Tampa Bay Coalition
Eye on GLBT News Staff
Op. ~ Ed.
by Zeke
February 23, 2002
Chief Justice Blatant Bias and Bigotry
Warrants Removal
The battle over school prayer and religious displays in
public buildings, has had it's ups, downs, twists and turns. Going back to the
early 1960's, the U.S. Supreme Court
has been called upon to draw the lines that
will separate the church from the
state. Deciding what presence religious beliefs will have in public
schools and buildings. Along with the constitutionality of policies or laws that
required or basically forced orchestrated participation in religious prayer or
the observance of such religious
beliefs. One of first lines of separation drawn, was when a U. S. Supreme Court
ruling, struck down a New York law requiring teachers to lead all students
in nonsectarian prayer. Then on June 17,1963, the
U. S. Supreme Court ruled orchestrated Bible reading and prayer recitation in the nation's public schools,
was unconstitutional. Thus, stopping any and all readings of the
Bible and in required or voluntary participation in prayer
recitation from all public schools in the United States. The legal challenges continued against the court rulings. Without
achieving success in the decisions being struck down or reversed by
the court. Those who believed the principles of the separation of
church and state, as stated in the U.S. Constitution, was and would
remain protected, couldn't have been more wrong.
This miscalculation in believing justice has prevailed,
is now having a severe impact on rights of gay and lesbian citizens of the
United States.
The people who believe their personal and religious
beliefs should dictate the laws that govern the lives of all others. Intensified
their efforts in electing those of the same personal and religious beliefs and
succeeded. These lawmakers, blatantly disregard any principle
of separation of church and state, and their religious beliefs and biases
strongly influence their lawmaking decisions. Their legal maneuvering
to bypass Supreme Court ruling and it seems the Constitution itself, has
succeeded as individual states have passed legislation
that supports their religious fundamental beliefs.
As faith based legislation increases, religious bias and
prejudice flourishes, as gay and lesbians suffer the
erosion of our rights and protections by law. What has to
be most alarming is the horrendous religious condemnation
of gays and lesbians spewed by lawmakers. This can only lead to incite hostility and hatred directed toward gays, which has shown
greatly increases the
number of incidents of hate inspired
violence.
Of all the anti-gay venomous
attacks of late, none has been more vicious and inherently dangerous, as has
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore's recent
anti-gay diatribe. In a ruling of a child custody
case, the lesbian mother of the child was denied custody
by the court. I can not comment on the decision as being fair or not,
without having heard the evidence. From what was reported in the New
York Times, the other justices, based their decision more on procedural issues
than on the mother's sexual orientation and her abilities as a
parent. However, Chief Justice Moore, made it perfectly clear he based his
decision solely
on his religious beliefs and the mother being a lesbian.
As if he did not receive sufficient joy by punishing her for being a lesbian and denying her custody. Judge Moore
felt compelled to berate and humiliate the women
further, by expressing his blatant bigotry and distain for
gay and lesbian citizens. By writing in the opinion
that homosexuality was considered "abhorrent, immoral,
detestable, a crime against nature and a violation of the laws of nature and of
nature's God." Judge Moore has dishonored his high judicial office and has
shown
he is incapable of fairly judging cases before him that
gay and lesbians are involved in. A jurist who sits in such a
powerful position in our judicial system, must hold the highest regard for
fairness and equal justice for all citizens who come before them. The Chief
Justice has shown his state, the country and the world, he holds great
hostility toward homosexual citizens. That his judicial decisions
are guided by his religious beliefs that expound bias and prejudice
toward some who will come before him. For this, Judge Moore, brings
dishonor
upon fellow jurists and the high court. Such reprehensible
behavior by the Chief Justice, warrants punishment of nothing less his
removal.
TBC has sent messages condemning the reprehensible remarks
and demanding removal, (Censure, at the least) of Chief Justice Moore to
the Judicial Inquiry Commission and Governor Don Siegelman. A copy of the
message was also sent to Chief Justice Moore. We would ask, that you
please, do the same. Do not allow Judge Moore's despicable comments berating
gays and lesbians to go unchallenged.
Contact Information to have your voice
heard.
Judicial Inquiry Commission
P.O. Box
303400
Montgomery, AL 36130-3400
Suite 201
800 S. McDonough Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
334~242~4089
334~240~3327 Fax
Governor Don Siegelman
Governor's Office
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue, Room N-104
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
(334)
242-7100
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