A VICTORY FOR LAW AND ORDER
The bill made it out of the judiciary committee.
Quote for the day, from ACLU's Deborah Jacobs:
In this country, we put our hand on the bible and swear to uphold the constitution, not put our hand on the constitution and swear to uphold the bible.
In calm and memorable terms, one former legislative hopeful spoke directly and convincingly about the fear campaign, run by the bill's opponents.
Much of the "opposition" remains hopelessly insular. An Orthodox Rabbi, in speaking about a child potentially adopted by a gay couple, became passionate and raised his voice, exclaiming that such a thing was "unmitigated barbarism". Clearly, he's never spent even a day with a gay couple or family. His imagination seems all over the place, including intimations that gays cannot control their sexual impulses ('think what will happen to this innocent child').
The Friends, the Quakers, spoke eloquently. But, as expected, they were unable to reach the "democratic" "Catholic votes" on the Committee.
Many other solid testimonies. Seven hours of it. Another highlight was the same ACLU lawyer telling a minister that the ACLU would defend them in court, if they couldn't speak their religious beliefs... grok that marriage, if you can.
While special notice goes to the critical Republican Senator Bill Baroni, a man who actually understands the law, a special mention, I think, has to go to those who have looked at the demographics of those who support marriage for gays. I suspect Jennifer Beck, Republican, is vulnerable. She covers some of the highest "household values" in the state.
If you are honest with yourself, one might believe that movement on the Republican side of the isle is at least as likely as trying to bring, say, the Ruben Diaz's of the world, to the mountain...
