Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License By Louisiana Judge

[Love As Arson]

NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.
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Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.

Humphrey, an account manager for a marketing firm, said she and McKay, a welder, just returned to Louisiana. She plans to enroll in the University of New Orleans to pursue a masters degree in minority politics.

"That was one thing that made this so unbelievable," she said. "It's not something you expect in this day and age."

Humphrey said she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell's wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples. Bardwell suggested the couple go to another justice of the peace in the parish who agreed to marry them.

"We are looking forward to having children," Humphrey said. "And all our friends and co-workers have been very supportive. Except for this, we're typical happy newlyweds."

"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."

The ACLU sent a letter to the Louisiana Judiciary Committee, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and recommending "the most severe sanctions available, because such blatant bigotry poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice."

"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzmann said.

According to the clerk of court's office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce.

Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate and Social Security card.

The license fee is $35, and the license must be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge. The original is returned to the clerk's office.

"I've been a justice of the peace for 34 years and I don't think I've mistreated anybody," Bardwell said. "I've made some mistakes, but you have too. I didn't tell this couple they couldn't get married. I just told them I wouldn't do it."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/15/interracial-couple-denied_n_322784.html

[saysmydoctor]

Ignores the Loving precedent, easily overturned.

[J.C.]

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Oh, the ironing.

[0101]

Oh, the ironing.

Guy can't get out all the wrinkles, I guess.

[mattmatumbo]

man, just when i thought mormons were the funniest...

[Sventhegreat]

"I have piles and piles of black friends"

Like dead in his basement?

[gr33ndayfr3ak]

So he denies them marriage because he thinks other people won't accept their children?
Weird logic.

[mattmatumbo]

Like dead in his basement?

"I marry them, they use my bathroom"

Yeah, but he's kind enough to marry them and let them use his bathroom before he savagely murders them.

[carnotaurhunter]

Motherfuck this guy. I'm half-black and half-white and people accept the shit out of me! It's people like HIM that are making a big fucking deal about it.

[abcdefghijake]

man, just when i thought mormons were the funniest...

Conner Casey blows. That just needed to be stated.

[TheOtherAndrew]

:hitself:

So proud...

[mattmatumbo]

Conner Casey blows. That just needed to be stated.

It's more about Davies, and I'm an RSL fan so i know all about hating Casey.

[Sventhegreat]

Motherfuck this guy. I'm half-black and half-white and people accept the shit out of me! It's people like HIM that are making a big fucking deal about it.

"most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society"

Clearly you have no place in this world, unless the azns accept you. (doubtful)

[bladerdude360]

This fucking boggles my mind. The fact that shit like this just makes me pull a facepalm and makes me sad. It's 2009, I thought we might be ready to move past some of this stuff. I guess not.

[Machu505]

Life must really suck for half-black half-Asian dudes then.

[bung]

"Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License By Louisiana Judge Justice of the Peace"

/guy is still a jerk

[yves.]

Motherfuck this guy. I'm half-black and half-white and people accept the shit out of me! It's people like HIM that are making a big fucking deal about it.

me too. not only that, but my parents have been together for 20 years with no major problems.

[Brand-new-123]

That sucks. It's not like it's the only place they can get married though. They could always try another Justice of the Peace or a church even.

[crimsonandclovr]

Motherfuck this guy. I'm half-black and half-white and people accept the shit out of me! It's people like HIM that are making a big fucking deal about it.

You go Glen Coco!

[vodyanoj]

Another racist pig. The case is easily overturned since it goes against legal precedent, but I hope the asswipe loses his job over this.

[Josh Weinstein]

This justice of the peace has a shitty dick.

[deFobbed14yrs]

You go Glen Coco!

:highfive: love that movie

[fightinirish217]

This world just continues to get more and more ridiculous.

[mattmatumbo]

Another racist pig. The case is easily overturned since it goes against legal precedent, but I hope the asswipe loses his job over this.

Hey now, he has, and i quote, "piles and piles of black friends".

[fightinirish217]

I mean, does this guy actually think he's doing the right thing here lol?

[theguy77]

hahahhahahaahahahahahhaaahhahaha

i can laugh at this harder than a lot of people in this thread becuase there are like 17 races in me and i was accepted just fine, growing up.

[perceptrons]

I wonder when the immediate response of, "I have tons of *insert group* friends!" will go out of fashion.

