Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License!
Filed under: Etc.
This is unacceptable! It's 2009!
An interracial couple was denied a marriage license from the justice of the peace of Tangipahoa Parish Louisiana. Now there is a demand that Keith Bardwell step down from the position. Patricia Morris of the local NAACAP chapter says:
"He's an elected public official and one of his duties is to marry people. He doesn't have the right to say he doesn't believe in it. If he doesn't do what his position calls for him to do, he should resign from that position."
Apparently Bardwell's reasoning for refusing to issue the marriage license to Terrence McKay and Beth Humphrey was that in his experience interracial marriages do not last and he worries about the couple's future children. He insists that he's not racist:
"I'm not a racist. I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children."
We call BS and his behavior is completely racist!
Morris has said that she has forwarded the case to the statewide and nationwide levels of the NAACP. Good!
Love is love, people! Marriage should be for everyone!
[Image via WENN.]
Do it and shutup! No one cares what you're feelings are!!!!! Not racist, my ass!!!
Yes! Love is fucking love!
I read this article and thought it was not only ridiculous, but ABSOLUTELY racist! Why do others insist on dictating who we can't and cannot love? Maybe they should worry more about couples who want to marry after only knowing each other for a month, as opposed to loving couples who want to build a life together.
i'm part of an interacial couple and i think that's disgusting…and no one treats my children any different
Welcome to OBAMA's America!!!
"my main concern is for the children" wow what a ridiculous statement
AWFUL! Disgusting! I would be worried about Bardwell's chlidren…
P.S: you are racist because you think that a children won't be happy with interracial parents. You base this opinion on THE RACE of the personn = YOU are fucking RACIST-brainless. Period
Whaaaat? Today? Despicable…
WTF!?!?!?!
…get around it by doing that ridiculous 'blackface' scenario. If this ahole sees color and believes that he is entitled to pass judgement, play the game to win.
what a twat
Again with your gay thing and who says they even want to have children?
Un-fucking believable!!
WOW…what year is this??? This is the very same thinking that holds back Prop 8….OLD thinking
What century are these morons living in? I'm so glad I don't live in that area of the country. Intolerence and stupidity is so ugly.
Ridiculous. Race is socially constructed and its people like Bardwell that keeps society stagnant in seeing this. People are humans with feelings and if they happen to like someone of different color then so be it! Bardwell pretty much accepts SEPARATE BUT EQUAL. We're not in the 1960s anymore. Idiot.
It wasn't until 2002 that Louisiana over ruled their ban on interracial marriage..don't be shocked, Louisiana and most of the south is still full of racism and segregation.
The judge is probably just mad that he was denied a marriage license to marry his sister
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME. I LIVE IN THE SOUTH,I LIVE 2 HOURS FROM THIS TOWN. I AM ASHAMED AT THE IGNORANCE OF THIS IDIOT. WORRIED ABOUT THE KIDS…………..HE NEEDS TO WORRRY ABOUT HIS ASS. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE. COLOR IS SEEN BY THE EYE, CHARACTER IS FELT BY THE SOUL. EVERYONE NEEDS TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THIS. THIS KEEPS RACE BULLSHIT ALIVE!!!!
you missed his BEST quote! "i've got PILES and PILES of black friends" who fucking says that??? god i hope this guy gets canned.
# 1 - mario doesn't have the entire story up there……you should probably read it prior to commenting….
#2 - although I don't agree w/ his actions, I don't think he's racist. He's absolutely correct in saying that bi-racial children are treated like outsiders by both whites and blacks (read the article) which is why he won't marry them. it has nothing to do w/ their race per-say, it has to do w/ the race of any future children these people may have (which he never said he directly had a problem w/….it's other people that would treat them wrongly).
#3 - nobody told these people they couldn't get married….this particular man just said he wouldn't be the one to do it.
Many priests require couples take marriage counseling or they must attend the church in order for the priest to marry them…..I'm not sure how it's really any different. Priests tend to have "requirements" that people must meet in order for the priest to agree to marry them. This guy simply says, "go somewhere else"…….
Being from New Orleans an being a multiracial young woman myself, I can honestly say that I am severely embarrassed and I cannot believe I live in such a backwards state. Ugh. I hate Louisiana so much sometimes! And I want to personally apologize to everyone who's offended by this one asshole. All of La isn't like that.
This is crazy. I can't believe this person has a job- this can't be the only interracial couple he's ever had come in for a license.
what an ass-hole! my daughter is half black, half white & i'll kill anyone who gives her shit about it.
disgusting!!!
