Republican state Rep. Sally Kern of Oklahoma hopes punish public officials who follow the law.
A Republican Oklahoma lawmaker, Rep. Sally Kern, wants to punish local and state employees who comply with the law by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. A federal district judge ruled Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional last year and the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.
Kern's legislation, one of several she has introduced that targets LGBT people for discrimination, was approved by committee this week and now awaits a vote from the GOP-dominated House of Representatives. Reuters has the details.
The bill called the “Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act” prohibits taxpayer funds, including government salaries, to be used for any activity that supports same-sex marriage. It also says that those who issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples can be subject to removal from office.
Kern
gained national attention as a loon in 2008 when she called homosexuality "the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism."
Oklahoma Democrats are marveling at the sheer volume of antigay legislation being introduced in the state this year.
Representative Emily Virgin, a Democrat who voted against the measure in committee on Tuesday, said: “No other state in the union has seen more anti-LGBT legislation introduced during this legislative session. The battleground is right here in Oklahoma.”