Mar 04 2007
Seattle Times and MY State Senator
Today The Seattle Times Editorial Board decided to take State Senator Val Stevens to the cliched wood shed. The State Senator has (been accused of) doing and saying some rather off-the-wall things like linking bestiality and necrophilia to gay rights, denying the state constitution and encouraging total disrespect of tribal police when inside tribal lands.
I am going to leave my thoughts for later, in the hopes of a candid discussion. I'm going to probably surprise you all - and T-off the left and the right.
Monday night update: I'm working on a lengthy essay about my State Senator. Let me just say this: I find her to be a passionate person in search of discipline… and less gall. For instance, I find her statements questioning what does "a paramount duty" one thing but (if this is true) completely denying that public education is Washington State government's #1 duty… unbelieveable, unbecoming and unwelcome.
On homosexuality, I believe the State Senator and I share the same general belief - but a different view on the role of our secular government (theological government being a relationship with Him and/or a place of worship). I am more of an opportunity/libertarian conservative than anything else being that I don't practice an organized religion and I don't want the Democrats expanding our secular government… nor the Social Conservatives.
On tribal governance, I believe the tribes must change their tone… but cannot and will not when bomb-throwing statements, remarks and initiatives (remember 892?) are made by the right. A new era with Tribal Washington should be discussed in 2008, for many reasons.
9 Responses to “Seattle Times and MY State Senator”
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Stevens went beyond disagreement, recalling her attempts last year to amend a gay-rights bill to exempt such activities as bestiality and necrophilia, vulgarly implying they had something to do with gay rights. Shame on her. Earlier in the week, she surprised school district officials from Snohomish and Skagit counties by declaring she disagreed with the state constitution’s provision declaring education funding the state’s "paramount duty."
I actually agree with her on the Education item, I don;t think that education is, or should be, the PARAMOUNT dutyof the state.
And I think she is right that many of the "Gay Friendly" movements and proposed legislation are written in such a broad and sloppy manner that pretty much any kind of non-heterosexual activity becomes sanctioned by the state.
Past that, I am not very familiar with the Senator. Though the thing in the piece about ignoring Tribal Police seems a little goofy, out of context. I would be interested to know what led to her making that statement.
As to the
It strikes me as a little odd, because a legislator from Washington State is openly disagreeing with the most strongly worded section of the Washington State constitution. I’m not going to be too awfully hard on her, being as the comments reported have absolutely no context around them, but I would encourage her to come out and explain her reasoning better.
–Ryan–
Allow me to help you out with a transcript of Senator Val Stevens remarks during the March 1st, 2007 Washington Senate Floor Debate on the Domestic Partnership bill (SSB 5336).
During this debate she ignored the actual bill in front of her and instead talked about the issue of Civil Marriage Equality which was addressed in a completely different bill (HB 1350 and SB 5335) that never made it out of committee this session. Then she proceeded to talk about the Anti-Discrimination Bill changes (HB 2661) that were passed in the last legislative session and how terrible it was that the amendment that she proposed was not accepted. Not once did the Senator directly address the explicit provisions of the Domestic Partnership Bill. In her own words:
"This bill is not about equal rights, it’s about changing society in ways that will ultimately harm it. Thriving civilizations take care to guard this sacred institution of marriage and the innocence of children. Our acquiescence to the Gay rights, as it is depicted, homosexual rights, liberation is political appeasement. We are giving away the building blocks of a lasting society one bill at a time.
Last year, we passed what is called gay rights bill for homosexuals prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. We tried to amend it. We tried to add the amendment that would exempt such societal destroying practices such as beasteology (sic), which is sexual intercourse with animals, necrophilia, which is sexual intercourse with the dead, incest, which is sexual intercourse between a parent and a child, and…”
The amendment that she and Senator Hargrove actually proposed to HB 2661 last session was this:
On page 6, line 20, after "identity" insert ",but does not include bestiality, necrophilia, incest, adultery, pedophilia, or sadomasochism"
In Senator Stevens’ mind somehow adding protection for sexual orientation and gender identity under our pre-existing anti-discrimination law suddenly required us to exempt a list of already illegal activities. Since HB 2661 as adopted protects straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people equally from discrimination I’m I can only guess at the reasoning that the Senator engaged in.
The castigation of Senator Stevens in the recent Seattle Times Op-Ed doesn’t go nearly far enough. In her floor speech she vilified same-sex couples and families. There is no other way to put it. And there is absolutely no excuse for it.
You can find the full text of her remarks here: http://gaycurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2007/03/unbearable-oratory-of-senator-val.html
~GC
The Gay Curmudgeon - I will be writing an essay on this situation and rest assured, I will quote from the transcript you posted.
I am sorry you people have to go through the persecution you do.
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