TN Congressmen defend traditonal marriage in June

Speaking of Marsha Blackburn...she and three other members of Tennessee's congressional delegation signed on as cosponsors of H.J.RES. 89, another version of the federal marriage amendment. Joining Congressman Blackburn are David Davis of the 1st District, John Duncan of the 2nd District, and Zach Wamp of the 3rd District. They had all added their names to the effort by June 10, although Congressman Wamp gets the prize for being first on June 5.

It's important, after all, to protect the month of June for man-woman weddings. Tradition! Granted, it might be a pagan tradition. But why ask historical questions?

Constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriage introduced

Southern Voice is reporting that members of the U.S. House of Representatives have reintroduced the Federal Marriage Amendment or the "Marriage Protection Amendment." There are almost 30 cosponsors, but no one from Tennessee yet. The text reads:

`Section 1. This article may be cited as the `Marriage Protection Amendment'.

`Section 2. Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.'.

Trying my patience

Since the 2006 passage of the Marriage Amendment to the Tennessee State Constitution, I've generally avoided much discussion of marriage equality. In my mind, the question is pretty much moot in Tennessee for at least a generation. While I welcome the California Supreme Court decision on equal access to marriage, it may be years before that impact is felt in Tennessee and other states that have passed oppressive marriage amendments in the last decade.

However, I was taken aback by an uniformed opinion in The Chattanoogan about one marriage equality opponent's concern about the full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution leading to Tennessee recognition of marriages from California:

It is time that all the states left in this great country who hold to morality and the fact that marriage has always been defined as between one man and one woman stand up and amend their state constitutions banning this abuse of the Constitution. If you are for gay marriage we have two states for you now, California and New York. If you are still in love with Tennessee then call your representative or state senator. It needs to be defined before it is redefined for you. A state law is not sufficient; it must be in the state constitution. . . .

This guy is apparently a late-comer to anti-marriage activism since he doesn't seem to realize that the Tennessee constitution already forbids recognition of marriage between two people of the same sex. Isn't it frustrating when your bigoted opponents can't even be bothered to educate themselves about an issue?

After reading that thoughtless piece, I did enjoy a column on the Root about why African Americans should support equal access to marriage in this country.

Frist acting like candidate for governor

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=59550

John Rodgers tracks Bill Frist's travels around the state to community events like Columbia's Mule Days (we don't know whether he was at Rep. Tom Dubois's notorious party) and Republican fundraising events. Yes, he's acting like he's running for governor in 2010.

The state's GLBT community will remember Frist as a strong proponent of the Federal Marriage (Discrimination) Amendment. He also declared marriage a "sacrament" even though he's Presbyterian and that Church teaches that only Baptism and the Eucharist are sacraments.

So What Does Nikki Tinker Think about GLBT equality?

Don't miss my article featuring an interview with Nikki Tinker in this month's Triangle Journal (p. 5).

I asked the candidate about her views on hate crimes legislation, her opponent Steven Cohen, ENDA, the Federal Marriage Amendment, and civil unions.

The quality of the Triangle Journal is improving with each issue. Congratulations to Co-Editors James Cox and Len Piechowski, the Editorial Review Committee (Will Batts, Jamie Griffin, Alan Herbers, and David Mabury), and all contributing journalists!