Just the balls on these people:
Denton County Judge James DePiazza was on vacation when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled his office had to provide marriage licenses to same sex couples.
That made DePiazza uncomfortable. He didn’t believe it was right to marry same sex couples, and his first thought was to stop doing weddings outright to avoid discrimination. But he scrapped that plan and opted to publish a document, signed by brides- and grooms-to-be, acknowledging his opposition gay marriage.
“Judge DePiazza prefers to NOT conduct same-sex ceremonies, but will not decline anyone who chooses to schedule with him,” says the form, which bears two blank lines for the couple to sign. “While we may not necessarily agree with, we acknowledge Judge DePiazza’s position that he prefers not to conduct same-sex marriages and agree not to address the topic of same-sex marriages with Judge DePiazza before, during or after the ceremony.”
“During the ceremony the topic is really not up for discussion,” the judge said in an interview.
DePiazza has been a judge in Precinct 2 of Denton County since 2007. A Catholic and a graduate of San Antonio’s Wayland Baptist University (as well as the University of North Texas), he said condoning same-sex marriage violated his religious beliefs. But he steered clear of the route briefly advocated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said in the days after the court ruling that Texas state employees could claim religious freedom to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Instead, DePiazza issued the document to make sure everyone knows how he feels about the marriage before he officiates it
Just shut the fuck up and do your job you graceless, classless godbotherer.
Trentrunner
This is positively Soviet. Also, super-dickish.
Baud
The DSM now has a picture to go with the entry on passive aggressiveness.
Cckids
Amen, John.
Now here in Vegas, we’re seeing/hearing ads congratulating “our friends and neighbors on the Supreme Court’s decision on same sex marriage!”
Of course, from a jewelry store ?. But still, nice to hear a locally owned business not be running scared of the godbotherers.
Mike G
Shorter DiPizza:
I’ll grudgingly do my job, but first I want to make sure you know I’m an asshole.
Baud
Thankfully, Jade Helm will take care of these people once and for all.
Roger Moore
Even better, show some real conviction and resign. If you don’t want to do part of your job, find a different job; don’t just passive-aggressively bitch about it.
Major Major Major Major
The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton, by The Mountain Goats. One of my favorite songs.
Tara the Antisocial Social Worker
As long as he’ll sign a statement acknowledging that I don’t condone bigoted jerkishness. And neither does any God that I recognize.
Kropadope
For people who complain so much about people not working and irresponsibility, Republicans seem awful keen on letting workers not perform their jobs. News flash, you serve the public. If you don’t like the public, go find work where you don’t have to interact with people.
Major Major Major Major
@Kropadope:
Worked for me, though I imagine you’re not recommending they go into digital librarianship.
bemused
The couples should add a postscript after signing this document acknowledging that they acknowledge the judge is a crybaby bigot but will get married anyway, nyah, nyah.
Baud
@bemused:
They should get nekkid and have gay sex right in the middle of the ceremony.
Kropadope
@Major Major Major Major:
I would, perhaps, if I thought they could read above a 5th grade level. Too bad for them that professional online trollery isn’t as hot a job field in non-election years.
Gimlet
Interviewing an empty chair.
The Vermont independent, who’s challenging Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary next year, hijacked a set of microphones. He then used the impromptu press conference to question Clinton’s populist bona fides on a range of issues
On trade, Sanders said three decades of deals — including the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by former President Clinton — “have been disastrous for American workers.”
“Secretary Clinton, I believe, has a different view on that issue,” he said.
On climate change, Sanders noted his staunch opposition to the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which will transport “some of the dirtiest fuel on this planet.”
“I think Secretary Clinton has not been clear on her views on that issue,” he said.
And on the economy, Sanders is pushing a policy package featuring a $15 minimum wage and $1 trillion in infrastructure spending.
“I think the secretary has not been quite so clear on those issues,” he charged.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: Won’t that frighten the horses?
Betty Cracker
Can marrying couples refuse to sign and tell the judge to shove his form up his ass? He’s denying them equality under the law. He should either provide services to every couple who qualifies or resign.
Major Major Major Major
@Omnes Omnibus: Only if you do it right.
Kropadope
@Gimlet: Forgive me, I’m having trouble matching the quotes provided to the concept of “interviewing an empty chair.”
Omnes Omnibus
@Betty Cracker: They can file a writ of mandamus asking a higher court to direct the judge to do his damned job.
