Jackson Free Press

Here's why permitting gay marriage is "horrific social policy," according to Republican Rep. Andy Gipson of Braxton:

"Unnatural behavior which results in disease, not the least of which is its high association with the development and spread of HIV/AIDS; 2) Confusing behavior which is harmful to children who have a deep need to understand the proper role of men and women in society and the important differences between men and women, and fathers and mothers; and 3) Undermines the longstanding definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, a definition which has been key to all aspects of social order and prosperity."

Gipson's May 10 posting on his Facebook page was a response to President Barack Obama's recent statement supporting marriage between same-sex, loving people.
Gipson responded that the only opinion on the subject that mattered was God and cited a couple of passages from the Bible.

The elected official's comments kicked off a flurry of comments, mostly from like-minded individuals who used the Bible, a book devoted to telling people to not be jerks to one another, as justification for denying basic human rights to gays.

Anytime the definition of marriage "is weakened, our culture is also weakened," Gipson added.

He failed to cite where said definition was written down. It certainly isn't in the Bible, in which some of its most celebrated characters are practitioners of polygamy--the union between one man and however many women he feels like marrying.

One of those figures, David--who slew a giant and provided the fodder for generations of bad metaphors about little guys and big guys--once stole one of his homeboy's wives. Solomon, David's son and successor, famously had to step in and squash a beef between two of his baby's mamas. As a result, our culture regards Solomon as one of history's wisest leaders.

You might remember Gipson from this past year's failed effort to establish a law in Mississippi that would have required law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of anyone they arrest. During floor debate late one evening, Gipson, a lawyer who chaired the Judiciary B Committee, chided House Democrats for trying to paint him as a racist by saying there was no way he could be racist against Mexicans because he helped start a "Hispanic ministry" at his church.

In a later post in response to the same thread, Gipson pointed out that Mississippi has a policy in our state defining marriage as between a man and a woman, referring to the 2004 amendment to the state's Constitution. In affirming gay marriage, Gipson opines, Obama is saying Mississippi's policy is wrong.

"My point is," Gipson writes,"(Obama) is wrong."

Previous Comments

ID

167781

Comment

Unfortunately, the good people of Simpson county have elevated this fundamentalist anachronism into a position to negatively impact a large number of Mississippians. One can only hope that his aspirations go no higher. He is a patent misogynist whose very thoughts should never be articulated. That said, may the citizens of Hinds county and Jackson take note and derail the continuation of Kenneth and LaRita Stokes in government? As one who was born in Hinds county and left most ricky-tick, please get rid of them. And, for goodness sake, will the constituents of District 3 get rid of Bennie Thompson...the rest of Mississippi begs this of you.

Author

Darryl

Date

2012-05-20T14:48:44-06:00

ID

167782

Comment

Darryl's pretty spot on with his commentary, except that Thompson is from the 2nd district.

Author

RobbieR

Date

2012-05-21T12:32:16-06:00

ID

167792

Comment

@ Robbie R - you lost me on that one? They have him listed in the 77th District - covering Rankin, Simpson, and Smith counties?

Author

Duan C.

Date

2012-05-22T08:49:51-06:00

ID

167794

Comment

What? I was clearly referring to Bennie Thompson, not Rep. Gipson. Rep. Bennie Thomson represents Mississippi's 2nd Congressional district; Darryl noted that he rep'd the 3rd (Gregg Harper's district).

Author

RobbieR

Date

2012-05-22T10:22:35-06:00