State Senator Pushing For Same-Sex Civil Unions In S.C.
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Civil unions bill
A state senator is pushing a bill to create same-sex civil unions in SC.
State Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, thinks South Carolina voters got it wrong in November 2006 when they overwhelmingly passed a state Constitutional amendment making marriage between one man and one woman the only legal domestic union. “I think it’s unconstitutional,“ Sen. Ford says of the amendment.
Because of that and the Democratic National Committee’s platform plant to encourage states to adopt civil unions, Sen. Ford has introduced the Civil Union Equality Act. It would allow same-sex civil unions in the state that would have all the benefits, privileges, rights and responsibilities of marriage.
“You just can’t close the doors on people’s rights,“ Sen. Ford says. “If they feel they have a right to a civil union, and if enough voters agree with that then we’re gonna have it.“
But getting his bill through the Statehouse isn’t all he’s up against. Voters would have to pass a new Constitutional amendment to undo the one that passed in 2006, since it says a marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in the state.
Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, doesn’t think Sen. Ford’s bill has a chance. “There’s no support for same-sex marriage in the General Assembly, probably because in this regard…the General Assembly is a reflection of the public at large in South Carolina.“ The 2006 amendment passed 78 percent to 22 percent.
But Sen. Ford says he’ll keep pushing this, even if it fails this year. “If it wasn’t for change, we wouldn’t have an African-American as President of the United States. So change is something that I’ve been working on all my life, so we’re going to continue to pursue this issue until we get the change we need and to satisfy the gay and lesbian community,“ he says.
In the U.S., only five other states have civil unions: California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont.
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Reader Reactions
I’m going to break one of my own rules, and say something about what other people are writing here. I’m supprised that there are no History majors in this talk group. It seems that everyone has overlooked the fact that the first slaves were Indian. Look where their at today. I Highly recommend that everyone get back to reading the history books. One more thing. You can’t find a better one that the HOLY BIBLE. (KJV)
LOL Warren…..a gay guy will be going after the boy scouts to get little boys and the same with lesbos to the girl scouts.
I dont know whats more gay…your post or the bill that Chareston dude has proposed.
The most used tool of the left wing liberal media and its followers when they don’t like someone’s view is to attack the person and not their views. This is most easily done by calling them a bigot, racist, intolerant and ECT. Most people back down from this and are more scared of being viewed a racist or bigot than standing on their beliefs. Acjcjim, FreeThinker and what ever else you call yourselves, I don’t answer to those names, I’m not scared of those names. There are thousands of people in the upstate area who know me and my story and your small derisions are fruitless. A bigot or racist is extremely tiny and if you guys or girls depending on what your birth certificate states not what you choose, can’t achieve expressing your selves without hiding behind “bigot” or “racism” terms, then you will need to become smaller then what your hiding behind to be successful. I guess the success will be hiding as I’m not sure what your goal is. I Warren, stand behind my earlier letter and expand further to say that our country finds itself in its current state because of the decline of the intended family structure. Away from the religious side of it, a homosexual marriage, unity, date or what ever else you might call it, by itself can’t produce anything but two people together. The fact that two same sex people can’t naturally have children “may” be a sign that there not congruent. If you want this type of relationship then you have that right, but you don’t want to stop there. For any of you “on the fence” thinkers what is a more productive organization the Boy Scouts or parade organizers in San Francisco? A pretty good judge of thing to come huh!
I see people are still talking about this and I’m still seeing the same things. One is a group of people asking for tolerance and understanding, but has little or no tolerance or understanding for others opinion. The postings are pretty much even for and against Mr. Ford’s bill on same sex unions, which I’m personally against.
I’ve seen people with Christian views giving reasons that are Biblically based on the Word of God. I have not seen them call anyone names or bash the other people’s views or ancestors; they have just politely disagreed and stated their reasoning.
Then the people for these civil unions get angry when the Bible is mentioned, and show no understanding; have no regard for Christian reasoning or any concerns other than for themselves.
Again, all they want to talk about is their rights why shouldn’t I have what I want, nothing about families, and nothing about children, only about me.
Interesting isn’t it that people who want justice and equality and understanding and acceptance, has absolutely none for other people.
The Christian people that I’ve seen have showed nothing but love and only wished to express their disapproval over this perversion, and that’s what it is a perversion. Christians do not judge other people, they don’t tell them what they need to do and what they don’t need to do, and they don’t hide behind pulpits or hide from anything. But what they do as Christians is to speak boldly about Jesus Christ.
We are all called by God to accept his grace and forgiveness through the death and resurrection of His son the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we accept it or reject it, whether you believe it or not, it is our choice, but we all do have to make a choice. Christians do not try to shove their religion down anyone’s throat, but we are commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to tell others the good news and that’s what we do and that’s all we can do, again the choice is yours.
Not one person who has posted to this has said anyone is committing a sin or mentioned any scripture that they have written; it all comes from the Word of God. A lot of people have tried to change it, a lot of people have tried to quote it, but only God said it and I believe every word of it.
I can’t speak for anyone but myself, however when i was baptized some 16 yrs ago I stated I would live by Gods word, NOT my own. I would uphold the 10 commandments. Living by the bible does NOT mean we are bigots! just a child of GOD!
Thanks Rascal for someone making sense around here!
Again an ANTI-Religious rant based on skewd facts… I don’t read anywhere in the bible that “Slavery is ordained of God”. The bible does teach that slave owners should be fair to their slaves, show kindness and mercy. No, my friend, the bible does not ordain slavery or divorce, both are brought on by man’s tendency to do evil and discusses how to deal with it. God takes things that are evil and uses it for something good… like bringing thousand of blacks (that were slaves in africa already) to a country where (in time) they could be freed and exposed to christianity. If you don’t believe it I dare you to drive by any black church next sunday and see the crowds that are there to serve God.
Try actually reading the bible, freethinker… You will find there is a world of difference in relligion and christianity. But I doubt you will read anything that doesn’t support your Christ-o-phobic veiw.
Free thinker:
Thank you for the fresh breath of air in a cold winter of thought that I been waiting for a long time coming.
I opened the windows today to be greeted by the sun on my face.
Reading many of these comments, it becomes clear that some living in South Carolina will twist the Bible to support their own bigotry. South Carolina once hosting the largest concentrated population of slaves in North America. Ironically, media outlets from that period also posted messages claim that slavery was ordained by God, and approved in the Bible…this argument was used to castigate those who advocate legislation outlawing slavery and the abuse of Blacks.
Seems like some posters here may trace their bigoted arguments to their ancestors.
Warren:
Key word “was”.
I am a religious man in my own right.
But I don’t use the Bible as a tool for bigotry, hate, or intolerance.
So who’s the true Christian here?
hey acjcjim, maybe you haven’t noticed, but the whole world at one point was based on the BIBLE! As i stated earlier if it weren’t for God none of us would even be here, so when you criticize us “religious bigots” think about that, also think about when the economy started to “fall”, after the 10 commandments was taken off the wall of the supreme courts, after they took prayer and the bible out of our schools, If you will read the bible instead of criticize, revelation to be exact, you will see that everything going on today is written in black & white!
so don’t criticize what you do not understand.
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