# Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License in Louisiana **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 15, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961 "2009-10-15T22:45:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/1 "2009-10-15T22:45:35Z")
[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap\_on\_re\_us/us\_interracial\_rebuff](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_interracial_rebuff) Wow. I hope that this guy will be removed from office forthwith… ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/2 "2009-10-15T22:47:36Z")
Not sure there is a debate here. This clearly flies in the face of current law. I expect he will get slapped down pretty hard over this. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/3 "2009-10-15T22:55:23Z")
I’m sure someone’s done this already, but here it goes… > [@](#): > > Gay couple denied marriage license in La. > By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer – 38 mins ago > > NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to a homosexual couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most gay marriages do not last long. > > “I’m not a homophobe. I just don’t believe in letting them marry,” Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. “I have piles and piles of gay friends. They come to my home, I marry them to people of the opposite gender, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else.” > > Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a gay couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said. > > Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with gay, bi and straight people, along with witnessing some gay marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of gay society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships (whether the children are adopted, step-children or conceived via in vitro), and neither does straight society, he said. > > “There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage,” Bardwell said. “I think those children suffer and I won’t help put them through it.” > > If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said. > > “I try to treat everyone equally,” he said. And so on. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/4 "2009-10-15T22:55:28Z")
Yeah, there’s no debate here, but this is a gem: > [@](#): > > “I’m not a racist. I just don’t believe in mixing the races that way,” Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. “I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else.” ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/5 "2009-10-15T23:17:11Z")
There might not be a debate. Maybe a debate about simple censure or outright removal from office? Or a removal to an appropriate forum by a mod… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/6 "2009-10-15T23:23:55Z")
There’s already a Pit thread going on. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/7 "2009-10-15T23:55:54Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > There might not be a debate. Maybe a debate about simple censure or outright removal from office? Or a removal to an appropriate forum by a mod.. 😉 Not sure there’s even a debate there. Guy is a sitting judge, openly discriminating on the basis of race, and telling the newspaper he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. That’s enough to declare him unfit to serve as judge in my book. Maybe could debate whether the Justice Department should prosecute him for a civil rights violation… ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/8 "2009-10-16T00:10:56Z")
Is a justice of the peace a judge? Or is one more like a county clerk? Because if he’s more like a county clerk couldn’t he use the same defense that pharmacists who won’t dispense day after pills use? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/9 "2009-10-16T00:12:35Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Not sure there’s even a debate there. Guy is a sitting judge, openly discriminating on the basis of race, and telling the newspaper he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. That’s enough to declare him unfit to serve as judge in my book. > > Maybe could debate whether the Justice Department should prosecute him for a civil rights violation… Are you serious or just jerking my chain? Prosecute him? He violated Loving v. Virginia, okay. What’s the penalty for violation of a SCOTUS order? But, I’ll play. You think that every white father in the south would have no objection to his daughter marrying a black guy? ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/10 "2009-10-16T00:20:44Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > But, I’ll play. You think that every white father in the south would have no objection to his daughter marrying a black guy? What in the world does this statement have to do with any of the previous statements in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/11 "2009-10-16T00:26:58Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Are you serious or just jerking my chain? Prosecute him? > > He violated Loving v. Virginia, okay. What’s the penalty for violation of a SCOTUS order? typically there’s a penalty when people break the law. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/12 "2009-10-16T00:29:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not a racist. I just don’t believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else. This guy’s really at the vanguard of the modern civil rights movement. Why, he even lets them colored folk use the _front_ door of the courthouse. How’s that for progressive! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/13 "2009-10-16T00:47:39Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Are you serious or just jerking my chain? Prosecute him? > > He violated Loving v. Virginia, okay. What’s the penalty for violation of a SCOTUS order? :rolleyes: [18 U.S.C. 242](http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/crim/242fin.php) ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/14 "2009-10-16T00:52:54Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Are you serious or just jerking my chain? Prosecute him? > > He violated Loving v. Virginia, okay. What’s the penalty for violation of a SCOTUS order? IANAUSL, but is it impossible that what he has done could be an offence under the Civil Rights Act, or under state legislation? > [@jtgain](#): > > But, I’ll play. You think that every white father in the south would have no objection to his daughter marrying a black guy? And the relevance of this would be what, exactly? On edit: I see that **Oakminster** has answered my first question. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/15 "2009-10-16T01:26:10Z")
He should removed from office with complete loss of pension. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/16 "2009-10-16T02:34:25Z")
> [@](#): > > A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Yes, because, oh heavens, such a child might grow up to be President of the United States or something. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/17 "2009-10-16T03:04:52Z")
So the message is “I like all kinds of people, so long as they know their place” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/18 "2009-10-16T03:12:40Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Yes, because, oh heavens, such a child might grow up to be President of the United States or something. :rolleyes: Although in all fairness, President Obama’s parents did get divorced. OK, kidding aside, Bardwell is a serious shitheel. Does he really think that he’s going to get away with this? I wonder if anyone is going to take up his cause. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/19 "2009-10-16T03:21:35Z")
I vote disbarment, and deportation. A country such as Brazil should be real welcoming to the judge’s _enlightened_ views. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961/20 "2009-10-16T06:00:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, there’s no debate here, but this is a gem: Reads like it’s straight out of _The Onion_. How sad that it isn’t. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961.md?page=2)