Here's a Little Challenge for Iowa's Homophobic Republican Legislators...

Last week Iowa's State Supreme Court ruled that a ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, paving the way for gays and lesbians to legally marry. It's been hailed across the country as a bold, landmark measure that could ripple throughout other states.

Of course, the ruling has caused outrage and protest among conservatives, those god-fearing upholders of the great institution of heterosexual marriage. And in response to the Iowa Court's action, the state's House Republicans are vowing to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, and threatening major political consequence to opposing Democrats (who just happen to control both the House and State Senate).

But before these narrow-minded, sanctimonious hypocrites go off full-cocked (pun intended) to amend the state's Constitution, perhaps they'd accept a little challenge. How about taking lie detector tests in which three key questions are asked:

1. Have you ever cheated on your spouse?

2. Have you cheated on your spouse more than once?

3. Have you ever engaged in homosexual activity?

Since the primary justification (and fear) behind banning gay marriage is that it threatens the sanctity of heterosexual unions, I believe we have a right to know how many straight and closeted gay Republican philanderers--along the likes of Bob Barr, Newt Gingrich, David Vitter, Vito Fossella, Larry Craig and Mark Foley--there are in Iowa's chambers before we allow them to pass judgement, and law, on others' morals.

In fact, let's roll the dice and make a bet with these right wing frauds: if, as expected, more than 25% of them fail the lie-detector test not only is the court's ruling upheld, but this issue is put to bed (pun intended) in Iowa forever. If not, they get to keep fighting for their constitutional amendment. On one thing everyone can agree: it'd be pretty hard to "protect" the sanctity of an "institution" that at least 25% of them piss on every day.

So c'mon, Iowa Republicans, are you ready to prove that you practice what you preach? We won't hold our breath.....

Comments

[MomforFamily]

Time after time, the religous right demonstrates their inability to think things through. Take for example the recent announcement by NOM on their 2 Million 4 Marriage campaign. All silliness about acryonyms aside; they forgot to register the most logical domain name for it 2m4m.org. Perfect opportuntity to combat the fear tactics of this group.

[johnbdonovan]

Isn't there a special value in being a Mom? For one thing, children who grow up with a Mom learn what being a woman is like and what a woman has the right to expect. That's why gay marriage is anti-family. Two guys and a toddler add up to nothing more than a sitcom.

[Willow712]

I have two good friends, gay married, in California that have adopted a biracial little boy that was addicted to drugs when he was born. He was probably destined for a life in fosterhomes. He's got two loving parents, many close family friends that are women, many close families that he sees daily and weekly, along with two grandmas and aunts. Just as lesbian moms hopefully have dads and brothers around regularly. What a child needs is love, acceptance and stability. I don't think the sex of the parent matters as long as the child is around a lot of close family friends. This child will hopefully grow up into a strong, honest, moral man.

[litlbznsmn]

If they are really serious about "Saving Heterosexual Marriage" why don't they start by making divorce illegal? Seems to me that any system which allows married heterosexuals to end their relationship is a much larger threat than allowing same sex marriage.

[truthartbeauty]

grow up america . stop worrrying so much over someone else's sex life. THAT is what is so disgusting!

[mscreant]

Andy, Andy, Andy.....y­our proposal presupposes that the Repug mantra is NOT; "do what I say an not what I do".......­tsk, tsk. Look at you, acting like THEY have to be either fair OR balanced in their actions or views.....­silly wabbit....­.hypocrisy is for the right!

[TryToBeFlexible]

Republicans will of course bring this issue back up, again and again. This revs up their mentally ill, religiously addicted, hater base. If they have this on a ballot, then their base shows up to vote, and they have a better chance of winning.
Only when religion has finally flickered out around the world, will there be a chance to have a truly just and peaceful society. Until then, this base of people will always support hate, injustice, and oppression of minorities.

[johnbdonovan]

We have a little problem here -- The things he's challenging others about are obviously wrong, and so he's essentially acknowledging that same-sex marriage contains an inherent moral problem and that the issue is whether those pointing it out are hypocrites. Weak argument.

[AntiSocialite]

Not exactly, the issue is not whether those pointing it out are hypocrites, but rather whether the institution of heterosexual marriage is as 'sacred' as those who defend it claim. The author makes the point that if even 25% of those surveyed lied about any of those questions then marriage is not as sacred as they would have you believe. This is also borne out by this country's near 50% divorce rate. The inherent moral problem comes from their unfaithfulness, not the way in which they were unfaithful.

Peace

[johnbdonovan]

Lack of social support has reduced the sacredness of it. It's time for a resurgence of social commitment to mother-and-father families and an end to any idea of giving economic and social support to homosexuals or unmarried heterosexuals. Tolerance for homosexual marriage has paralleled tolerance for adultery, cohabitation, adultery, pornography,and every other alternative to normal sexual behavior.

[IMWorf]

I'm reminded of a classic line by Dennis Miller (from before 9/11, back when he was still actually funny), to the effect of: It's important to remember that state legislators are people whose skeletons in the closet prohibit them from running for a higher office.

And, as not only an Iowan, but somebody whose place of work was under eleven feet of water in the Cedar Rapids flooding last June, I'm reminded that we have a lot bigger issues in this state right now than a couple of dudes that might want to get married.

[JohnBisceglia]

Excellent questions, BUT - you need to alter question #3.

An extremely HIGH number of men will HAVE SEX WITH ANOTHER MAN, but NOT consider themselves "gay" or "homosexual" (althought their WIVES may strongly disagree!). In Latin America, many men consider the "gays" to ONLY be the "bottoms" - "tops" are considered "straight". I'll let you folks figure out these 2 terms on your own. A better way to educe the info you want:

#3 - Have you had sex with a man before? Specifically, have you been fellated by a man?.

Holy Cow - your numbers will be LARGER now for #3. Crazy how much words matter to the questioned, eh?

[JohnBisceglia]

(not making this up) - I dated a divorced man who had 3 children (biological). He insisted he was NOT gay; he did NOT IDENTIFY with that term. He was more "open" to being called BISEXUAL, but found any label annoying. Sexual Identity is quite complex.

I have also met bisexual men who would say "NO" if you asked them if they had any previous "homosexual activity".

Andy's questions are great. They hint at THE BIG SECRET in American Politics. Even the most pious Republican will shudder in his panties if asked directly about man-on-man action, and will skirt the issue by playing around with semantics and language.

My Point? - There are a LOT of "completely heterosexual" men, like Larry Craig and Ted Haggard, who SAY one thing but THINK something completely different when they "release" energy.

[PlaceboStudman]

and the kicker is, if these men have thought about homosexual activity, even when "releasing" on their own, then by their own definition, based on The Bible they hold in such high esteem, if thought is as big a sin as deed, then the fact that they've thought about homosexuality will send the straight to hell :-D