# Thanks, Ohio legislature, now I know where not to go on vacation. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 4, 2004, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454 "2004-02-04T06:50:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/21 "2004-02-04T17:09:37Z")
I am in the middle of reading this amusingly ridiculous book called Seen & Heard by a Kyle Williams who apparabteky has a WorldNetDaily column. He’s 14. He claims society will implode if gays could actually marry, BUT he’s not a homophobe! He says he wouldn’t want to work with a homosexual. People just don’t get it. No christian I know in real life is for this. I feel alone in my opinion. I think it can only strengthen marriage! I will mention this Sunday to our drivers (the couple who drives us to church). We shall see their opinions. Homosexuals: Do not get discouraqged. Blacks got their rights back when, just don’t give up. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/22 "2004-02-04T20:27:54Z")
What, gay folks can have sex and not have to worry about having children? That’s incredible! I may… have… to… switch… sides. I feel my resolve for the sanctity of marriage weakening by the moment. C’mere, **Otto** , you handsome devil, and let me kiss you so I can see what pure unadulterated bliss feels like? Where’s **Esprix** when I need him? I wants me some queer lovin’, and I want it now! Now I just need to divorce my wife, relocate to South Beach and redecorate and my transformation will be complete. I feel so liberated.\* Apologies in advance to any Gay Male Dopers who I’ve not yet fantasized about, just send me a discrete pick and I’ll lust about you, too! ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/23 "2004-02-04T20:51:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Q: But if the “survival of the species” is your justification for marriage, then why allow straight couples who can’t have children to get married? > > A: “Merely because some heterosexual couples are incapable of having children does not change the fact that only heterosexual couples are capable of doing so. At the time they get married, they do not know whether or not they are capable of having children or not.” So when will Ohio pass legislation refusing a mariage license to post-menopausal women? I can’t find on-line records of how many people over the age of…say, 55 have gotten married in Ohio; will their marriages be annulled? And what about women who reach menopause while married, or married people who _do_ find out that they can’t breed like good little population exploders? Are they forced to divorce? arrested? Boy, am I glad I live in Florida, where the governor won’t let homosexuals adopt. oh. shit. ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/24 "2004-02-04T22:29:46Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > Homosexuals: Do not get discouraqged. > Blacks got their rights back when, just don’t give up. Thanks for the sentiment, but consider this: next time you’re near your county court house take a look at the tablature. It’ll probably be inscribed with something similar what’s on the Supreme Court building in DC: **THE IMPARTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IS THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY**. Given the vehemence people have to this issue, that phrase (which seems important enough to inscribe on the most important court house in our country) ought to read: **THE IMPARTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IS MADE AT THE CONVENIENCE OF THE RULING MAJORITY**. One ideal this country was founded upon was that before the law, we are all equal. It seems all too many people have forgotten this little point and I’m getting damn tired of reminding them. Should the constitutional amendment regarding marriage pass, I’m out of here. I refuse to be a citizen of a country that won’t treat me with full equality. ---
**Author:** ![katerina2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ce73a5/32.png) [@katerina2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katerina2)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/25 "2004-02-04T22:43:06Z")
> [@](#): > > And what about women who reach menopause while married, or married people who do find out that they can’t breed like good little population exploders? Are they forced to divorce? arrested? Actually, this used to be grounds for divorce/annulment what have you. At least in France prior to the Revolution. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the law on the books in some American states. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/26 "2004-02-04T22:52:56Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Hell, I’m homosexual and I haven’t dived headlong into every homosexual debauchery ever imagined by mankind! Well if you’d ever return my calls… Now where did I leave **ShibbOleth** ’s phone number? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/27 "2004-02-04T23:09:00Z")
> [@Freyr](#): > > Should the constitutional amendment regarding marriage pass, I’m out of here. I refuse to be a citizen of a country that won’t treat me with full equality. Hmm, well, some say that this news, as good as it is, forces the issue in such a way as to increase the likelihood of such an amendment passing. That concerns me, frankly. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/28 "2004-02-04T23:10:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Not only did they ban gay marriage. No, they’re smart cookies, and they thought of other bigoted restrictions they could make. They also barred any state agency from giving spousal rights or benefits, like health insurance, to same-sex couples. And they made it clear that they won’t honor any same-sex marriage or union created in another THAT is really heinous. What if a company wants to give benefits to same sex couples-they are’nt allowed? Or just state agencies? That’s fucked up. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again-I am embarassed to be a human being sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/29 "2004-02-04T23:16:46Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > What qualifies as a vacation spot in Ohio anyway? The Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame? The shores of Lake Erie? The original Etch-a-Sketch factory? (Hi Slainte! 😛 ) > > And yeah, this law sucks. Not only the original Etch-a-Sketch factory, **cuauhtemoc** , but Ohio is also the home of Dum Dum lollipops. 😛 In all seriousness, this law does indeed suck but does not surprise me. Thankfully, [Massachusetts](http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/02/04/gay.marriage/index.html) is more open-minded. ---
