Last week, Harry Jackson announced that he was prepared to wage all out war to prevent Washington DC from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states, declaring:
In traditional wars that are fought in armed conflict, there is always an attempt to seize the capital of the nation. The capital is a nerve center and defeating it always renders numerous aspects of the nation’s potential resistance impossible. In addition, the loss of the capital disheartens everyone except the most experienced warriors. Taking a nation’s capital in physical war in most cases means the defeat of the nation.
As such, Jackson has now declared war:
A coalition of ministers and same-sex marriage opponents formally requested a citywide referendum yesterday to block the District from recognizing gay marriages performed in other jurisdictions, setting the stage for a heated legal and political battle over the issue this summer.
In paperwork filed with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics, the group Stand 4 Marriage D.C. said it wants to begin the process of collecting about 21,000 signatures needed to overturn the bill that the D.C. Council overwhelmingly approved this month recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. That bill is tentatively scheduled to take effect in July.
The referendum effort is a preemptive strike designed to slow plans by several council members to take up a separate bill this year to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in the District.
“It’s a declaration of war,” said Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, a vocal critic of same-sex marriage and a leader of the referendum effort. “We are sending a clear message this is going to be fought every step of the way.”
Jackson said that he will take the matter in court if the board rejects this application filed by Jackson and his allies, such as Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, who explained his opposition to marriage equality thusly:
“I part company with advocates of gay rights when it comes to assigning the title ‘marriage’ to a same-sex union,” said Mr. Fauntroy, a friend of Martin Luther King and an organizer of the 1963 March on Washington who served as the District’s non-voting representative in Congress.
“In my well-considered view, it is neither logical nor fair to reward citizens with financial benefits when they cannot perform the tasks for which the benefits are given,” he said.
What “tasks” does he have in mind? Having children? If that is what he means, then what about infertile couples or couples who choose not to have children? Should they not be allowed to get married either?
What on Earth is he talking about?