Re: FastTalker – Obama's a product of interracial love asshole
His IQ is probably about 50. LMAO
What did everybody think?? That the right wing was going to be happy JUST banning gay marriage? No, they see banning gay marriage as step one. This is step two.
wow…i am from ouachita parish louisiana, and while racism is alive and well, i can't imagine anything this disgusting taking place here. Anyone know how I can start a petition to have that judge removed from the bench????
He doesn't have the right! Who cares?! If they want to get married then let them…It's none of his business if that married interracial couple ends up being divorce in the end. HE HAS NO SAY IN IT! Makes my blood boil! And it's not even past lunch time!!
Your right love is love just kids are kids my niece is biracial (black mom white dad)she's smart funny and also a pain my ass and I love her to death. So fuck u to the guy who's said its bad 4 children!
Please re read the article you got the information for this story from. They weren't denied a marriage license, that comes from the clerk of court. They were denied the actual marriage ceremony and signature needed by a Justice of the Peace to make it a legal marriage ….big difference!!
Re: HiHater – …that high? Maybe place a decimal point before the '5'.
WOW,…for as far advanced as Americans are, there are still sooooo many, many people that live 100 years in the past and will never develop past their imbread, racist, red neck, homophobic selves. They should all be rounded up and sent to Siberia…or at least stop them from breeding.
Shameful
the united states supreme court case # 388 u.s. 1 1967 loving vs. virginia legalized interracial marriage.
nobody will treat those kids any different,someone kick this guys fucking ass
Bardwell should not have children. His stupidity might be hereditary.
Now it seems everyone will relate this to homosexual marriage. You see folks, its not the same thing. Discriminating against someone for something they cannont change, like their color of skin, their height, their eye color or lack of ear hair or nose hair is wrong. It is not the same as discriminating against someone because of a choice they make, like the choice to sleep with someone. You see, homosexuality is choice…you choose who you sleep with and that is a fact that cannot be refuted no matter how much you yell and call people names. The only exception is those who are in prison of course….OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gigidy Gigidy GOOOOO.
Fire his ass now!
Re: FastTalker – Wait…. why is Obama responsible for this??? I'm pretty sure that's a lay-over from Bush's America.
The only instance where I can understand a justice o' the peace denying a bi-racial couple would be in the instance of Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian - not because they were bi-racial, but because they're too stupid to get married.
This justice o' the peace is an idiot. Pure and simple.
Re: RobPnMeShouldB –
It's wrong, and against the laws of the state of Louisiana to deny this couple their right to marry. He took an oath to uphold the law of this state, he has an obligation to marry this couple, he doesn't have the right to foist his own personal beliefs into the mix when standing in representing the state of Louisiana. We here in Louisiana still live with some archaic laws, many of which are still along the line of Napoleonic rule, but denying these people their right to marry is not one of them. This man has been a Justice of the Peace for some 30+ years, I'm sadden to know that he's still operating the office he's been elected (time and time again) to uphold, under outdated and unlawful ideaology/personal agendas.
What never ceases to astound me is the excuse —- "I'm worried about the children."
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Oh my, my — WHAT BULLSHIT. Let's see, if it WEREN"T for that judge and people like who DO judge by race, it woudn't even be a FACTOR.
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I heard a teacher say that in Annapolis when I was in high school. No matter how you cut it, its a "bigotted" comment. So I asked her about it - I said I didn't care, and exactly WHO was it that would be mean to these children? She stammered, and said, "well, you know, society."
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I said "from where I'm standing, it only people like you that would gossip, or exclude, or mistreat. As far as I'm concerned mixed race children are often gorgeous."
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So, without the haters, there would be no reason to "worry about the children."
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Bigots are so ridiculous, aren't they? Nice try at being "kind" judge - FAIL.
"in his experience interracial marriages do not last" bollocks!!!
People get divorced all the time and it's got nothing to do with the colour of skin!!
He's not a racist, my fucking arse!!
"in his experience interracial marriages do not last ". What's the divorce rate amongst same-race couples? Another ignoramous trying to justify their racist views.
Fucking racist ! what's wrong with interracial children ? THERE BEAUTIFUL !
Re: RobPnMeShouldB –
There is a vast difference between a Preist/Pastor/Reverend/Church official refusing to marry a couple for whatever reasons. This man is an elected official bound by the laws of this state, he doesn't have the perview of choosing NOT to do so if it is legal under our laws. This is not an apples and oranges issue, it's an issue covered under Louisiana Civil Code, to which he took an oath to uphold…it's a binding oath, not one you can pick and choose which to follow and which to throw out with the dirty dishwater.
Big deal. Gay couples are not allowed to legally marry on most of the country. This couple can simply find another justice of the peace and all is well.