The Ancient Randonneur
I’d like to send another big shout out to Texas and a bunch of out of shape, middle-aged men for keeping an eye on some of the best trained and elite fighting men in the world. Without those brave fellows surveilling this potential invasion force we might all have to get gay married and go in front of death panels.
Gimlet
@Kropadope:
Hillary wasn’t in the room.
Baud
@Gimlet: Interesting that he has now decided going after her directly.
@Kropadope: Agree. I was thinking Clint Eastwood somehow.
Kropadope
@Betty Cracker: Another possibility, he could force straight couples to sign the form acknowledging his opposition to same-sex marriage. Boom, equal.
scav
Is Judge James DePiazza going to draw little happy faces on the certificates he signs for the marriages he approves of? Will he deign to make disparaging comments on other individual pairings that don’t quite meet with his O-So-Pure criteria of Made-In-Heaven-and-Judge-Approved Matrimony? Maybe the godly of Denton County will take to framing and cherishing these little relics of divine approval rather than the tainted papers issued by the actual legal authorities.
Randy P
These people are so shameless about demonstrating they have no actual principles. “You have nothing to worry about if you’re not guilty” fell by the wayside when the Cheyney Administration’s PATRIOT act carried over into Obama’s. And now it’s “we are a nation of laws”. Remember that one?
To say nothing of “it’s treason to criticize a President during wartime” and “of course you can be arrested for wearing a T-shirt criticizing the President”.
Kropadope
@Gimlet: Right, but unlike Clint Eastwood re: Obama, it doesn’t sound like Sanders was pretending to talk to HRC. He discussed her record and I fail to see that he even misconstrued anything.
dmsilev
@Kropadope: I think that was his plan. If memory serves, the “couple acknowledges that the judge hates same-sex marriage” form would be given to all couples who have the misfortune of getting married in front of him.
Gimlet
@Kropadope:
You are correct.
Major Major Major Major
@Kropadope: I mean it was her state department that dragged the shit out of their feet on making a decision on Keystone, to the point where nobody even wants to build the damn thing anymore. They could’ve just said no, sure, but it’s basically a pocket veto.
Kropadope
Why can’t we go back to the days of traditional marriage where one man married one woman to seal an agreement between their Lord Fathers?
gf120581
I suppose it’s classier then his original plan, which was to scream, fall to the ground, and throw a temper tantrum before each gay marriage.
Patrick
This judge seems to have shown himself to be a pretty hard core Christian in his beliefs based on his action here. Would this now mean that a Muslim, Jew, atheist or whoever now have cause to ask him to recuse himself as a judge in their trials?
Punchy
I’d expect a fair number of applicants to go tell this judge to eat a bag of salted dicks. And I sense a GoFundMe page coming soon…
Roger Moore
@Punchy:
Where do you get them? I’ve heard a lot of people suggesting that others eat them, but I can’t find them in the snack food aisle at my local supermarket.
dmsilev
@Roger Moore: Try Costco.
Baud
Did anyone here that Mark Kirk just lost reelection today by going full wingnut on the Iran deal?
Baud
@Roger Moore: @dmsilev:
Or Piggly Wiggly.
ThresherK
@Major Major Major Major: I had no idea who they were until “No Children” on Morel Orel.
Great match of song and subject.A chilling, wonderful song in a little stopmotion cartoon. And a boffo tune to sing…except if you’re happily married and friends or family are around.
It’s probably a karaoke staple in some hip places.
Omnes Omnibus
@Roger Moore: Whole Foods has them, but they are ridiculously overpriced.
Randy P
@Roger Moore: There are a lot of unidentifiable objects on the shelves of the Chinese groceries I go to.
Kropadope
@Baud: If only the election were today and that were the top issue on voters’ minds, Congress could be reshaped dramatically. Obviously, the Ds can’t run on just one issue, but branding Rs as the war party should be high on their list.
Matters of war and peace are one of HRC’s main weaknesses; but since this Iran deal, she has been shown to still be miles ahead of the Rs.
Kropadope
@Roger Moore: Sounds to me like you just need salt and a willing participant.
Roger Moore
@Randy P:
I have seen “beef pizzle” in the meat section of my local Chinese market, but that was fresh rather than salted.
Baud
@Kropadope:
Kirk’s problem isn’t going to be that he is part of the war party. It’s that he used really insane, Trump-like rhetoric in attacking Obama. I don’t think that will play well in Illinois.
bemused
@Baud:
I think just a long, deep kiss would be enough for the demented judge to have a stroke.
Kropadope
@Baud: Just looked up which year he is up for reelection. 2016, he’s dooooooomed.
