Iowa Bigots Parody Eharmony

You may have already seeing this video, which has appeared in several place, including Incest News. It is interesting to see bigots parody the bigoted business Eharmony, but that's not the main point.



The video is put out by a group upset that same-sex couples have the freedom to marry in Iowa. Apprently, the bigots are attempting to use the “ick factor” that some people have towards consanguineous sex to gain political advantage, if not actually take away the freedom to marry from same-sex couples in Iowa. Taking away that right would be very difficult at this point, but bigots want to use the prejudice of voters and potential donors to manipulate. It also tries to reinforce the denial of the freedom to marry to consanguineous couples.

But notice something very important about the video. It doesn’t offer a single reason why anyone should oppose either freedom to marry. It merely appeals to animus. So typical of bigots.

This is a parody commercial showing a hypothetical dating site that matches you with your relatives. The point they are trying to make is that the court system is very lopsided and unfair when it comes to marriage and sexuality, picking and choosing preferred classes rather than applying the same rules to everyone.

Yes. The bigots want to exclude everyone from marriage except for supposedly monogamous, nonconsanguineous, heterosexual couples, preferably of the same race. And then there are those who neglect solidarity, who want marriage rights extended to just their group. But the best solution is full marriage equality, allowing consenting adults to form the marriages they want without anyone else telling them they can’t.

Hey, look at this.

Tim Hicks, who created and posted the video on YouTube, is a member of Cornerstone World Outreach in Sioux City. In fact, nearly half of the videos he’s posted on YouTube are of the church’s pastor, Cary Gordon. The church is facing a possible IRS investigation over its campaign to convince other pastors around the state to encourage their congregations to vote against retaining three state Supreme Court justices on the ballot this fall.

Fascinating.

This is another chance to stand up for solidarity. Will more people do so?

A Too Vague News Blurb on Incest Charge

Iowa should be commended for recognizing the right of same-sex couples to marry. It still needs to get with it when it comes to the rights of poly people. And it should be condemned for charging people with a crime for consensual sex, and still having laws that prevent people from exercising their rights simply because they are closely related.

I wish I had more information about this story.

A Rembrandt, Iowa, man has been charged with incest for allegedly having sexual contact with his adult daughter…The man was arrested Monday on the class D felony and booked into the Buena Vista County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $20,000 bond.

The article gives no indication that this was rape or sexual assault. It says “sexual contact” with another adult and the charge is “incest.” We know from other recent stories that all that has to happen is for someone other than the participants to find out and, thanks to bigotry or jealousy or even mandatory reporting laws, the authorities are informed and get involved, charging someone with a crime. The article doesn’t say that the other participant filed a complaint, and the authorities didn’t see fit to also charge the man with rape or sexual assault, so my guess is that this was a consensual sexual experience. If it was, it is embarrassing that Iowa would charge someone with a crime in this case.

Certainly, both the law and the media should have clear distinctions between rape and child molestation as opposed to consensual sex between adults. It is absurd something that can be consensual, private, and mutually enjoyable is a felony.