posted on January 21, 2004 07:03:37 PM new
By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS, Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a measure banning gay marriage and prohibiting state employees from getting benefits for domestic partners.
The bill is considered among the most far-reaching in the nation because of the benefits ban, which applies to unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples.
The Senate passed the legislation on an 18-15 vote Wednesday. The House has already approved the bill and Gov. Bob Taft has said he will sign it, pending a legal review.
The measure says same-sex marriages are "against the strong public policy of the state," and aims to counter a 1934 U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) ruling requiring states to recognize marriages from other states in most circumstances.
Thirty-seven states have passed laws recognizing marriage as a sacrament between men and women.
Ohio is the second state, after Nebraska, that would prohibit benefits for state employees' unmarried partners, said Seth Kilbourn, national field director for the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based gay and lesbian lobbying group.
Ohio lawmakers struggled with the issue for seven years, when then-Rep. Jay Hottinger introduced a bill in the House. Hottinger, now a senator, said the bill was not an attack on homosexuals but rather meant to protect a traditional definition of marriage.
"Ohio must be able to clearly establish and define our own laws rather than have another state or country define something as important as marriage," said Hottinger, a Republican.
Sen. Eric Fingerhut, a Cleveland Democrat, said the bill will hurt Ohio by limiting the ability of businesses and universities to attract talented people.
"If we pass this bill, get up tomorrow and look in the mirror," Fingerhut said. "Smiling back at you is someone who has slowed Ohio's progress by putting up a sign to people that says, 'We don't want you here.'"
The vote came despite opposition by some large companies. Dayton-based NCR Corp. sent a letter to lawmakers Dec. 12 saying the bill could hurt the company's ability to attract and retain employees.
Similar bills have been introduced in each session since Hottinger first introduced the legislation. But former Senate President Richard Finan, a Republican, blocked its passage. He said state law already took care of the matter.
CHEER!
I knew there was something about Ohio that was good.
This is a step in the right direction and is following the will of the people.
posted on January 21, 2004 08:47:01 PM new
"Smiling back at you is someone who has slowed Ohio's progress by putting up a sign to people that says, 'We don't want you here.'"
I think that was kinda the unspoken POINT of the law...
"The vote came despite opposition by some large companies. Dayton-based NCR Corp. sent a letter to lawmakers Dec. 12 saying the bill could hurt the company's ability to attract and retain employees. "
Now here's the part I don't understand. If NCR WANTS to offer gay couples benefits, they CANNOT do it? They should be able to enitce employees any way they want.
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Replay Media
Games of all kinds!
posted on January 21, 2004 08:56:11 PM new
Good going OHIO. Keep up the posts 12. If GOD has wanted gay unions Moses would have found 11 Commandments in the burning bush.
"If you believe you can tell me what to think, I believe I can tell you where to go. Not all of us are sheep....."
posted on January 21, 2004 08:57:23 PM new
He sure does! Why if it wasn't for Twelve, some of us wouldn't have anyone to argue with. He keeps my blood flowing and heart beating. If I was an overseas chick, I'd have his children.
posted on January 21, 2004 10:02:07 PM new
Yes, Robin, 'shushing' is a part of the Grand Master Subversive Evil Left-Wing Hunga-Dunga Conspiracy we wackos who've been assigned to monitor this chatboard have been told to employ.
Really, though, it's a minor compulsion; we can control it if we want to...
[ edited by plsmith on Jan 21, 2004 10:02 PM ]
posted on January 22, 2004 05:27:23 AM new
Gays are no less deviant than people who commit incest or bestiality or other deviant sexual activities...
This is true, twelve. However, many of these sexual deviants as you call them, are in a union that consists of a man and a woman. How many fathers are out there that have molested their children? So, what makes the union between a man and a woman any better than that between gays who are far, far, far less likely to molest their children?
What's funny about Ohio is that it's actually quite divided into conservative and liberal sections. Here up north we are more liberal. It's a manufacturing area that has lost thousands upon thousands of jobs. For the most part we are hard working people and don't want to take handouts. Of course, there are always those few. . . That's why we have had Dennis as our congressman for so many years. We dislike our governor and everything that man stands for. Things change as you go south. Sometimes I think Ohio needs to be divided into two states. North Ohio and South Ohio.
I don't necessarily agree with the gay lifestyle but, our Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law. Who is GWB to come along and change our Constitution? Shouldn't that be voted on by the people and not be a decision made by our elected officials? These are the same officials who say one thing at election time and do quite another once elected.
The bible teaches us tolerance, but it's so lacking in our society today. We have become more intolerant of Musleums, blacks, gays, hispanics, asians and everyone else who doesn't fit the conservative mold than we have been since before the civil rights movement. We've been moving slowly backwards for almost four years. IMO, that's not acceptable.
Twelve, you and I will always disagree on this and politics. I know what your opinion is and I tolerate it because that's what I've been raised to do. If we can tolerate you, why do you have such a hard time tolerating the rest of us? Just a question that's not meant to beat up on you.
posted on January 22, 2004 06:08:50 AM new
I think it would be interesting if Jesus were to be born in our times.
Could you imagine a 30 year old man traveling around the country with other men, all unmarried and "rooming" together, not one girlfriend among them, and preaching "love your brother".
Jesus and his group of 12 may very well have been gay.
In any event, what a waste of time for the Ohio legislature.
So many issues that they could have been addressing, and they waste their energy on a law that helps no one and makes them look like a bunch of red neck dolts.
posted on January 22, 2004 10:02:44 AM new
How many threads have you started about gays, twelvepole? You seem to be a bit obsessed by it and you've used the word "deviant" over and over on each one.
You don't like women and you seem to be overly obsessed by gays. Could it be that you have inner feelings that you are denying?
posted on January 22, 2004 10:16:23 AM new
The biggest problem with gay marriages is in the Tax Structure and insurance/health care organizations coverage. Nobody is talking about this end of it much. But I think that is more the main reason the government (not withstanding religious righters)are so against it.
Cannot imagine how it could possibly police the many marriages of convenience that would probably follow. If the IRS is chaos now what would happen then?
posted on January 22, 2004 10:17:59 AM new
On the contrary Kiara, I do like women, just not the ones we are raising here in North America... well I do like all women for one thing
Asian women are my favorite... No BS about being "equal" from them.
I start the threads because like some others here I think homosexuality should not be accepted in any shape or form... laws prevent me from doing what should be done, but when legislators of states take action to correct the politcal correctnes gone wrong, I applaud that...
You seem to keep addressing me in every thread... sorry sweets you and I would not make a good couple... would give you a good crack on the ass though...
posted on January 22, 2004 10:58:41 AM new
All the 's in one post just isn't your style, twelvepole. Helen and I notice those things right away.
BTW, I have you all figured out and I do believe that you really do like women. Except you are a bit afraid of us, especially the ones that think.
Your dream of having an Asian girl will never become a reality as slavery is not allowed in America. Drop the "control" thing and you just may find happiness.