**Author:** ![sperfur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sperfur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sperfur)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/30 "2004-02-04T23:43:42Z")
> [@coffeecam](#): > > erm… I’ll have to let that lesbian couple next door know that their children are in fact fakes. :rolleyes: But they look so _real_! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/31 "2004-02-05T00:18:09Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > I know now not to spend one fucking penny in your state that might end up in your coffers to spend on more bigoted proposals. I hope you lose all interest from businesses and educated people and your economy suffers until you realize that the policies of the 19th century won’t help you in the 21st. Not that any individual will ever put a dent in their pocketbooks, but you might want to check your cabinets for products such as Tide, Downy, Cheer, Febreze, Cascade, Dawn, Joy, Bounty, Puffs, Charmin, Secret, Sure, Cover Girl, Max Factor, Pantene, Pert, Herbal Essences, Vicks, Metamucil, Pepto Bismol, Crest, Scope, Fixodent, Pampers, Luvs, Folgers, Pringles, SunnyD, Iams, Eukanuba, or any of the other over 300 products manufactured by [Procter & Gamble](http://www.pg.com/products/usa_product_facts.jhtml), which is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. \ I was glad I could finally abandon my boycott of their products when they stopped doing animal testing. Oh well, I got so used to buying other brands that I don’t use too many of their products anymore, anyway. Although I will miss my Pepto Bismol. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/32 "2004-02-05T00:37:05Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > THAT is really heinous. What if a company wants to give benefits to same sex couples-they are’nt allowed? > > Or just state agencies? That’s fucked up. The law as proposed applies only to state agencies, not private companies. Not that that makes it a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/33 "2004-02-05T00:42:15Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Not that any individual will ever put a dent in their pocketbooks, but you might want to check your cabinets for products such as Tide, Downy, Cheer, Febreze, Cascade, Dawn, Joy, Bounty, Puffs, Charmin, Secret, Sure, Cover Girl, Max Factor, Pantene, Pert, Herbal Essences, Vicks, Metamucil, Pepto Bismol, Crest, Scope, Fixodent, Pampers, Luvs, Folgers, Pringles, SunnyD, Iams, Eukanuba, or any of the other over 300 products manufactured by [Procter & Gamble](http://www.pg.com/products/usa_product_facts.jhtml), which is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. > > \ I was glad I could finally abandon my boycott of their products when they stopped doing animal testing. Oh well, I got so used to buying other brands that I don’t use too many of their products anymore, anyway. Although I will miss my Pepto Bismol. Cincinnati has been the target of a boycott since 1993, when it adopted Charter Amendment 3, repealing the city’s gay rights ordinance barring the city from adopting another or acting in any other way to protect the rights of gay people. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/34 "2004-02-05T01:55:11Z")
For those of you telling me to make sure people in Ohio know about my personal boycott… I wrote a letter to _The Cincinnati Enquirer,_ detailing my disgust at this legislation. Five minutes later, I get a call from an editor. They’re running it on the Op/Ed page in tomorrow’s paper. Are there any Cincy Dopers who’d be willing to send me a copy of tomorrow’s paper? I’ll PayPal postage to you. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/35 "2004-02-05T02:16:32Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > For those of you telling me to make sure people in Ohio know about my personal boycott… > > I wrote a letter to _The Cincinnati Enquirer,_ detailing my disgust at this legislation. Five minutes later, I get a call from an editor. They’re running it on the Op/Ed page in tomorrow’s paper. > > Are there any Cincy Dopers who’d be willing to send me a copy of tomorrow’s paper? I’ll PayPal postage to you. While I can see why you’d want a hardcopy of your letter, the rest of us who don’t live anywhere near Cincy can keep an eye out for it [here](http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/02/04/editorial_edlet.html). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/36 "2004-02-05T02:20:52Z")
> [@Jackmanii\[/quote](#): > > Alas, you will never know … our fruited plains. I thought that was the sort of thing the Ohio legislature was against? ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/37 "2004-02-05T03:06:46Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > Homosexuals: Do not get discouraqged. > Blacks got their rights back when, just don’t give up. Granted, it took Ohio a while to get on board with that, too. [Ohio ratifies 14th Amendment in 2003](http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/02/01/loc_norights01.html) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/38 "2004-02-05T03:29:21Z")
What does the Ohio constitution have to say about due process or equal protection? When does the first suit get filed? ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/39 "2004-02-05T05:25:11Z")
[Here’s the letter as it appeared in the Enquirer.](http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/02/05/editorial_0205whatyousay.html) ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454/40 "2004-02-05T08:00:43Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > THAT is really heinous. What if a company wants to give benefits to same sex couples-they are’nt allowed? > > Or just state agencies? That’s fucked up. > > I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again-I am embarassed to be a human being sometimes. It is just state agencies. And folks, just because a company has headquarters in Ohio, it does not mean they agree with this shit. The company I work for is based in Cleveland, and they state in the benefits package that all benefits apply to habitation partners of employees, of both the same and opposite sex. Punishing those companies just because the politicians are shit heads is not fair. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-ohio-legislature-now-i-know-where-not-to-go-on-vacation/227454.md?page=3)