UPDATED - Missouri County Will Lower Flags To Mourn Gay Marriage Ruling For A Year

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

An all-Republican county commission in Missouri voted unanimously Monday to observe a full calendar year of “mourning” after the Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision, a protest that will include lowering flags to mark the somber occasion.

Flags at the Dent County Courthouse and Judicial Building will now fly at “below half-staff” on the 26th day of every month from July 2015 until July 2016, the Salem News reported, to mark the day SCOTUS handed down the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles filed a letter into the record ahead of the vote staking his opposition to “the U.S. high court’s (sic) stamp of approval of what God speaks of as an abomination.”

Skiles also wrote that “all who see these flags at this lowered position be reminded of this despicable Supreme Court travesty” as reason enough to approve the plan.

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/darrell-skiles-dent-county-gay-marriage-protest

---

UPDATE:

COUNTY COMMISSION: Presiding commissioner says flag decision to be rescinded

Posted: Monday, July 13, 2015 2:25 pm | Updated: 7:01 am, Tue Jul 14, 2015.
Andrew Sheeley

The Dent County Commission voted unanimously Monday to observe one year of "mourning” over the Supreme Court’s June 26 decision that gay couples have the constitutional right to marriage.

Tuesday morning, Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the commission will meet in special session Tuesday or Wednesday to rescind that order "out of respect for veterans and those currently serving in the military." ... He said all three commissioners are expected to vote to rescind the decision.

The observance of mourning was to come in the form of lowering the flags at the Dent County Courthouse and Judicial Building to below half-staff on the 26th day of the month from July 2015 to June 2016.

The vote Monday came after Skiles filed a letter into the public record protesting, “the U.S. high court’s stamp of approval of what God speaks of as an abomination.” ... The letter details Skiles’ opposition to gay marriage and proposes lowering of the flags so “all who see these flags at this lowered position be reminded of this despicable Supreme Court travesty,” he wrote. ... Joining Skiles in the unanimous vote Monday were commissioners Gary Larson and Dennis Purcell.

http://www.thesalemnewsonline.com/news/local_news/article_e2b4e196-2994-11e5-813b-739421b68bb6.html

Thank you mahatmakanejeeves for the update!

[HassleCat]

1. Wish I lived there

I would show up at a council meeting and ask, "I noticed the flag was at half staff. Who died? Oh... It was you guys!"

[Sophiegirl]

2. Oh, for god's sake

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

3. Go ahead and beat yourselves up. Morons. Nobody cares...

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. COUNTY COMMISSION: Presiding commissioner says flag decision to be rescinded

Upon further review....

COUNTY COMMISSION: Presiding commissioner says flag decision to be rescinded

Posted: Monday, July 13, 2015 2:25 pm | Updated: 7:01 am, Tue Jul 14, 2015.
Andrew Sheeley

The Dent County Commission voted unanimously Monday to observe one year of "mourning” over the Supreme Court’s June 26 decision that gay couples have the constitutional right to marriage.

Tuesday morning, Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the commission will meet in special session Tuesday or Wednesday to rescind that order "out of respect for veterans and those currently serving in the military." ... He said all three commissioners are expected to vote to rescind the decision.

The observance of mourning was to come in the form of lowering the flags at the Dent County Courthouse and Judicial Building to below half-staff on the 26th day of the month from July 2015 to June 2016.

The vote Monday came after Skiles filed a letter into the public record protesting, “the U.S. high court’s stamp of approval of what God speaks of as an abomination.” ... The letter details Skiles’ opposition to gay marriage and proposes lowering of the flags so “all who see these flags at this lowered position be reminded of this despicable Supreme Court travesty,” he wrote. ... Joining Skiles in the unanimous vote Monday were commissioners Gary Larson and Dennis Purcell.

[davidpdx]

12. Good

It appears someone called their bluff.

[sarge43]

15. "out of respect ..."

Yo jerks, don't you dare hide behind service personnel. You fucked up. At least have the guts to own it.

In case you idiots haven't heard, there are gays and lesbians in the military, always have been. Now same sex marriage is allowed. Some respect you go there

[cynzke]

20. Awe, too bad!

They could have flown the confederate flag at the same time!

[William769]

5. Taking "sore loser" to a whole new level.

Fucking dip shits.

[Cha]

14. Really.

[closeupready]

36. +1000.

[Sunlei]

6. to many tiny counties in America, all with their own discrimination and tiny bigot local governments

[Botany]

7. Does somebody need a nap?

[George II]

21. At first, on my screen, I only saw the top ~20% of your picture, thought it was Donald Trump!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

25. Same here! It's very Donald and that's just so appropriate.....

nt

[Liberalagogo]

8. Disrespecting the American flag is only okay

when Republicans are throwing temper tantrums.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. Also, flags notwithstanding: First gay couple applies for marriage certificate in Dent County

First gay couple applies for marriage certificate in Dent County

Posted: Tuesday, July 7, 2015 11:00 am | Updated: 11:05 am, Tue Jul 7, 2015.
Tyler McConnell

The afternoon of July 1 saw the first gay couple apply for a marriage license in Dent County, according to Recorder of Deeds Cindy Ard and Deputy Clerk Krystal Luebbert.
....

