Rhea County officials seek change in law to ban gays

WKRN ^ | 3/17/04 | Unk

[MineralMan]

DAYTON, Tenn. (AP) - Rhea County commissioners unanimously voted to ask state lawmakers to introduce legislation amending Tennessee's criminal code so the county can charge homosexuals with crimes against nature.

"We need to keep them out of here," said Commissioner J.C. Fugate, who introduced the motion.

County Attorney Gary Fritts also was asked by Fugate to find the best way to enact a local law banning homosexuals from living in Rhea County. Commissioners asked Fritts to bring a resolution requesting the ban to next month's commission meeting for another vote.

Fugate said he offered the crimes against nature measure, which wasn't on the agenda, because of recent national and state events concerning gay marriages.

There was little discussion before the 8-0 vote, and commissioners didn't mention that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas sodomy laws last year and ruled there is a constitutionally protected right to adults' private sexual conduct.

Matt Nevels, president of the Chattanooga chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said he knows of homosexuals and their parents in Rhea County.

"That is the most farfetched idea put forth by any kind of public official," Nevels said. "I'm outraged."

Fugate's motion prompted some people in the audience to applaud. Three audience members who spoke before Fugate's motion advocated prayer in schools and denounced drinking alcohol and county zoning.

The Rhea County action came after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-1 Tuesday for a bill that would prohibit legal recognition of civil unions and domestic partnerships among homosexuals in Tennessee. Gay marriages already are prohibited in the state.

The state senator who represents Rhea County, Tommy Kilby, D-Wartburg, said Wednesday he hadn't seen the resolution and couldn't comment on it until he did.

"Yesterday in Judiciary Committee, they passed out a bill basically saying we will not recognize same-sex partnerships or civil unions from other states or foreign countries. I voted for that, and that's my position on that issue," Kilby said.

State Rep. Jim Vincent couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

Rhea County, about 30 miles north of Chattanooga, is among the most conservative in Tennessee. It holds an annual festival commemorating the 1925 trial that convicted John T. Scopes on charges of teaching evolution, a verdict thrown out by the Tennessee Supreme Court on a technicality. The trial later became the subject of the play and movie, "Inherit the Wind."

In 2002, a federal judge ruled unconstitutional the Rhea County school board's Bible Education Ministry, a class taught in the public schools by students from a Christian college.

[MineralMan]

Interesting twist on trends.

[Modernman]

What a bunch of dumb hicks. Idiots like this do a lot of damage to the conservative movement and they don't even know it.

[Jaded]

While we know this really is futility on the part of the county, you've got to admit they have cojones to do something so politically incorrect.

[MineralMan]

"What a bunch of dumb hicks. Idiots like this do a lot of damage to the conservative movement and they don't even know it.
"

Hmmm....

Lots of folks wish they could pass laws like this, I guess. Trouble is: Such laws, that would restrict a group from living in a place, are always unconstitutional. It's unfortunate that situations like this arise out of ignorance of what laws can be enacted.

Laws prohibiting homosexual acts are still on the books in many states, but the recent SCOTUS decision is going to moot them all. These folks just look foolish, as far as I'm concerned.

[MineralMan]

"you've got to admit they have cojones to do something so politically incorrect.
"

Cojones, perhaps, but a distinct lack of brainpower. What's the point of trying to pass a law that will just be stricken down immediately?

[GSWarrior]

Un-enforceable, as well.

[gdani]

What's the point of trying to pass a law that will just be stricken down immediately?

Not only that, but they (i.e. the taxpayers) will be paying the other side's attorney fees when they lose.

[azhenfud]

"There was little discussion before the 8-0 vote, and commissioners didn't mention that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas sodomy laws last year and ruled there is a constitutionally protected right to adults' private sexual conduct."

And there is a constitutionally protected right of association, which these have said they don't want Queers or Phaggots around. It's perfectly alright for Queers or Phaggots to disregard the law, why should the officials or people of Rhea County have any respect for the corruptly rotten USSC? Those "justices" have crapped in their own nest.

Bless those of Rhea.

[Bella_Bru]

Un-enforceable, as well.

No it's not. If you'd just be a good citizen and allow the local PD to install cameras in your home, they could see what you are doing at all times and punish you accordingly.

[azhenfud]

"These folks just look foolish, as far as I'm concerned."

Yeah, but you gotta give them an "E" for effort. ;-)

[MineralMan]

"And there is a constitutionally protected right of association, which these have said they don't want Queers or Phaggots around. "

Hmm....

Not exactly. We have a constitutionally guaranteed right to associate with whom we choose. It is a positive right. We do not have a right to exclude citizens from living where they like. We're free not to associate with whomoever we choose, but we are not free to exclude folks from our cities and towns. Sorry.

[Phantom Lord]

There is no freedom of association in this matter. A county is not a private organization protected by said.

[billbears]

Idiots like this do a lot of damage to the conservative movement and they don't even know it.

No this group is willing to stand up for what it believes when 'conservatives' are willing to bend any principle as long as the 'right' party can remain in control

[Iscool]

You're right...They should instead, pass a law that makes queers illegal...Put 'em in jail...Keep 'em there...Solves the problem...

[Modernman]

And there is a constitutionally protected right of association, which these have said they don't want Queers or Phaggots around.

The 1st Amendment right of association does not give government the power to exclude certain people from a county or city. Rather, all it does is give you (as a private citizen) the power to choose who to associate with.

[Guillermo]

Yeah, but whne Homosexuals demand nothing less than the complete implementation of their vile agenda, they are heralded as progressive and enlightened.

They should all get the hell back in their closets. O'm sick of hearing them demand that society conform to their deviancies and behaviors, all of which revolve around them putting their penises in the anus' of other men.

[MineralMan]

"You're right...They should instead, pass a law that makes queers illegal...Put 'em in jail...Keep 'em there...Solves the problem..."

I see. Trouble is that you can't pass laws that make _people_ illegal. You can only pass laws that make actions illegal. Now that the SCOTUS has ruled that homosexual acts are not illegal, I see no way for any such law to be passed and last.

Remember: You cannot pass laws that make _people_ illegal. That violates the very fundamentals of our Constitution. Every conservative should know that without even thinking.

[mrustow]

"you've got to admit they have cojones to do something so politically incorrect. "

Cojones, perhaps, but a distinct lack of brainpower. What's the point of trying to pass a law that will just be stricken down immediately?

To give folks in other parts of the country, the courage to stand up and say, "No!" to gay marriage?

[MineralMan]

O'm sick of hearing them demand that society conform to their deviancies and behaviors, all of which revolve around them putting their penises in the anus' of other men.

---

What about lesbians?

[Modernman]

No this group is willing to stand up for what it believes when 'conservatives' are willing to bend any principle as long as the 'right' party can remain in control

And what conservative beliefs are these fools standing up for? Seems to me that a core conservative belief is that law-abiding people should be free to live their lives however and wherever they choose and that government has no place peeking into the private lives of consenting adults.