Interracial Family Organization

Interracial Couple Denied Marriage

// October 31st, 2009 // written by Kat Robertson

AUTHOR BIO:

On June 12, 1967, the United States Supreme Court decided in the Loving vs. Virginia case in favor of Richard and Mildred Loving. The decision meant that from that moment on, it would be illegal for ANY state to restrict the marriage of two people on the basis of race, citing the following:

Marriage is one of the “basic civil rights of man,” fundamental to our very existence and survival…. To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State’s citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discrimination. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.

There is patently no legitimate overriding purpose independent of invidious racial discrimination which justifies this classification. The fact that Virginia prohibits only interracial marriages involving white persons demonstrates that the racial classifications must stand on their own justification, as measures designed to maintain White Supremacy.

Unfortunately, on October 6, 2009, a Louisiana couple found that there are still Justices who are willing to go against the law to prevent – or at least discourage – interracial marriages. Beth and Terence McKay contacted Keith Bardwell, a Justice of the Peace in Hammond, LA, who has been in his position for 34 years, to have him officiate their ceremony. Imagine Beth’s shock when Bardwell’s wife informed her that he does not perform marriages for mixed-race couples where one of the individuals is black, citing the reasoning as concern for the potential lack of social acceptance for their future children.

Our views have been expressed without restraint…

Kat Robertson:

• So, Mr. Justice of the Peace, Sir. How’s Life 4 U These Days? :)
• JP Keith Bardwell = Trick Daddy. He Just Luv Da Kids.

Laura Stillman:

• Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.
• I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

Jennifer Morris:

• Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.

Now that WE have expressed our views, we’re curious to know what our readers think… how do you feel about this situation? I have to say, after reflection (and time to cool down) my reaction has turned from complete disgust to a mixture of disgust and relief. Up until this point, people would roll their eyes and dismiss claims that interracial couples were discriminated against. No one really understood what multicultural families face. Now, the entire nation has no choice but to digest this situation and respond to it.