Religious Left

Over and over and over again we hear religious arguments against marriage equality. But the fact remains; there are churches and religions that support marriage equality. Since the United States Constitution grants Freedom of Religion, in the first amendment, it is unconstitutional for any government agency (state or federal) to legally hold one set of religious beliefs above another. End of story - Stop the madness! www.QueerPublicRadio.com a 24/7 LGBTQIA Independent Internet Radio Station. Visit, Listen, Support and become involved.

We’ve heard many examples of “officials” refusal to issue “gay” marriage licenses based on religious beliefs. I’m talking about areas where same-sex marriage is legal. I’ve always wondered if these “officials” ever refused a marriage license due to divorce, different religious beliefs or because the applicants were atheists? Since a marriage license is a legal state/government document the “official” is an officer of the state/government. Of course, all state and government officials are legally bound by the United States Constitution. According to article six of the United States Constitution: Article VI All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United State...

Any state which legalizes a preacher performing civil marriages should be brought up on charges for disregarding the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state! By allowing a religious official to perform a state rights ceremony (marriage) the state is allowing the religious official to act as an official agent of the state. This is in direct conflict with the United States Constitution. Folks there has always been "the spirit of the law" and "the letter of the law". Often, the letter of the law does not reflect the spirit of the law. But if religious folks wish to be so specific about laws and rights, I hope they won't be to suprirsed when the same rules, laws and rights end up going against them!

from The Freedom From Religion organization A "stained glass" billboard bearing the message, "Imagine No Religion," has just gone up in Seattle for a month. The colorful billboard appears on Denny Way Hill, east of Stewart Street, in the Capitol Hill/Broadway area of Seattle. The billboard is sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the nation's largest membership association for freethinkers (atheists and agnostics), which is also a state/church separation watchdog. The Foundation has more than 12,000 members. "So far as we know, this is the first-ever freethinking billboard to be placed in the Seattle area. We consider Seattle fertile ground," said Foundation co-president Dan Barker, author of Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist. Barker noted that polls and surveys invariably reveal that unbelief is highest in the Pacific Northwest. "Wherever you go, our roadsides of full of religion and religious symbols," said Found...

I wake up, brew some coffee and jump in front of the computer. Asking myself what happened while I was asleep? Who felt the sting of discrimination today? Hope no one got killed or bashed! I receive email notification of news articles based on key words I select. Some of my words are “hate crime”, faggot, queer, homosexual, bashing, “hate speech” and many more. You get the idea. Being a United States citizen and a gay man I have a focus that I call equality. I shine the spotlight on news contrary to my focus. By the way, I do this on my own and in hopes people will open their eyes and see what is happening. I see so much hate and sadly, much of it from religion. I wish more people would remember history and historical facts. The religious based hatred, persecution and wars have gone on far to long. Pilgrims who formed these United States of America were called Separatists in England because they wanted independence from the established Church of England. Our country was t...

A lawmaker's attempt to push legislation aimed at amending the Iowa Constitution to ban gay marriage failed Tuesday. House Minority Leader Christopher Rants sought a procedural vote to allow the proposal to skip past the typical legislative process and come up for debate in the full House. Approval of the resolution would be the Legislature's first step toward setting a public vote on amending the constitution. Brad Clark of One Iowa, a Des Moines-based civil rights group, praised the House's action. "Instead of playing politics with our state's constitution, we are thankful that the Iowa House has chosen to focus on real issues facing Iowa families," Clark said. full article

A recent article quoted Mike Huckabee: “ I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that’s what we need to do — to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view.” First, let us not forget separation of church and state, even if it is a blurred line. Secondly, bible scholars can’t even agree on some parts of the bible. So I ask Mr. Huckabee, which bible do we use? Of course, we all know, in his eyes the only correct bible would be the one Mr. Huckabee reads.

Thompson Defends Anti-Gay Marriage Stance NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson said he's met frequently with influential social conservatives who are willing to accept his position on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage even though it doesn't go quite as far as they would like. Thompson favors a constitutional amendment that bars judges from legalizing gay marriage. "What I have done is fashion something that says judges can't do that any more," said Thompson. He said the practical effect of his proposal would be a ban on gay marriages.