Steve Hickey Must Be Preparing Some New Analogies

Rep. Steve Hickey must be getting really nervous.  The pastor, who along with many other Republicans in the South Dakota Legislature (which includes District 6's own Ernie Otten), tried to pass legislation that would allow for discrimination of same-sex couples.  This is the same pastor that made national news when he compared anal sex (not limited to same-sex couples) to dump trucks.  Who then proceeded to continue with his cruel and wrong-headed comments about same-sex couples in the press and on Facebook.  He did all of this in response to a challenge in the courts that is being prepared over South Dakota's ban on same-sex marriages.

He must be really sweating now.  In the last few days we have seen more and more states have same-sex marriage bans be overturned.  Places like Oregon, Idaho, Arkansas, and recently Pennsylvania have all had court rulings that have overturned the bans.  Pennsylvania's ruling comes as a shock in part because the Republican governor has decided not to fight the ruling.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said Wednesday that he will not challenge a federal judge's ruling striking down the state's ban on same-sex marriage, saying an appeal is "extremely unlikely to succeed."

 Unfortunately, I don't think we can expect to see the same common sense thinking from this current Governor:

Daugaard said Monday he expects the constitutional requirement to be challenged in court and supports state Attorney General Marty Jackley in defending it. 

“I do think it is the duty of our attorney general to defend,” Daugaard said. “I think it’s an issue that we should defend.”

We must be clear by going to the polls in November and supporting candidates (Democrat or Republican) if we want to turn back people like Governor Daugaard, Rep. Hickey, and Ernie Otten.  Support candidates that believe in the words of Justice John Jones, ruling judge on the Pennsylvania lawsuit:

"We are a better people than what these laws represent," Jones wrote. "It is time to discard them into the ash heap of history."

Until we discard those that stand in the way of equality and the protection of basic rights, we will continue to drift along in a world that is filled with hate and discrimination.