Saturday, June 16, 2012

Cenk Uygur Accuses Gay Marriage Foe Joseph Backholm Of Hating Gays

The Young Turk's Cenk Uygur on Monday accused Joseph Backholm, chair of Preserve Marriage Washington, of hating gay people.
Backholm and his supporters last week turned in nearly 200,000 signatures to block a gay marriage law approved by Washington state lawmakers from taking effect. Referendum 74 will ask voters in November to either uphold or reject the law.
Backholm appeared on cabler Current TV's The Young Turks to explain Preserve Marriage Washington's opposition to equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.
“I think it is uniquely beneficial to children to have both their mother and father present in their lives and I think marriage – the current definition encourages that. Of course, we don't outlaw other situations that happen …,” Backholm said.
When host Uygur asked Backholm if he was in favor of outlawing a father from divorcing and remarrying, the conservative activist said that would be illogical.
“One does not follow the other.”
“Why not?” Uygur asked.
“We're talking about what marriage should be.”
After a few more rounds, Uygur stated: “Joseph can we get real about this? It's because of the Bible, right. Because the Bible always says that that's been the case. But you know you're wrong about that too, right?”
“It's because I do not believe it is a marriage.”
“No, no but a marriage is something that we legally recognize. It's not something religious. It is something we legally recognize. So it could be anything that we decided that it is. But you're saying I don't want to recognize it. Why? Can you please confess that it's because of your religion.”
“It could be anything we decide,” Backholm responded. “Marriage is limited in a number of ways. You can't marry someone who is under 18. You can't marry someone who is already married. ...”
“You see, those are for logical reasons,” Uygur interrupted. “This is because you hate gay people. Okay, see, that's not logical.”

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