No interracial marriage, there would be no Mariah!!!!!!!!!!! What a lost for humanity that would be.
I can't believe what I just read!! What kind of USA are we living in! EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO GET MARRIED SHOULD HAVE THAT RIGHT!!!!!!! GAY, STRAIGHT, BLACK, WHITE AND EVERY OTHER COLOR IN THE RAINBOW!!!! If two people love eachother then who the hell has the right to tell them that they cannot marry! This makes me very angry. I am a "white" women married to a "white" man and we have two children. I tell my children all the time they can tell me anything and I don't care who they fall in love with as long as they are happy then that is all I need. With all the wars and starving people in the world why do so many people care about this subject. I am angry about this and I am very sorry to all the people who are told that they don't have the "RIGHT" to marry!
Wait a minute here! Explain to me exactly what the fvck marriage has to do with children? Half of the population of America today can't either (1) keep their junk inside their pants or (2) keep their legs closed. America pays people with welfare and all kinds of perks to populate with little bastards regardless of what race they are, so that population couldn't give a shiz about marriage. The "not a racist" thing sounds like bullshit to me.
*
Now, having said that, pass the muffaletta and get me some red beans and rice and fried chicken from Fiorellas and an ice cold Abita to wash it all down with.
LA is a very racist state. You see very few interracial couples there. going there is like going to another time… I guess the elected public offical hasn't been to an elementary school because most of the kids are interracial
Re: Desideratum – its a choice to date someone who is a different ethnicity. its a choice to date someone of the same gender too. but it doesnt affect your life in any way, so mind your own business bitch!
Re: karencarpenter – 10 LMAO! I bet that shit eater would buy it!
What a bunch of bullshit,
I come from an interracial couple and I'm proud of my mixed
heritage. My dad is dark and my mom is light, and I'm beautiful because of them. That is so racist what this guy is saying, it's not his choice of what will happen to the children is not for him to decide. This guy needs to wake up, love is love that is love.
This is despicable!!!!!!! He should be FIRED!!!!
THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I am the product of an interracial couple my parents are not the same race and WTF i was treated just fine WHY ARE THEY SO ASS BACKWARDS stupid redneck hick !
Re: Nawlins09 – And as an elected official, has the right to recuse themselves as long as another official is made available. Which he DID do. Whether I agree with him or not, he has that right and it is not against the law. Any official conducting state business does not have to just "shut up and do what they are told". In fact, specific laws are designed to actually allow people to recuse themselves from anything they see a conflict of interest in. Quite frankly, if someone didn't want to marry me, I wouldn't push the issue and go somewhere else. Why would someone want to force someone to marry them without even believing in it?
Welcome to the deep south mentality.
Re: LULU~* – 44 Good job! Did you pass?
.
Your point is right on the money.
Equality for all!
I am in an interracial marriage and I am completely happy
Our son is well-adjusted AND accepted by both families. Anyone with different cultures (which has nothing to do with skin color) will have more struggles, but if they make the choice to marry, it's THEIR choice. I am so shocked by this, and it makes me support gay civil unions more realizing what that would actually be like for us!
Just last week we were blaming Australia for having a 'blackface' skit, and we called them everything under the sun for it. Yet, just a week later, we have something of a much worse nature happening, yet there is no outrage. I suppose people will say, "He is only one person, don't judge the rest of us", but only six Australians participated in the 'blackface' skit and we called their whole country racist…
Other than that, this is a totally unjust and ridiculous situation; if they love each other, let them marry. I'm a mixed child, and I don't get rejected from society. I mean seriously, WTF? What about people like Mariah Carey etc, who are mixed AND famous; did society reject them?
This is just stupid; however, I don't believe he is being racist, I just think he truly thinks it is morally incorrect. Believe it or not, there are a number of people in our society who view such relationships as morally wrong. Most of them are still living in the 13th century…
Re: Cyber-bullies get hit –
It's convenient for intolerant assholes to blame a new, mullato president for all the countries past problems.
Re: Desideratum – oh and that joke about prison was not funny. rape is not funny. you idiot
If 2 people love each other and want to commit to each other, no one has the right to tell them no; whether they are an interracial couple, gay, straight, etc.
This guy is an ass.
He's just another ignorant Inbred Jed with an undeserved position on the bench. Worried about the kids, my ass! Hey, here's a thought; worry about your own damn kids!!! I'm sure people mistreating a child based on race is common in East Buddha Fuck where he lives but in the real world, the one about which he clearly knows nothing, most kids are not subjected to ignorant doughheads who cannot see past colour! Fucking Racist Hypocrite PIG!!! I bet he has no problem marrying cousins though!!!
