK RIGHT NOW, AND YOU HATFUCKERS KNOW IT! WE THE PEOPLE HAVE BIGGER ISSUES TO WORRY ABOUT THAN WHETHER SOME SUBHUMAN BIBLE-BASHING SCUM LIKE YOU GETS THEIR FEELINGS HURT IF TWO GUYS KISS OR FUCK LIKE RABBITS IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR OWN HOME, FOR EXAMPLE: THE EDUCATION-FUNDS MISAPPROPRIATION SCANDAL. JUST YOUR DISTRACTING US FROM THAT ISSUE (IN WHICH YOU AND YOUR GREEDY FUCKING CRONIES FUCKED THE STATE'S CHILDREN OVER BY DENYING THEM EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO FILL YOUR OWN ALREADY EXCESSIVELY-MONIED POCKETS, NO LESS) WITH THIS HYPOCRITICAL BIGOTRY TELLS US ALL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU: YOU HATE CERTAIN KINDS OF PEOPLE JUST ON CHARACTERISTICS YOU FUCKING KNOW CANNOT BE CHANGED OR HELPED; YOU DON'T GIVE A MOTHERFUCKING RAT'S PUS-INFECTED ASS ABOUT "THE CHILDREN" DESPITE HOW MUCH YOU THROW THAT MEANINGLESS IRRELEVANT PHRASE INTO OUR FACES EVERY TIME WE TRY TO GET EQUALITY. YOU EVIL SADISTIC TERRORIST SONS OF DONKEY-RAPES AND FAILED ABORTIONS DESERVE NO LESS THAN DEATH!!!

YOU ARE NO FUCKING BETTER THAN OSAMA, Al-ZARQAWI, MUQTADA AL-SADR, POL POT, STALIN, HITLER, OR ANY OF THE FUCKING SPANISH INQUISITION HATFUCKERS. GO BACK TO THE FUCKING STONE AGE WHERE YOUR TERRORIST TROGLODYTE RELIC-OF-THE-PAST KIND BELONG! YOU ARE THE TRUE ENEMY OF FREEDOM!

WE DON'T NEED YOU, WE DON'T WANT YOU, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT GONNA FUCKING PUT UP WITH YOUR FUCKING CLOSE-MINDED BIGOTRY EVER AGAIN!

SEE YOU IN HELL!


<Ventmode=0>

I also lay blame on everyone who was involved in finagling the election by delaying the voter machines' delivery. That's part of why I couldn't vote.

I also place blame on the absolute silence, by choice or by criminal action on the part of the networks, of the gay community here in New Orleans. There was no airtime whatso-fucking-ever for the gay community (IE no 'don't vote for the bigot amendment' ads AT ALL) It was as if we didn't even exist...

We will MAKE ourselves be heard.

[The Yosemite Bear]

1. not so fucking tall, ok?

2. even in Californication where no one bats an eye when a couple is being wed by a lesbian who got her revrend licence out of the back pages of rolling stone, and most of the wedding industry is dominated by same sex couples. We still have enough fundies to get these stupid fucking measures to pass, while at some county level we seem to have these fuck you it's legal here, laws (just like the PATRIOT act, and making raids on pot farms are illegal in Mendicino County)