James W. Cotner, 59, and Gary E. Cotner, 65, made Dent County history with their application. They’ve been in a relationship for 31 years, and say that for 28 of those, they’ve wanted to get married. The couple is planning on finally tying the knot later this month.

“It’s the law,” says Ard. “Some might not agree with it, but I’m not going to discriminate. I’m not here to judge anybody.”

Ard was on vacation the week following the decision, which left the actual first issuing of the certificate to Luebbert, who was filling in for Ard during her week off. ... Other than one line on the marriage forms referring to “man and woman,” the old forms can still be used after the appropriate application of a Sharpee. New ones, with gender-neutral titles, are on the way.

It's "Sharpie," not "Sharpee," but other than that, I don't see anything controversial.

[SmittynMo]

10. Despicable Supreme Court travesty?

OMG, have these people not read about Citizens United and allowing the 1% to buy our government? Now that was a travesty. This is nothing in comparison. This ruling is all about human rights. WTF. Are these right wing hoosiers not human? (don't answer that) And I'd really like to see the proof where it indicates an abomination. This is all about religion and politics. Not a good combination.

There really is no fix for stupid.

[iandhr]

11. Jesus

[Feeling the Bern]

13. To use the rainbow flag in my response meme: Hey, Dent County:

[jtuck004]

16. I was thinking should burn one on their courthouse steps every day to honor their bigotry. n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

17. Fixed. "so all who see these flags at this lowered position be reminded...

that we wear caps".

[bluedigger]

18. New reality show idea: The Dolts of Dent County.

[George II]

19. That appears to be a violation of Federal Law!

The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf

Flying the Flag at Half-Staff

The Flag Code sets out detailed instructions on flying the flag at half-staff on Memorial Day and as a mark of respect to the memory of certain recently deceased public officials.33 This section embodies the substance of Presidential Proclamation No. 3044,34 entitled “Display of Flag at Half-Staff Upon Death of Certain Officials and Former Officials.”

The section provides that the President shall order the flag flown at half-staff for stipulated periods “upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a state, territory, or possession.” After the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag may be flown at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or in accordance with recognized custom not inconsistent with law. In addition, the Governor of a state, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, may direct that the national flag be flown at half-staff, in the event of the death of a present or former official of the respective government or in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces from that jurisdiction.35 Presidents also have ordered the flag to be flown at half-staff on the death of leading citizens, not covered by law, as a mark of official tribute to their service to the United States. Martin Luther King, Jr. is among those who have been so honored.

Again, the provisions of the Flag Code on flying the flag at half-staff are, like all the Code’s provisions, a guide only. They do not apply, as a matter of law, to the display of the flag at half-staff by private individuals and organizations. No federal restrictions or court decisions are known that limit such an individual’s lowering his own flag or that make such display alone a form of desecration.

[liberal N proud]

22. Dent County, Missouri

Population: 15,730 (2013)

Unemployment rate: 6.3% (Apr 2015)

Cities?: Salem, Bunker

Southern Baptists (67.22%), Atheists (12.08%), Pentecostals (6.43%), and Roman Catholics (5.91%)

There are no federal highways through these parts and only 4 state roads.

This is a remote section of Missouri and outside of this 15 minutes, they will remain remote.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dent_County,_Missouri

[Major Nikon]

23. This isn't your average everyday stupid...

[progressoid]

24. Why do I hear dueling banjos?

[KansDem]

26. Hey, MoCo!!! Did you lower your flags to mourn the 100,000s dead from Bush's lie?

The 10,000s of dead and wounded American soldiers?

You know, the Iraq invasion?

I didn't think so...

[Bluenorthwest]

27. Among other things, this would be in opposition to the protocols and guidelines of the Flag Code.

It's not law, but it is a commonly followed set of protocols for the display, handling and disposal of the national colors.

[MADem]

28. If they have a "county flag" they can have fun with that!

But they can't go lowering the national flag on a whim, the morons!

[hamsterjill]

29. And these types call gay people drama queens?

Sheesh!

[Tom_Foolery]

30. As I was told many times after the stolen election in 2000...

Get over it! The SCOTUS has made its ruling. Live with it.

[Kber]

31. For some reason the phrase "drama queens" keeps coming to mind

[eppur_se_muova]

32. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ! That is so pathetic it is f***ing ridiculous !

In the literal sense, "inviting or deserving of ridicule" -- in this case, endless, unlimited ridicule.

[BarbaRosa]

33. So, the 26th of each month

is " Yes we really are that stupid" day.

[damnedifIknow]

34. These people are seriously pathetic

Fear driven looney tunes.

[bigworld]

35. Nice story about the first same-sex couple to be married in the county

http://www.thesalemnewsonline.com/news/local_news/article_28e612ae-2a38-11e5-baff-3f12fce07454.html