Controversial Proposals

More deepest darkest flyover bitter clinger territory news.

Two Oklahoma State lawmakers have proposed four laws that for some reason are causing some controversy.

#1

…House Bill 1125 would eliminate the responsibility of county court clerk offices to issue marriage licenses. Instead, the proposed law would replace marriage licenses with “marriage certificates” that could only be issued by members of the clergy after a formal ceremony. Additionally, the law would remove the ability of a judge to perform a marriage. According to the proposed bill, marriages not contracted by a formal ceremony by clergy may be acknowledged by filing an affidavit of common law marriage.

Milady and I married each other under Okla. common law, and didn't need no stinkin' affidavit, court clerk, judge, or pastor. Here's some radical words I scribed back in 1997 (back when I was younger and even stupider than I am now), when Oklahoma was trying to mess with traditional common law marriage liberty: Freedom to Marry

#2,3,4

State Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City… is no stranger to controversy surrounding Oklahoma’s LGBT community. In 2008, Kern made national headlines when she said that homosexuality is “the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam.”

In this legislative session, Kern filed House Bill 1597, which would permit Oklahoma businesses to refuse services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges to LGBT people.

She also filed House Bill 1598, also known as the “Freedom to Obtain Conversion Therapy Act.” The proposed emergency law would allow parents to obtain “sexual orientation change efforts” for children under the age of 18 without interference from the state.

Additionally, Kern filed House Bill 1599, known as the “Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act,” that, if passed, would make it illegal for the state to issue same-sex marriage licenses, prohibit public employees from recognizing same-sex marriages, and would remove any judge from office if they violated the proposed law.

You know how well these will withstand litigation, even if passed. And besides…

Cimarron Alliance in Oklahoma City, another LGBT advocacy and education organization, also issued a statement in response to the bills.

“Our community is under attack, and we are fighting back,” the statement said. “We won marriage last year, and in cruel retaliation, a handful of hate-filled law makers have struck out at us with nasty pieces of legislation. We have a plan. We have been having behind the scenes conversations with legislative leaders, community leaders and our national partners.”

Emphasis added.

Nathan Thompson / EE