I have thought we've come some ways in civil rights for all. But this really boils my blood. Keith Bardwell, Justice of the Peace in Tangipahoa Parish, will
not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples because he feels that most interracial marriages do not last long.
Beth Humphrey said she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell's wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples.
The Justice of the Peace said, and I quote, "I'm not a racist. I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children."
He also stated: "I don’t do interracial marriages because I don’t want to put children in a situation they didn’t bring on themselves,” Bardwell said. “In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer.”
He said if he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all. “I try to treat everyone equally,” he said.
No one told Humphrey she and her boyfriend could not get married, Bardwell said. He said his wife even suggested she see Justice of the Peace Terri Crosby of Tickfaw, which Humphrey said she did and Crosby agreed to sign the license.
Bardwell said a justice of the peace is not required to conduct a marriage ceremony and is at liberty to recuse himself “from a marriage or anything else.”
He said the state attorney general told him years ago that he would eventually get into trouble for not performing interracial marriages.
“I told him if I do, I’ll resign,” Bardwell said. “I have rights too. I’m not obligated to do that just because I’m a justice of the peace.” JPs do not get paid for performing marriages, although the couple may give a “gratuity,” he said.
This is bullshit really. A government official can not deny a marriage because of the race of the two people getting married. It's people like him who make people think that race driven crimes are ok.
Discriminating against any race is totally and absolutely wrong and the Justice of the Peace should be take out of his position but before doing so make him marry these two people .... just to make the man realize that he was in a position where he could not choose who he marries.
What do you think?
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Comments (43)
THAT IS SOME SERIOUS BULLSHIT... THIS IS LIKE RESTRICTING GAY PEOPLE OF MARRIAGE! IT'S THE SAME SHIT! THAT' HELLA STUPID ON ALL LEVELS!
OooooOOOOOOOooooooooOOOOOOOOh whoop!
Who knows?
The child of a MIXED marriage just might grow up and be elected president!!
I disagree completely! Yes he's wrong. Yes he's a bigot. However, if you have your free speech, why shouldn't he? He didn't make it impossible for this couple to get married, he just said he didn't want to do it. What's the difference between this or a doctor that won't do abortions or prescribe birth control pills? Whatever happened to "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!"? This country was built on this freedom!
My problem lies in the fact that a couple, who legally meets all the criteria for marriage (whether those should be changed or not), has to seek a signature of approval from anyone! Why don't we just have a court (as in any person that sits at a desk in the city) stamp the damn marriage certificate and call it quits.
The justice shouldn't have to go against his morals, whether bigotted or not, and the couple shouldn't have to deal with it. In the end it should just come down to the fact that the system is flawed and something needs to be done about that!
Wow this is absolutely ridiculous! My boyfriend is black, and i'm white. If anybody told me I couldn't do something because we were an interracial couple i'd be royally pissed off....
@CrAdLe2daGrAve@xanga - Yeah, I totally agree.
No one wants to be told they can't marry the person they love.
It just amazes me that interracial couples are still brought up like its weird or something. idk Maybe its because I'm mixed race and grew up around interracial relationships and I'm in an interracial relationship.
That guy is stupid. Marriages that don't last long have nothing to do with race. Who gave that idiot a job with any kind of power?? That's scary.
@myonlysunshineee@xanga - If you don't like that you're not going to like this. Up until recent years there used to be laws against interracial marriages.
Seeing as my boyfriend is black, obviously I would be very upset if I was told by anyone that they would not marry us.
Is it just me or does that couple in the picture seem RIDICULOUSLY tall?
He used the classic "I'm not a racist, I have black friends" line. Racist idiot. He should be fired like yesterday.
Stupid idiot.
I think you're all being ridiculous.
Do I agree with him? No. My relationship is technically interracial.
But that doesn't make him racist... maybe he sincerely believes what he says about the children. He even recommended a way for them to get married, it's not like he made a point of trying to block it other than exercising his right to refuse the ceremony himself.
this man can have his beliefs all he wants, however he does not have a right according to his job to voice his beliefs when he marries people. furthermore, the fact that he is stuck in the 50's is sickening. nowadays, most of the people i know don't even see black/white/asian when they date, they just see people and that's how it should be.
