SALLY KERN IS STILL AWESOME

Last week openly gay pastor Dr. Scott Jones wrote in the Oklahoma Gazette that he and his boyfriend GOT MARRIED IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. How did this happen?!?! Didn't Oklahoma protect marriage from the gays in 2004? Although the state constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman, Dr. Jones found a loophole. He basically said, "Screw what the state thinks, I'll just get married in the eyes of God." I've paraphrased of course, but he makes an interesting distinction between marriage as religious sacrament and marriage as civil contract.

In the counterpoint article everyone's favorite homophobe Sally Kern argues that because the Bible defines marriage as between a man and a woman, the government should too. She also attempts to use non-religious arguments to support her point, but they are over-used and easily refuted. Marriage is for procreation only?!?! If that's the case, why are infertile couples and post-menopausal women allowed to marry?

It's clear that her opposition to gay marriage comes from religious convictions. Ms. Kern believes that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin; therefore, it is wrong for the state to legitimize this sin, which would be fine IF WE LIVED IN A THEOCRACY. It would also be fine if marriage were only a religious sacrament performed by churches, but it's not. When the state is involved, marriage becomes a civil contract and cannot be considered a religious sacrament because of a long history of separation of church and state.

If I ever get married, it's not going to be in front of an altar and pastor, but my marriage will probably be considered just as 'holy' as someone who, much like Scott Jones, got married by a pastor. If Ms. Kern is so concerned with keeping marriage 'holy,' her time might be better spent pushing for the state to get out of the marriage business because as soon as the state is involved, it cannot be treated as a religious sacrament.

Also Sally Kern signed her morality proclamation today (see post below) amidst protesters at the state capital, but this article says that there were many more supporters than protesters. Sadness.