Baud
Cruz wants to be Trump’s VEEP. I’ve never seen him look so pathetic as he does when he is talking about Trump.
dmsilev
@Baud: Going all Lindsey Graham isn’t going to win Kirk any friends here, especially given a Presidential-year electorate.
dmsilev
@Baud: Trump is so HUGE and CLASSY, he’ll be his own VP.
Kropadope
@dmsilev: Trump/Trump’s Hair 2016!!! We’ll just need the hair’s birth certificate to prove it was made in the U.S.
Belafon
@Cckids:
If, as a business, you aren’t doing everything you can to take advantage of this, you don’t deserve to be open.
Baud
@dmsilev:
That’s YOOOG.
beltane
@Roger Moore: Maybe it’s something you’re supposed to salt to taste, like popcorn.
Kay
Kropadope
@beltane: Come to think of it, don’t you need to extract the salt?
dmsilev
@Kropadope: “Natural born” might be a problem.
Benw
@Major Major Major Major: killer tune.
Hungry Joe
Lexicography question: When did “YOOOG” become huge? I’ve only noticed it in the last couple of weeks, and only online. But it’s a thing, like “it’s a thing” is a thing.
Omnes Omnibus
@Hungry Joe: Listen to Trump speak.
beltane
Donald Trump says he’s worth $10 billion. Maybe the IMF should airlift him to Greece.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: It’s very classy.
aimai
@Cckids: Last winter in NY there was a great series of ads for a storage company “Gay Marriage Means Wedding Presents: You Need More Storage!” or something like that.
Kropadope
@dmsilev:
Mr. Trump-Hairpiece’s father is a long-estranged immigrant, but it’s eligible as long as it was born in the U.S.
Omnes Omnibus
@BillinGlendaleCA: It’s the classiest thing ever. It’s like his vocal cords are gold-plated gold.
Donut
@bemused:
If I were half of a same-sex couple that wanted to marry, I think I’d be first in line to sign this morherfucker up, invite every single LGBTQ person and their straight supporters that I could find and fucking rub it in his asshole face just how goddamned NORMAL me and my partner and friends and family and partnership is. I would crush this worthless sonofabitch with the motherfucking kindness and awesomeness of the rainbow of diversity. You can’t reason with this stunt-queen piece of shit; but you can show him what it means to be real and to truly exemplify what it means to be Christ-like.
Omnes Omnibus
@Donut: Alternate that with FABULOUS! hyper-gay weddings just to freak him out.
Mike E
@Omnes Omnibus: BJ’s…what. Too obvious?
Keith P.
One would think that the First Amendment gives me the right to refuse to acknowledge jack shit. If I want to refuse to acknowledge that the judge’s robe is black, that’s my right.
Kropadope
@Omnes Omnibus: Should this plan succeed, I’m sure he would witness a whole wide gay world; perhaps having him bear witness and convert to the true gay agenda, a normal life to be enjoyed equally by all.
bemused
@Donut:
He wouldn’t recognize what christ-like looks like for a very long time, if ever. There are none so blind than those who will not see.
West of the Cascades
I’m not knowledgeable about judicial ethics in Texas, but a quick glance at the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct suggest that this judge should have a complaint filed against him – scjc.state.tx.us/pdf/txcodeofjudicialconduct.pdf
Interesting that not demonstrating bias “on the basis of sexual orientation” is one of the prohibitions …
Canon 1: Upholding the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary
An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A
judge should participate in establishing, maintaining and enforcing high standards of conduct,
and should personally observe those standards so that the integrity and independence of the
judiciary is preserved. The provisions of this Code are to be construed and applied to further
that objective.
Canon 2: Avoiding Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All of the
Judge’s Activities
A. A judge shall comply with the law and should act at all times in a manner that
promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.
Canon 3 – Canon 3: Performing the Duties of Judicial Office Impartially and Diligently
B. Adjudicative Responsibilities
(4) A judge shall be patient, dignified and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers
and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity, and should require similar
conduct of lawyers, and of staff, court officials and others subject to the judge’s direction and
control.
(5) A judge shall perform judicial duties without bias or prejudice.
(6) A judge shall not, in the performance of judicial duties, by words or conduct manifest
bias or prejudice, including but not limited to bias or prejudice based upon race, sex, religion,
national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status, and shall not
knowingly permit staff, court officials and others subject to the judge’s direction and control to
do so.
craigie
I’m just not seeing the “religion” in these “religious objections.” Why can’t they man up and just say “I think gays are icky”? At least that would be honest.
