Finally, Keith Bardwell did a smart thing - he resigned as Justice of the Peace of Hammond, Louisiana. Last month, this man refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple - because in his deep-hearted opinion, mixed marriages don't last and he is more concerned for the children born of biracial couples.
A Louisiana justice of the peace who drew criticism for refusing to marry an interracial couple has resigned, the secretary of state's office said Tuesday.
Keith Bardwell resigned in person at the Louisiana secretary of state's office, said spokesman Jacques Berry. The state Supreme Court will appoint an interim justice of the peace to fill Bardwell's position, Berry said, and a special election will be held next year to fill the position permanently.
Bardwell, a justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish's 8th Ward, refused to perform a marriage ceremony for Beth Humphrey, 30, and her boyfriend Terence McKay, 32, both of Hammond, Louisiana, and sign their marriage license. The two were married by another justice of the peace.
The couple filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against Bardwell and his wife, Beth Bardwell, on October 20, claiming the two violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Bardwell, speaking to CNN affiliate WBRZ, said he was advised "that I needed to step down because they was going to take me to court, and I was going to lose."
"I would probably do the same thing again," he said. "I found out I can't be a justice of the peace and have a conscience."
Keith Bardwell is pathetic and sad!
Its baffling but not surprising that in this day and age, there are still remnants of overt racial ignorance and bigotry. And this ignorance is not just a personal opinion with no influence, he actually has impact on the people of his county. He is impinging on the fundamental civil rights of Americans.
Keith Bardwell's own conscious cannot disseminate right from wrong and truly feel what he has done is actually good for society. He tells the media, he is more concerned for the children of interracial marriages:
He (Keith Bardwell) told the Hammond Daily Star in an October story that he did not marry the couple because he was concerned for the children that might be born of the relationship and that, in his experience, most interracial marriages don't last. "I'm not a racist," he said. "I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children."
Bullshit!
People like Keith Bardwell needs to die out to allow our country to progress into a more dignified and diverse nation where civil liberties are not destroyed because of the color of our skin. We must allow the next generation of Americans to grow, learn and unify our country.
It is the year 2009 and interracial marriages are not the obscured unions nor deterred as it was way back in the civil rights era of the 50s and 60s. The South actually had laws to govern who can marry who and would arrest those that would violate these laws. These laws restricting marriages (written by God-loving Christians of the Baptist South) were so prejudice, so offensive, vile and hostile that a case had to be brought up to the US Supreme Court in 1967 (Loving v. Virginia).
Does this all sound familiar???
It is the year 2009. We have another battle in the "Sanctity of Marriage".
Gay men and women have been in existence for centuries and they are still battling for their civil rights to fight in the military, employment, health insurance, adoption, etc. Though they have made strides, it is still a long road ahead for equality.
Gay Marriage is now in the forefront of national debates because in order for the Pursuit of Happiness, Gay men and women want the rights to get married with all the privileges that a legal marriage brings.
All the conservative opposing views to Gay Marriages have the same or similar rhetoric used way back in the 50s/60s to stop and criminalize interracial marriages. There is no difference in the ugliness and stupidity to these rhetorics.
Keith Bardwell gave us a reminder of America's past - the shameful, ignorant and destructive past.
After his outrageous action to deny a heterosexual, consensual, adult couple to marry, America united to reacted against Keith Bardwell.
Keith Bardwell has a voice that doesn't much exist today. America's voice was loud and clear and in support of interracial marriages.
Though Bardwell still fully believes in his heart of hearts that what he did was true and right - he is alone and a dying breed.
One day, I hope to see and hear America's voice unite strong and proud in support for Gay Marriage!
Will it happen? I hope so and may that day come soon!