I used to live in Tangipahoa Parish and it is still very racially devided. I lived there when Katrina hit. There are still "white" areas and "black" areas. Both races where very racist towards the other. I saw both races be very rude to the other. There was a lot of contempt. My 3 year old and I went into an IHOP and had a waiter of a different race refused to serve us, but he would go to the tables of the people of his race. I grew up in Mississippi in an area where for the most part everyone treated each other with respect, so I was very shocked to see this behavior in Louisiana. That waiter refused to even walk over to our table. Other waiters and managament came and apoligized, and the people at the next table were really making a scene about how we were being treated. I asked for our check (to pay for the drinks that another waiter had brought over) and we were told we didn't have to pay for the drinks. I never went back!
i dont think midgets should marry-just sayin'….it's kinda creepy with their little T-rex arms & sausage fingers fumbling around with rings & such. I would personally fuck a midget,but couldn't marry one. By the way- Mario has AIDS
"He marries Black people right in his house" right next to the Confederate flag and burning cross.
I thought we had moved on from this. I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and find this behavior ridiculous! They love each other! The rest is none of your business! Believe me when I say that Louisiana is not racist free- but I thought we were far past this!
You got what's coming to you "Justice of the Peace" Man!
to set the record strait … no pun intended , i am from Louisiana and u can only get a marriage license from the clerk of court. They issue license. the justice of the peace only does the actual ceremony. and just like any other person in this FREE country of ours, he chose to refuse service to the couple. his right. not a good choice but its his right.
i totally agree with him…i dont think he is racist…but MANY MORE BLACKS dont agree with white women and black men dating and are more likely to accept their children than whites. i have ALOT of black friends with which we openly talk about race issues often…and they honestly tell me that they and their famalies are more racist than people would think. i think that MOST OF THE RACIAL PROBLEMS IN AMERICA TODAY COME FROM THE FACT THAT BLACK PEOPLE STILL THINK, NOT KNOW, THAT WHITE PEOPLE HATE THEM. IN RETURN, THEY HATE WHITE PEOPLE AND THE CIRCLE GOES ON AND ON. there is not ONE person alive today that was a slave, so i think it's time to get over it and realize that there is not ONE person alive today that owes blacks anything…
Re: RobPnMeShouldB – The 'judges' position and your defense of it would indicate you treat biracial children differently. You both should be ashamed and the judge should be disbarred.
I completely disagree with him! They should be able to marry each other and he is clearly racist. However, Im not surprised at this at all, we may have a black president but they is still a lot of racism
Hey perez..Your comments about Rueben Studdard celebrating Kwanza were racists as well..but yes this guy is a racist jerk as well
Re: Desideratum –
wtf are you on about?? you can't CHOOSE who you do or dont find attractive…
I think Kieth thinks it's still 1952.
Re: cat1329 – every state has its racists texas hell even ohio up there in yankee land. they have one of the biggest KKK memberships in the united states. there are more interacial couples and children here than u think. i am the proud auntie of an interacial neice. my sister loves black me big fucking deal. she pays taxes. works as a school teacher and likes black men. oh what a horrible person she is just because of that. thats so fucking retarded to think much less say.
AND CAN SOME ONE TELL ME WHY ITS NOT OK FOR WHITES TO BE RACIST AGAINST BLACKS BUT IF BLACKS ARE RACIST AGAINST WHITES THEN ITS OK. SEEMS POLITICALLY CORRECT FOR THOSE WHOSE ( GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRAN PAPPIES AND MAMMIES) WERE INSLAVED TO FEEL THEY ARE ENTITLES TO SOMETHING EXTRA BECAUSE OF THAT. FUCKING GET OVER IT. YOU WANT EQUAL RIGHTS, FUCKING GIVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND RESPECT BACK.
GOOD GOD PEOPLE AND CAN SOME ONE TELL ME WHY ITS NOT OK FOR WHITES TO BE RACIST AGAINST BLACKS BUT IF BLACKS ARE RACIST AGAINST WHITES THEN ITS OK. SEEMS POLITICALLY CORRECT FOR THOSE WHOSE ( GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRAN PAPPIES AND MAMMIES) WERE INSLAVED TO FEEL THEY ARE ENTITLES TO SOMETHING EXTRA BECAUSE OF THAT. FUCKING GET OVER IT. YOU WANT EQUAL RIGHTS, FUCKING GIVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND RESPECT BACK.