JaneE
@Donut: I was thinking the same way. I think it would be great if same-sex couples went to him for ceremonies in droves, just to show that they don’t care who marries them so long as it is valid. Plus it would serve him right to be uncomfortable.
NonyNony
@craigie:
Most “religious” people in this country thinks that their religion reinforces their lifestyle and the culture they grew up in. If Mommy and Daddy raised them Methodist, and Mommy and Daddy raised them to believe in hating gays, then by golly one of the tenets of Methodism MUST be hating gays. That’s simple logic, you lieberals. Q. E. Fucking D.
Most religious people in this country don’t tend to investigate their religions too closely. The ones that do often drift away (because they find out their religion actually says their own lifestyle is horrible and they should be rethinking the position their Daddy taught them on things like the death penalty and helping out poor people), or accommodating it by lying to themselves about what they’re supposed to be believing.
Ruckus
@dmsilev:
He keeps that thing on his head for VP. Which is OK as it is just as ugly but smarter and less racist.
Major Major Major Major
@Benw: fun fact: the guitar is tuned in drop-d, which is how a lot of metal songs are played. Even though it’s basically folk music or something :)
NonyNony
@JaneE:
Eh – it’s their wedding. Most people getting married who aren’t getting married suddenly because they need health insurance or because they’ve gotten pregnant and have a very traditional outlook on pregnancy and marriage (or need health insurance) generally have someone they care about to perform the ceremony – their pastor, or a friend who has sent away to the Church of Universal Life or whatever. Very few people who aren’t in an emergency situation fall back on a county judge to perform the ceremony (unless the judge is a family friend).
That’s what really gets me about all of this – these morons are insisting on injecting themselves into an area and making it all about THEM before anyone has even made it an issue for them. Why not wait to see if any gay couples even ask you to perform the goddamn ceremony before making a big old media spectacle about it? Because then you might not have a chance to crawl up on your cross and pretend that your “principled stance” makes you some kind of goddamn martyr, that’s why. Preening assholes.
Kropadope
@efgoldman: I can’t account for the full 35, but I’ll bet it’s close. It seems to be thinning out after all. How long does a hairpiece survive?
Matt McIrvin
In Massachusetts we have “justices of the peace” who are not actual judges (and certainly not elected officials), but basically glorified notaries public who can perform legal weddings. People make a nice little side business out of it.
It’s a great convenience. I guess in Texas, if the local judge is an asshole you need to go get yourself a Universal Life Church minister or something.
NonyNony
@efgoldman:
I grew up Catholic, so my religion was kind of the opposite.
(I am currently religionless, as not believing in any gods makes me a poor fit for most religions. And I find Universal Unitarianism meetings to be pointless and Church of Satan just a bit silly. So no religion for me.)
Felonius Monk
@Kropadope: So, what will be the correct way to address Trump’s hair (or astro-hair)? First Hair? First Toupee? Vice Hair? First Comb-over? First Hairball?
tomtofa
@Omnes Omnibus:
They’re free range, and the salt is Himalayan Pink.
Keith G
@Betty Cracker: I imagine you are right, BC. Can one place such a requirement on an acknowledged right? Seems very doubtful. Hopefully a cute pair of cowboys and the ACLU will see how far this goes.
BTW, the old Denton TX courthouse is quite a beautiful structure. Check it out. sometime.
Eta
@tomtofa:
Commando?
Omnes Omnibus
@tomtofa: For a heavily salted “food” product, does that matter? Most of us are not McMegan.
seaboogie
Sure, this seems like a dickish move for the judge, but he IS willing to perform ceremonies for same-sex couples, although he has a certain ingrained aversion to it. I think that what he is saying – however inelegant the gesture – is that he recognizes the new laws and rights, but it is difficult for him to (erm) swallow, so please don’t get all activist on him and “ram it down his throat’ during this period of adjustment for him.
I suspect that after a couple of years of performing SS marriages, his resistance will have been fully eroded as he experiences the joy of joining many many SS lives in marriage. Teens now are so “well, yeah – of course everyone should be able to enjoy the same rights”, but this is not his generation. Even Scott Walker’s sons are behind the right to SS marriage, but resigned to dear old Dad pandering to the base to get elected.
Once folks who are not so accustomed to open and out gays in their circle of friends realize that these are just normal folks from their community, and not a bunch of guys in chaps and no pants in a pride parade, they’ll get their get their minds and hearts around it. So I feel compassionate for them as they make this adjustment, because it is uncomfortable for them for a lot of reasons.
