So sounds another division bell in the name of so-called "righteousness".

LINK

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Tenn. county wants to charge homosexuals

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAYTON, Tenn. -- The county that was the site of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" over the teaching of evolution is asking lawmakers to amend state law so the county can charge homosexuals with crimes against nature.

The Rhea County commissioners approved the request 8-0 Tuesday.

Commissioner J.C. Fugate, who introduced the measure, also asked the county attorney to find a way to enact an ordinance banning homosexuals from living in the county.

"We need to keep them out of here," Fugate said.

The vote was denounced by Matt Nevels, president of the Chattanooga chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

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

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas' sodomy laws as a violation of adults' privacy.

Rhea County is one of the most conservative counties in Tennessee. It holds an annual festival commemorating the 1925 trial at which John T. Scopes was convicted of teaching evolution. The verdict was thrown out on a technicality. The trial became the subject of the play and movie "Inherit the Wind."

In 2002, a federal judge ruled unconstitutional the teaching of a Bible class in the public schools.

Ok: Dayton, Tennessee.
*makes mental note to avoid the region at absolutely all costs due to the risk of catching absolute f**king moron disease*

Unbelievable!

So there still are cavemen after all ? :D

There's no way that law can be even remotely legal, in any sense of the word...

The Supreme Court has spoken to all these issues. Won't happen -- and if it does, will be struck down. Certainly not somewhere I'd move if I were homosexual, though.

Land of the free INDEED!!!

I agree, but if leglislations like these, particularly this one get anywhere and become law, then the SCOTUS will become a toothless dog.

When that happens, these people and the like-minded will be free to invoke punishment for 'laws against nature' (nature? Yeah right... it is a 3 letter word for creator they are actually refering to) upon homosexuals, not to mention reverse a couple hundred years legal precedent.

I actually doubt the "Constitution Restoration Act" and those others will ever become law. I bet if it, and those like it, did the SCOTUS would strike it down ( with great anger and vengence [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) but the players are in place for a worst case scenario, like I expunded upon above, to unfold.

<FONT COLOR=ORANGE>Here's an update! Last night the Rhea County Commission held a special session. Within three minutes of the Gavel calling the meeting to order the Commission voted to rescind the Anti-gay Ordinance that was passed on Tuesday night. After last nights vote the Commission immediately adjured the meeting and fled the room filled with about 300 noisy spectators.

Cudos to the good citizens of Rhea County, who forced their idiot Commissioners to rethink their terribly flawed attempt at regulationg the bedroom! Lets hope, coming next election they decide to vote their pig minded commissioners out of office! Alls well that ends well!</font>

[ 03-19-2004, 02:43 PM: Message edited by: Sir Taliesin ]

I tried to post this earlier, but when I pushed "Add Reply" I could not...page not found...you know!


County retreats from call to ban gays

DAYTON, Tennessee (AP) -- The county that was the site of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" over the teaching of evolution Thursday reversed its call to ban homosexuals.

Rhea County commissioners took about three minutes to retreat from a request to amend state law so the county can charge homosexuals with crimes against nature. The Tuesday measure passed 8-0.

County attorney Gary Fritts said the initial vote triggered a "wildfire" of reaction. "I've never seen nothing like this," he said Thursday.

But Fritts said it was all a misunderstanding.

"They wanted to send a message to our (state) representative and senator that Rhea County supports the ban on same-sex marriage," he said. "Same-sex marriage is what it was all about. It was to stop people from coming here and getting married and living in Rhea County."

Not that the issue of banning homosexuals didn't arise.

"I'm not saying it wasn't discussed," Fritts said. "Sometimes you had five or six people talking."

Fritts said he advised the commissioners they cannot ban homosexuals or make them subject to criminal charges. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 struck down Texas' sodomy laws as a violation of adults' privacy.

Fritts said he doesn't believe the issue will come up again.

"I think they got all the publicity they need about it," he said.

All of the commissioners declined to comment Thursday.

Social worker Esther Jackson, 24 -- one of 300 people who attended Thursday's meeting -- held a sign reading: "Breed Love, Not Hate."

"It's just ignorance is all," she said of Tuesday's vote.

But 12-year-old Caitlin Kinney, attending the meeting with her mother, said she supported the commissioners' initial vote.

"I think they should go further, try to see if they can ban them," she said. "It's not a Christian thing."

The politically conservative county holds an annual festival commemorating the 1925 trial at which high school teacher John T. Scopes was convicted of teaching evolution. The verdict was reversed on a technicality, and the trial became the subject of the play and movie "Inherit the Wind."

From CNN

Unfortunately damage had been done already long ago. That 12 year old girl not only agrees with the original measure, but felt it was too weak to boot!

Mark