FYI: this happened in the 70's in Virginia when an interracial couple with the last name Loving, wanted to get married and were denied… they fought it and their case went all the way to the Supreme Court which ruled in favor of the couple. The case was called Loving v. Virgina and is studied in Constitutional Law classes.
Re: RobPnMeShouldB –
So I read the article. Sorry "Rob" Mr. Bardwell may not be a racist but what he did was prejudiced. He pretty much admitted to this in fact… Discussing the effects of being interracial with whites and blacks- an experience that can only be defined by an interracial person- and arriving at a hard set decision against interracial marriage beforehand without the consideration of the love that unites these two people or any two people of different "racial' or ethnic backgrounds is unfair. Truly unjust for a so-called Justice of the peace. In my opinion his actions not only reflect his ignorance and the ever prevailing ignorance surrounding him it also shows an awful truth about the mob-mentality that comes with it and unfortunately prevails. When has it ever been okay for a civil servant to pick and choose how to uphold the law based on the opinions of neighbors, co-workers, friends, etc.? The law is the law! If people have a problem with it, then they can take it up with their representative. Also, life is tough. If it's not racism it's sexism/ableism/ageism, economic struggle, rejection, betrayal, violence, death …. None of us is immune to suffering. His excuse is pure nonsense.
coming from a spanish, english, welsh, german, swedish, jewish, and apache background i'd have to say interracial marriage is sick and disgusting
Re: RobPnMeShouldB – First off, the hardships with children of interacial marriage has nothing to do with anyone OUTSIDE of the marriage. WHo is that douchebag to deny marriage of a man and a woman who love eachother despite their race? The man is a racist and of course he is gonna open up his mouth and say; "Im just lookin out for the well-being of the offspring." Get tha fuck outta here! You might as well shut up while your ahead writting several fucking paragraphs of your "idiotic" ideals. I swear you are one of the biggest fucking clueless moron's commenting on this site, go away already!
What the hell is wrong with people this week? Jan Moir and this douche? Equality… get on board.
I LOVE THIS GUY! i think its pretty awesome that someone is finally thinking about the kids. Dirty Mudbloods
I live in Tangipahoa parish, although I am not originally from this parish. I am terribly ashamed of this man, and I agree with the fact that he should step down from his public position because it is not his place to judge who to marry and who not to marry.
Re: Spindoc – Wtf?!?! Nobody can ban interacial marriage, that shit is obsurd. I have an idea, why don't we just kill off everyone in America that is not of pure race. Hey, nearly everyone in America has Native American blood running through their veins, so…. That could possibly mean nearly EVERYONE will die.
Btw, I know plenty of children and adult's who are biracial and they come out perfectly fine. Matter-of0fact I have a darling 3 yrold niece.
Re: funkytextgirl – Uhhh, what the fuck does THAT have to do with this article?? Stfu bitch and go rant your hatred somewhere else.
Im sick and tired of IC making mixed breed babies…Us pure breeds are so few now
I can't believe anyone can say they are "concerned" for the children is not racist. it is JUST such a person and statement re-enforcing there would be or is something wrong with being half white/half black or pointing it out as something to be concerned about that MAKE FOR A RACIST. Bi-racial kids are the same as everyone. In fact, imho, they're the healthiest, most beautiful people I know - getting the complimentary immune systems and health benefits of two very different ancestories.
WOW it is 2009 ladies and gentleman we have an interracial president and yet this kind of nonsense is still occurring, we have to do better because this is sad really sad SMH…
Re: cookiepuss71 – And I think that's what that so-called judge fears; more intelligent non-White people in positions of power. Inbred Jed's inferiority complex is shining brightly for the entire world to see and bringing more shame to his state!!
Re: jessinlou – First off, come correct with your statement. Apparently you havn't spoken to EVERY black person in America right? So who the hell are you to say that most black women dont approve of white women and black men dating?? I am a black woman who doesnt see simply race in a man. I find attraction in ANY race and have dated black, hispanic, and white men, so please use your head and do more research on the matter instead of spewing ignorant stereotypes around which make you appear to be…what? A RACIST.
Why is there so much ignorance and intolerance in the southern U.S? (and middle america)
Blacks, gays, etc…..there is no end to it. Stunning that you guys scream "we're number 1" when you have so much hatred for each other, so little tolerance and 50 million without healthcare.
Shocking and stunning….
WOOOOOOW What year are we in and this shit is still happening!! HAHAHA I guess by him "looking out" for the children means once you go black you never go back! hahaha
I am white and the father of my child is black. I have a BEAUTIFUL daughter and I would not change the fact that she's mixed race for anything in the world. I find this man's actions UNACCEPTABLE and he should not only resign but be brought up on charges for his disgusting misuse of power.