Social conservatism in action
By Sean Aqui | Related entries in Gender, In The News, Legislation, News, Religion, SexualityFrom opposite ends of the country, two stories that will either make you laugh or simply shake your head.
First, from North Dakota:
North Dakota’s House has agreed to repeal the state’s anti-cohabitation law without a vote to spare, and Gov. John Hoeven is expected to sign it.
The law, which makes it illegal for a man and woman to live together without being married, has been part of North Dakota’s code since statehood. It is listed as a sex crime among the state’s criminal laws.
Okay. Sounds simple enough. Another outdated law removed from the books.
Except:
Representatives voted 48-41 on Thursday to repeal the law. It takes a minimum of 48 votes, which is a majority of the House’s 94 members, to approve any measure in the state House.
That’s right, the measure barely passed. Forty-one legislators voted to keep it a criminal offense.
The mind boggles.
Next we head south to sunny Largo, Fla., where the city found itself having to make a decision about whether to keep its city manager of 14 years. The sole reason? He wants to have a sex-change operation and become a woman.
City commissioners ended one of the most tumultuous weeks in Largo history Tuesday night by moving to fire City Manager Steve Stanton following his disclosure that he will have a sex-change operation.
A total of 480 people packed City Hall for a four-hour meeting during which one activist was arrested after police told her not to hand out fliers.
After listening to about 60 speakers, mostly from Largo, a majority of commissioners said they had lost confidence in Stanton’s ability to lead.
That’s right, fired for wanting a sex-change operation. It’ll be interesting if that one survives an anti-discrimination challenge, although his status as a manager makes him more vulnerable to such things, as the “ability to lead” argument shows.
I love the logic of some of the residents who wanted him fired:
“I don’t want that man in office,” she said. “I don’t think we should be paying him $150,000 a year when he’s not been truthful. We have to speak up. Of course, we don’t believe in sex changes or lesbianism. They have their rights, but we do, too.”
He wasn’t “truthful” because he hadn’t revealed his gender issue until now. Of course, if he had revealed it, he would have been attacked for “flaunting” his sexuality.
But this one takes the cake:
“If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he’d want him terminated. Make no mistake about it.”
The speaker? Ron Sanders, pastor of Largo’s Lighthouse Baptist Church.
This entry was posted on Friday, March 2nd, 2007 and is filed under Gender, In The News, Legislation, News, Religion, Sexuality. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
March 2nd, 2007 at 3:38 pm
If I were a Republican nominee and this was what my base was saying, I’d be moving away from it too. It’s just so ugly how religion is misused, both here and abroad (particularly abroad).
In particular, how screwed up is it that somebody could actually be sent to jail for co-habitating? And then be registered a sex offender? It’s like in Georgie where a 17 year old and an 15 year old had consensual oral sex, and the 17 year old got put away for 10 years! We need a complete revamping of these laws, but state’s rights…
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
North Dakota. 48 – 41, with 7 no shows who probably did not vote because they wanted a chance at re-election.
Largo, FL I have no problems with gays or trans-sexuals. However, Stanton destroyed his leadership ability in what is a primarily retiree city when he made his announcement. I respect his right to follow through with the operation & sex change. I also support the city fathers’ decision to fire him.
I could live a very long & much more abundant life if I had what he will be receiving in severance pay. Perhaps he had that in mind when he announced his decision. He will never again find a position as a city manager or equivalent position again. I wish him a happy retirement.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:30 pm
From what I’ve read, Bob in fl, Stanton did not make the announcement until AFTER somebody leaked the news to the press. He’d been outed by somebody else, and decided only then to make a public announcement.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Check out the law – Stanton may have a pretty good lawsuit – http://jweissdiary.blogspot.com
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Funny post, Justin.
But here is what you are missing..
2 daughters. Trust me, they make anyone more socially conservative.
I like the ND law & I will actively campaign for it in Missouri.
March 5th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Dos: I’ve got two daughters, and I can agree with the sentiment. I’ve become much more enamored of gun rights (and ankle bracelets for all unmarried males) in the past few years.
It hasn’t made me quite *that* conservative, however…..