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The "No Queers Praying Rule" in the Oklahoma state legislature

I'd like to be kidding about this one.

From Classically Liberal:

I have to admit that now and then the Religious Right absolutely astounds me, rarely in a good way however. The depth of their irrationality is mind-boggling. Take this absurd question: Does the Religious Right love praying more than they hate homosexuals? On the face of it you would think that was an absurd question that can’t be answered. But in Oklahoma a bunch of Republican theocrats in the state legislature managed to answer the question.

When the state legislature convenes they bring in some minister who is asked to pray. After the prayer a member of the legislature rises and asks that the prayer be put into the official record of the session. This is routinely done.

Recently Rev. Scott Jones of the Cathedral of Hope from Oklahoma City was asked to give the prayer. Jones was new at this sort of mixing of church and state and asked about the protocol. He was told that before his prayer he could recognize the individuals who came to the legislature with him. This came from the Speaker of the House, Rep. Chris Benge. Rev. Jones mentioned his “loving partner and fiancé, Michael” along with others as being with him. And then he prayed. That was all he did.

At the end of his prayer it was moved that the prayer be put into the record of the day, as is usually done. But this time Theopublicans in the House started protesting. They wanted the prayer stricken from the record, not because the prayer itself was particularly offensive but because the man who prayed happens to be gay. Twenty members of the legislature voted to ban the prayer and another 17 were just too cowardly to vote. The vote to remove the prayer failed but still about a third of the legislators voted to ban it or refused to vote at all.

Jason Murphey, a Republican who represent Guthrie and God, in the House said: “For him to show up and not just pray; that would be one thing. But to introduce his fiancé and then have his fiancé be a guy – and then pray – that was an attack on the beliefs of a lot of Oklahomans and it was entirely inappropriate.”


The Old Confederacy and Buffalo Commons, indeed.

And to think some folks have acquired the misguided idea that we're sympathetic to the party which inspires such crap.

Comments

What an utter embarassment. I am at a loss for words (unusual).
I've been asked over the years, as I've moderated myself somewhat, "Why don't you become a Republican?" Well, this is exactly the reason why. Yes, I'm still a Democrat from voting for Jack Markell in the primary. I've been meaning to change back to unaffiliated for some time now.

But I can never -- ever -- be a Republican because, IMO, most Republicans on some level believe just like these idiots do. Perhaps not in such a bold way, but subconsciously, they do.

It may sound simple, but social issues are where I really pick a candidate. Fiscal and foreign policy are all well and good, but if a candidate doesn't believe in the equality of all, then their candidacy is lost on me.

Which is why I could never jump on board with a candidate from the Sarah Palin wing on the Republican Party, as I'm now referring to it.
Bowly said…
I've been asked over the years, as I've moderated myself somewhat, "Why don't you become a Republican?"

Are mostly Democrats or Republicans asking you that question?
Believe it or not, both Dems and GOP have asked me that question many times.
Brian Miller said…
There's a reason why states like Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi, etc. are perpetually dependent on federal handouts.

They chase away all the smart and thinking people with stuff like this. The only people who are left are those who put their "faith" in hate above common sense.
Anonymous said…
I'm with you Mike. I just can't get by the religion. If real republicans distanced themselves from these yo yo's,the party wouldn't be looked at as such a joke.

I'd also bet more moderate democrats would join their ranks.

I don't know what scares me more, the far left or the far right.

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