Members of religious groups and ordinary citizens filled a meeting room in the State Capitol Tuesday to voice their support or opposition to Senators about same-sex marriage laws.
The Senate Judiciary A committee voted 5-to-2 in favor of Senate Bill 166, a proposal by Sen. John Hainkel of New Orleans that would put in the state Constitution a ban on recognizing gay marriages from other states.
To become a constitutional amendment, the Legislature must vote two-thirds in favor of the bill, and then it can go directly to the people for a vote. The proposal next goes to the full Senate.
Louisiana law already states that people of the same sex cannot marry and that Louisiana does not recognize gay marriages contracted in other states.
The purpose of the bill is to add an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution that states the same restrictions as those laws.
While many people spoke out in support of the proposed amendment, those who opposed it said they found the very idea of the bill ridiculous.
Members of Spectrum Alliance attended the judiciary committee meeting to voice their opinions about the matter.
Anna Byars, a women’s and gender studies junior and Spectrum co-chair, said the bill was unnecessary and redundant, citing that Louisiana law already states marriage is reserved exclusively for heterosexual couples and that Federal law states Louisiana is not required to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Joe Cook, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, agreed the bill was completely unnecessary.
“This is already in the state and Federal law,” Cook said. “So it is legislation with a solution in search of a problem.”
Byars said the bill’s passing through committee has caused her to want to move out of the state more than she ever had before.
“This is my home, and I love it here, but I will have to leave in order to be able to marry and raise a family,” Byars said.
Rebecca Hebert, also Spectrum co-chair, said it is a “shame the state spends so much money on educating young people but does not work to keep them here.”
Several religious leaders also attended the meeting to voice their opinions.
Bill Shanks, pastor of the New Covenant Fellowship in Kenner, expressed strong opposition to same-sex marriages.
“We at the church are elated at the decision of the committee — it is a victory for us,” Shanks said. “We shouldn’t even have to go through this though, because it is self-evident that marriage is for a man and a woman. It is like counterfeit money, it devalues the real money, and same-sex marriage would devalue real marriage.”
Although the bill passed through committee, those who oppose it said they were still optimistic that an amendment would not be added to the Constitution.
“It should not be written into the Louisiana Constitution,” Cook said. “I think this committee made an error in judgment under the influence of mean-spirited persons. I think more cool-headed members will make the right decision.”
Byars said the decision is a setback, but it will not deter Spectrum from actively fighting for “equal rights.”