I have held the belief for quite a while now that part of the resistance to gay marriage is that people don’t want to appear stupid in navigating relationships and understanding of their world. If someone had a ring on, odds are they were straight (though plenty of gays entered into straight marriages), and you “knew what was what”. Now though, it can take a while to suss out the situation, since you cannot make automatic assumptions.
I work in an artisan jewelry shop, and if you are looking for some gorgeous alt wedding rings, this is a great place to find them. A while back I had two women who are way into horses, looking for engagement rings, and trying to wrap their minds around what is on offer. At first I assumed that they were lovers, but it turns out that both expected that their long-term boyfriends would be proposing, so they needed to get some ideas of what they would like.
Then just this weekend I had two lovely women who looked like the prototype for wholesome, milk-fed mid-Westerners looking for rings for one of them. Thought that they were BFFs and they were – they were also a couple.
In both situations, it took a lot of listening on my part to suss out the situation. And here is the thing – you don’t want to just ask the question “are you a couple?” for fear of insulting someone. And you can’t make any assumptions. I remember long ago having a staffer in a coffee shop ask a customer when she was due, only for the customer to reply “I’m not pregnant – I’m just FAT!” in a very aggrieved manner.
I think that for many people, a different picture of what it means to be gay, and who is and who isn’t is becoming very confusing. So I have empathy for people as they learn to adjust. Just because something becomes law doesn’t change your understanding overnight. And so it behooves us to be non-confrontational, even kind and inclusive towards the open-minded-curious as they make this adjustment. Insults don’t bring them onside, empathy and dialogue might.
benw
@Major Major Major Major: as you obviously know drop-D is just an easy way to play power-chords, but damn if Darnielle doesn’t play an amazing guitar with that tuning.
seaboogie
@Donut: So that didn’t sound very “Christ-like”. More agro and assholish. Do you think that anyone is going to be receptive to that? I think that is what the judge was trying to avoid in the first place. Mebbe see my comment at 88 for more insight.
I recently read an interview with Katharine Hayhoe who is a Xtian evangelical climate scientist (yeah, wrap your mind around that one!) who is very respected in her field. She spoke about not being confrontational and calling people idiots, but about getting them onside. IIRC, even James Inhofe acknowleded climate change, but when he saw how much it would cost and what would have to be done to deal with this, he went all nut-bagger. And Ms. Hayhoe’s position was that these folks should be addressed thusly: “Given that this is happening, what solutions do you propose to deal with it?”. It changes the whole discussion. Here is a link to that:
slate.com/articles/health_and_science/climate_desk/2014/05/conservative_christians_and_climate_chang…
Fun to vent here though – I’ll admit and give you that. But worth thinking about what produces results, and less angst for us.
Matt McIrvin
@NonyNony:
I’m not sure about this: in Mass. (where, as I said, JPs are easy to find) it seems to me they’re used a lot.
The person we wanted to officiate couldn’t legally do it (we could have gotten a one-shot authorization from the governor’s office with sufficient advance planning, but our chosen venue was across the border in New Hampshire, so that wouldn’t do). So we just had what amounted to an extralegal commitment ceremony there, and got legally married by a JP in our town in a 15-minute ceremony a few days later. No biggie.
J R in WV
@Roger Moore:
You don’t have salt?? Most of us have salt, for the popcorn! When the tumbrels roll, we’ll all need salt!
The Other Chuck
@seaboogie:
He is allowed to have his own privately held convictions, even if they’re reprehensible; and yes, maybe even his beliefs will evolve and the better angels of his nature will eventually prevail. However, here and now, the statement calls into question his impartiality in matters that are anything but strictly mechanical procedure such as marriage. He’s not a clerk, he has real power as a judge.
@West of the Cascades:
And that right there would be a violation of Canon 2, creating an appearance of impropriety. One now has to question how he would adjudicate cases (especially ones without a jury) involving civil rights of gay people. It really would be irresponsible not to to speculate.
Paul in KY
@Patrick: Excellent question. Would hope he would be forced to.
Paul in KY
@Felonius Monk: I’m guessing that you expect to soon end up in some crazy alternate universe where The Donald was elected president?
WaterGirl
@Baud: You left out the verb, but I will answer ‘yes’ anyway!
Do I think that he lost the election today by being a total nutcase about Iran? YES
Do I HOPE that he lost the election today by being a total nutcase about Iran? YES
Do I pray that he lost the election today by being a total nutcase about Iran? YES
It sickens me that he e is my senator.
WaterGirl
I miss tweet-like-trump day.