I seriously think hes fucked up.
but after reading his point of view, I see where hes going (not that I agree with it).
At least he admits to it, responds to it, and agrees to resign. I mean, hes honest with his opinon and its not some iggnorant racist.
But still, hes quite stereotypical.. he should sign same race either then. Theres divorce.. everywhere.
i read about that afew days ago. and well it wasn't right for him to do that and it wasn't his decision to make
@FueltotheFire@xanga - I agree with what you are saying but he shouldn't force his beliefs down interracial couple's throats, it's not right. Let them do whatever they want and he should mind his own business, voyeurism is just irritating.
That guy is wack. NO ONE, not a doctor, lawyer, or whatever should voice their opinion on others! They can feel a certain way but they are paid to do their job, not turn people away.
absolutely fucking ridiculous.
xo
@lifeinshambles@xanga - They came to him to sign their marriage certificate. He said he couldn't do that. Period. The fact that he gave them a reason at all was unnecessary. He didn't tell them they shouldn't, or they can't, he said told them to go find someone else that would do it, because he didn't feel he could morally.
@Stanelle@xanga - haha, nice one.
@FueltotheFire@xanga - I honestly think that your morals should effect your job, If you are going to make a decision that is going to affect a person's love life, then make it for them not for your personal opinion. They shouldn't have to go to another person to get a marriage license, he should have game them the license and move on with his life because it's not about him, it's about the couple. I'm hope they get their license and live happily ever after (whatever that is..... lol).
That JP should come down to Hawaii... tons of happily married interracial couples with well-adjusted mixed race kids.
@FueltotheFire@xanga - I totally agree with you. We may not like the justice did/said, but at the end of the day it's not like he wasn't letting them get married, he was just saying that he didn't want to be the one signing the certificate. It's within his rights to do that.
Racism is clearly NOT the central issue here.
"A government official can not deny a marriage because of the race of the two people getting married."
He didn't deny anyone's marriage....they are legally allowed to be married ....he just didn't want to conduct the ceremony.
"Discriminating against any race is totally and absolutely wrong"
He didn't discriminate against a particular race.... the issue is interracial marriage...not marriage of two people of a different race.
"It's people like him who make people think that race driven crimes are ok."
Huh? At what point did he condone race hate crimes?
Do I agree with his stance on interracial marriage. No. At the same time, if it is not required by law, I'll defend his right to conduct himself as he sees fit. It's a slippery slope when you force someone to believe in the same thing you do....no matter how right you think you are or how wrong you think he is. He didn't commit any crime here , nor is it an issue of morality. Sure, he's being ignorant.....but it's still his right to be so.
People in general preach tolerance......and yet, when it comes down to it, many people only believe in tolerance as long as the other person's views fall in line with their own.....and I think that's lame.
@FueltotheFire@xanga - I agree. But I don't think its actually an issue of biggotry, but of ignorance. For all we know....he could be a member of the KKK...or he could have a ton of friends of different races and he just sees it a different way. It's actually no different than if someone refused to marry any couples that are over 20 years apart.... or if he didn't want to marry couples that wore glasses. His reasons for his belief may be totally rational or totally irrational....but to force him to do anything is a slippery slope that we don't want to slide down.
I agree with you, that this is more of a matter of the system. However....I think many people WANT that official to conduct an actual marriage as opposed to getting just a stamp by any random worker. After all, once significant factor in the gay marriage debate wouldn't be an issue if all people wanted was a stamp from some random dude at the courthouse.
@lifeinshambles@xanga - Well, he didn't really force his belief on anyone....after all, he did suggest someone else that could sign the license for them. If you think about it, its actually the author of this post (and most of the posters) that actually want to force their own beliefs on him.
@CholericAndMelancholy@xanga - Yup. Its simple as that.
I agree with the justice of the peace 100%. I believe that mixing races is an abomination and is the same as mixing species. If we were meant to mix races, we would have been put on the same continent. Black and white kids are not socially excepted and they are torn between 2 different cultures: the black rap and hip hop and hooligan culture and the white culture. He did suggest them to other justice of the peaces' so it's not like he told them it was impossible. I do believe he has the right ideals though.