PZ Myers over at Pharyngula pointed out a YouTube video which contains a bit of speech from Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern. She claims, among other things, that "the homosexual agenda is destroying this nation" and "gays are infiltrating city councils" and "I honestly think it's the biggest threat it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam, which I think is a big threat".
I was positively astounded. I knew such people existed, but I had thought that anyone who would openly say things like that would be unable to be elected to a position as high as a state house of representatives. Clearly, I was living in a pleasant little fantasy-land.
People like her should not be in office. She was required, by the constitution of the state of Oklahoma to take an oath of office:
"I, ........., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, and that I will not, knowingly, receive, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing, for the performance or nonperformance of any act or duty pertaining to my office, other than the compensation allowed by law; I further swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge my duties as ......... to the best of my ability."
It seems to me that she is not supporting the constitution of the United States, in that it provides for freedom of religion. She is certainly not representing the interests of her homosexual constituents.
This sort of bigotry is disgusting, and I hope the day shall not be long coming that we no longer suffer by having such people in positions of power.
Cuttlefish produced the very lovely Ballad of Sally Kern, commemorating the speech.