Texas HJR 6 pro-gay speech

[The D]

I'll only post passages I liked because this thing is LONG.

http://pixels2u.blogspot.com/2005/04/eloqu...-rightsrep.html

HJR 6 Speech by Representative Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston)from the House floor on Monday (last week of April) debating the gay marriage amendment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been a member of this august body for three decades, and today is one of the all-time low points. We are going in the wrong direction, in the direction of hate and fear and discrimination. Members, we all know what this is about, this is the politics of divisiveness at its worst, a wedge issue that is meant to divide.

Let's look at what this amendment does not do: It does not give one Texas citizen meaningful tax relief. It does not reform or fully fund our education system. It does not restore one child to CHIP, who was cut from health insurance last session. It does not put one dime into raising Texas' Third World access to health care. It does not do one thing to care for or protect one elderly person or one child in this state. In fact, it does not even do anything to protect one marriage.

Members, this bill is about hate and fear and discrimination. I know something about hate and fear and discrimination. When I was a small girl, white folks used to talk about "protecting the institution of marriage" as well. What they meant was if people of my color tried to marry people of Mr. Chisum's color, you'd often find the people of my color hanging from a tree. That's what the white folks did back then to protect marriage." Fifty years ago, white folks thought inter-racial marriages were a "threat to the institution of marriage." Members, I'm a Christian and a proud Christian. I read the good book, and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, "gay people can't marry." I have never read the verse where it says, "though shalt discriminate against those not like me." I have never read the verse where it says, "let's base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination." Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness - not hate and discrimination.

I have served in this body a lot of years-and I have seen a lot of promises broken. I should be up here demanding my 40 acres and a mule because that's another promise you broke. You used a wealthy white minister cloaked in the cloth to ease the stench of that form of discrimination.

So, now that blacks and women can vote, and now that blacks and women have equal rights-you turn your hatred to homosexuals- and you still use your misguided reading of the Bible to justify your hatred. You want to pass this ridiculous amendment so you can go home and brag...brag about what? Declare that you saved the people of Texas from what? Persons of the same sex cannot get married in this State now. Texas does not now recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, religious unions, domestic partnerships, contractual arrangements or Christian blessings entered into in this State - or anywhere else on this planet Earth.

I thought we would be debating real issues: education, health care for kids, teacher's health insurance, health care for the elderly, protecting survivors of sexual assault, protecting the pensions of seniors in nursing homes. I thought we would be debating economic development, property tax relief, protecting seniors pensions and stem cell research, to save lives of Texans who are waiting for a more abundant life. Instead we are wasting this body's time with this political stunt that is nothing more than constitutionalizing discrimination. The prejudices exhibited by members of this body disgust me.

Unfortunatly, even after her speech the bill passed the house with a uninamous vote. Here's the bill:

H.J.R. No. 6 
By:  Chisum, Hartnett, Hopson, Howard, McReynolds, et al.
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment providing that marriage in
this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/79R/billtext/HJ00006H.HTM

The woman didn't accomplish much because everyone still voted for it, but she still kicks ass. A black Christian Democrat in the middle of Texas. And she represents Houston. Bernie now knows who she should vote for.

[Fiero]

A black Christian Democrat in the middle of Texas. And she represents Houston. Bernie now knows who she should vote for.

[racist asshole]There's actually a crapload of them down here, just so happens most of them are on welfare and not interested in running for office, because there too busy having babies with at least three men apiece[/racist asshole]

Even though it's true.

[Faye Valentine]

i'll never understand why gay people care so much about being able to get married. just be together for fuck's sake. marriage is just a ceremony

[PapaMidnight]

I think most people would like to have the person they love covered by their health care and insurance, share finances, be able to make decisions for them if they're incapacitated or even be able to stay in the ICU if they're in the hospital. As long as same-sex marriages aren't allowed a gay person's partner has no more rights than a casual friend.

[Retarded_gwynn]

Faye do you want to get married?





No, not to me, at all I mean.
Gay peoples relationships are just as legit as any straight person's and they deserve the same rights and protections and tax breaks and all that as de skraight pooples.
Dont be a ninny.
Its for equality and all that.



 

[B E C K]

Fuck that amendment.  That Thompson chick's right on the money.

[Derrick]

Fuck Texas and Florida. And the rest of the south and Midwest for that matter.

[ChelseySuzie]

Fuck Texas and Florida. And the rest of the south and Midwest for that matter.

Fuck off, before I throw you from a grain silo!

I read the good book, and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, "gay people can't marry." I have never read the verse where it says, "though shalt discriminate against those not like me." I have never read the verse where it says, "let's base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination." Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness - not hate and discrimination.

That was abso-fucking-lutely beautiful!  More Christians like her should make themeselves be heard.  It's those select few that make the whole religion look bad (I'm not Christian, but I'm sick of the bad attitudes towards religion).

And to bounce off what Faye said - I really think that marriage is more legal than religious.  The church, the dress, the bridesmaids, the reception is all just ceremony, a lot of gay couples do that already.

My parents got married at the courthouse, no flair and only a few witnesses (okay, so they're divorcing now... but still!).  

[Derrick]

Fuck Texas and Florida. And the rest of the south and Midwest for that matter.

Fuck off, before I throw you from a grain silo!

I read the good book, and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, "gay people can't marry." I have never read the verse where it says, "though shalt discriminate against those not like me." I have never read the verse where it says, "let's base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination." Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness - not hate and discrimination.

That was abso-fucking-lutely beautiful!  More Christians like her should make themeselves be heard.  It's those select few that make the whole religion look bad (I'm not Christian, but I'm sick of the bad attitudes towards religion).

And to bounce off what Faye said - I really think that marriage is more legal than religious.  The church, the dress, the bridesmaids, the reception is all just ceremony, a lot of gay couples do that already.

My parents got married at the courthouse, no flair and only a few witnesses (okay, so they're divorcing now... but still!).

Don't be too proud of that argicultural terror you've constructed. The powet to throw me from a grain silo is insignificant to the powet of the force.

[ChelseySuzie]

Don't be too proud of that argicultural terror you've constructed. The powet to throw me from a grain silo is insignificant to the powet of the force.

Touch me and you'll be roadkill by the morning!

[Derrick]

Boo.

[ChelseySuzie]

*throws Tom in front of a giant plowing machine*

[Derrick]

*disapears in a haze, then appears behind Chelsey with his lightsaber*

IMPRESSIVE!!!

[B E C K]

Ghey!!

[ChelseySuzie]

Double ghey!

[Derrick]

Was that too much?

[Fiero]

Was that too much?

It was definitly too ghey.

[Derrick]

Well since Ghey could mean anything, I'll just go sit in my special chair.

[ChelseySuzie]

Well since Ghey could mean anything, I'll just go sit in my special chair.

This?

[Nuriko]

I've never had a special chair.  =(

[Derrick]

I could work my hammies with that.