Marriage Equality passes today!
Congratulations to all supporters of equality and especially to the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force! Thank you also to our legislators who voted on the right side of history today! Please read this important update from Freedom to Marry, and join us tonight at 7pm at the new Two Friends Bistro, Vermont's new gay bar and restaurant on Williston Road next to Higher Ground and Quiznos to celebrate! There will another victory party at the Two Friends on Friday night too!
Vermont's House and Senate made history today, overriding the Governor's veto of S.115 and making Vermont the first state to embrace the freedom to marry through our elected representatives without a court order. Congratulations to all of us!
The final vote in the House was 49 votes to sustain the veto, and 100 votes to override it -- an override by the slimmest of margins. We are deeply indebted to legislative leaders for recognizing the importance of our families and our rights, and to all those legislators who stood by us -- some at considerable political risk. The courage that many leaders have shown over the past several weeks is inspiring, and we've seen the best of representative democracy in action. To our supporters in the Legislature: You have stood up for us, and we will stand with you in the days to come. We urge you to write each and every legislator (House and Senate) who stood with us on the override vote. Let them know you appreciate their support, and what they've been through.
This is a proud day for Vermont and Vermonters. Throughout this three and a half week process, we have engaged with one another with as much civility and respect as possible given the intensity of the heartfelt views many of us -- across the spectrum -- brought into this debate. And in the end, we did the right thing. The forces of justice, fairness and love proved far stronger than one man's veto pen.
And along the way, we built new bridges. The debate galvanized the majority of Vermonters in the quest for fairness and inclusion, uniting the business community, clergy and ordinary folks from the four corners of our state. In our editorial pages we've seen compelling calls for justice, personal stories, and thoughtful analysis. And in communities around the state, thousands of Vermonters stepped up to the plate -- writing your legislators, coming to the Statehouse, knocking on doors, and making phone calls. Some of you have never engaged in the political process before, and some hadn't thought much about the freedom to marry until it hit the front page. But you opened your hearts, heard a better future calling, and dedicated yourself to making our world a more loving place.
And the courage of every single legislator, and the commitment of every single volunteer and donor, has made a difference. We made it over the top without a cushion. Every single one of us has truly mattered.
Your actions matter to Sandi and Bobbi, who can finally get married right here in their own home state after 42 years of committed life together -- through life-threatening sickness, job loss, and the challenges of parenting, as well as the joys of raising a child, being grandmothers, and sharing each other's company.
Your actions matter to Nina and Stacy who have spent a dozen years advocating for children of gay and lesbian parents -- including their own. It matters to their son, Seth, who deserves to grow up in a world that recognizes, respects, and protects his family as much as any other.
Your actions matter to Scott, who as an adolescent struggling with his sexuality regularly contemplated suicide because he felt less worthy than his heterosexual siblings. And to the next generation of Scotts whose load will be lighter in a world where our laws don't reinforce outdated social stigmas.
Your actions matter to kids that haven't yet been born, youngsters who don't yet realize how we made a better world for them, and soulmates yet-to-be-joined by fate or good fortune.
Vermont can serve as a beacon of hope to the kid on the playground in Indiana, bullied by his peers because he's not macho enough. To the lesbian mother in Georgia in fear of losing custody of her child because she's gay. And to the worker in Montana who is afraid to come out to his boss for fear of losing his job.
To all of you -- thank you for making this difference!
We are planning a party, to celebrate justice and thank all who made it possible. Stay tuned for details. And thanks to all for proving that, in the end, love prevails!
Marriage: A legal union between two consenting individuals of legal age, that are not biologically related to one another. It can be between two individuals of the opposite sex or it can be between two individuals of the same sex. However, if it's between two individuals of the same sex, it's considered a Civil Marriage that is recognized by the government of the United States of America, but does not have to be recognized by the Church or other Religious Institutions. This is what is meant by separation of Church and State.
Since marriage is between only two individuals, this eliminates Polygamists or those that want a threesome marriage. Since marriage cannot be between relatives, this eliminates any marriage based on incest. Since marriage is between two consenting individuals of legal age, this eliminates marriage with an animal or with a minor. Even though procreation is part of marriage, it's not the "only" part and there are a lot of heterosexual couples who can not procreate. A marriage doesn't make a family and a family doesn't make a marriage.
There are different types of marriages. And whatever type of sex that consenting individuals of legal age engage in, is their business and their business only. However, if marriage is so important to society then explain these situations for me...
a) You have reality shows where the public not the man/woman picks the bride or groom...
b) People are getting married all over and over again without, legally, being divorced. And the government doesn't have any system or controls in place...
c) How can you annul a marriage years after the fact, especially when children were born from that union?
d) How can you get married by, and again, in the Catholic Church after being legally divorced?
e) And you have people marrying total strangers for money, so that one of them can stay in the U.S.A legally...
Just something to think about.
by Mr. Johnnie Newkirk Jr.
Posted by: Johnnie Newkirk Jr. | April 24, 2009 at 04:41 PM
Religious Snobs?: When you bring in the "new," you must retire the "old." Therefore, when Jesus gave us the new covenant, we were to retire the old covenant. When Jesus agreed to be crucified on the "cross," and in return, those who believe in Him, and accept Him as their "Lord and Savior," will be "reborn" and will have not only "eternal life," but all their "debts," in the form of sin, will be "forever" paid. This includes: past, present and future debts/sins. This is why Jesus is so important: Allah, Buddha, and all the rest have died. But Jesus was the only one, of all the rest, that has risen from the dead.
Moreover, the only unpardonable sin is "Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit." And their are religious scholars that claim that even that "sin" is unforgivable. However, let's refer to the bible. This is in Jesus' own words:
"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men."
New King James Version. Mathew 12, verse 31.
"Assuredly , I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemes they may utter: "but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation"
New King James Version. Mark 3 verses 28-29.
"And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him: but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven."
ABOMINATIONS:
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs: 11-1
Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs: 11-20
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just. Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs: 17-15
Diverse weights and diverse measures . They are both alike, an abomination to the Lords. Proverbs: 20-10.
These six things the Lord hates. Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look. A lying tongue. Hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that devises wicked plans. A false witness that speaks lies. And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs:6-16-19.
And the scoffer is an abomination to men. Proverbs: 24-9.
One who turns away from hearing the law. Even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs: 28-9
And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress: then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Daniel: 11-31.
"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place." These are the words of Jesus, Himself. Mathew:24-15.
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titus: 1-16.
He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog's neck; He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine's blood. He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways. And their soul delights in their abominations. Isaiah: 66-3.
The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. Revelations: 17-4.
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelations:21-8.
All the above is from the New King James Version, concordance.
Research for yourself. Which abomination(s) are you engaging in? And if you say none, you don't believe that yourself.
by Mr. Johnnie Newkirk Jr.
Posted by: Johnnie Newkirk Jr. | April 24, 2009 at 04:42 PM