[Nevuk]

Everyone who has said they are accepted growing up is from a northern state. Things are likely very different in Louisiana, although I really hope they aren't THAT bad.

[al.is.on]

:-| this is ridiculous

[theguy77]

Everyone who has said they are accepted growing up is from a northern state. Things are likely very different in Louisiana, although I really hope they aren't THAT bad.

florida's a northern state right?

[Parabola1124]

florida's a northern state right?

College Park, MD

[theguy77]

College Park, MD

hahaha you're a fucking idiot. way to try to tell someone ELSE where they're from. i was raised in florida almost all of my life and thats where ive had no issues being accepted.

[HashHolly]

Everyone who has said they are accepted growing up is from a northern state. Things are likely very different in Louisiana, although I really hope they aren't THAT bad.

lol, as a Florida resident for the past 17 years i can tell you that ive had plenty of mixed friends and never havce i heard one of them complain about being "not accepted" because they're mixed. This is a non-issue, and that dude is straight up racist, ive personally heard this "i've got black friends so i cant be racist" bullshit, and thats all it is......bullshit.

[abcdefghijake]

It's more about Davies, and I'm an RSL fan so i know all about hating Casey.

I assumed, but it still needed to be said.

[MyNameIsRoss]

Piles and piles....?

[showstopper]

Whether black or white or asian or whatever,everyone is human and need to live on this planet.This fucktard needs to be castrated and hanged nude in public.This skin colour or whatever shit that is bugging this pimp must come to an end.

[saysmydoctor]

Whether black or white or asian or whatever,everyone is human and need to live on this planet.This fucktard needs to be castrated and hanged nude in public.This skin colour or whatever shit that is bugging this pimp must come to an end.
You are on some seriously sick shit.

[showstopper]

You are on some seriously sick shit.Dude it is 2009 and still we have retards like this idiot.I think he has no purpose in this world but to abuse other people.Let him go to hell and even electing a black president doesn't change the mind of these pimps.

[saysmydoctor]

Dude it is 2009 and still we have retards like this idiot.I think he has no purpose in this world but to abuse other people.Let him go to hell and even electing a black president doesn't change the mind of these pimps.
Don't think castrating a dude and hanging him naked in public will settle racial divides either.

[showstopper]

Don't think castrating a dude and hanging him naked in public will settle racial divides either.Yes you are right but these kind of jerks just pisses me off.If you really want to act like human being you should bury these racial shit.

[crackedthesky]

Whether black or white or asian or whatever,everyone is human and need to live on this planet.This fucktard needs to be castrated and hanged nude in public.This skin colour or whatever shit that is bugging this pimp must come to an end.


That seems a little bit juxtaposed, to me.

[mattmatumbo]

I assumed, but it still needed to be said.

Damn, fine, i switched it to Cantona's kung fu kick.

[ClydeMcAllister]

Everyone who has said they are accepted growing up is from a northern state. Things are likely very different in Louisiana, although I really hope they aren't THAT bad.

I don't think it's any worse here than it would be anywhere else. People like this are generally exceptions to the rule anywhere you go. Places like New Orleans especially are chock full of different races/cultures. With the exception of assholes like this, if you know how to party down here you're generally accepted.

[Nevuk]

I don't think it's any worse here than it would be anywhere else. People like this are generally exceptions to the rule anywhere you go. Places like New Orleans especially are chock full of different races/cultures. With the exception of assholes like this, if you know how to party down here you're generally accepted.
Yeah, makes sense. I just have met tons of racists in KY who especially dislike interracial people of all kinds.

[showstopper]

That seems a little bit juxtaposed, to me.
Racists are not humans.

[BryterJonah]

Whether black or white or asian or whatever,everyone is human and need to live on this planet.This fucktard needs to be castrated and hanged nude in public.This skin colour or whatever shit that is bugging this pimp must come to an end.
Overcompensating anger for lacking justice only leaves you with anger in the end.

Think and let things unravel, hopefully for the better, in good time. Though not much ever really changes.

[showstopper]

Overcompensating anger for lacking justice only leaves you with anger in the end.

Think and let things unravel, hopefully for the better, in good time. Though not much ever really changes.I think racism will exist till the human race exists but for that reason we can't let these people free.They must be severely punished.

[crackedthesky]

Racists are not humans.

False. They're humans, albeit stupid ones.

[bung]

What's funny is that although people will rarely admit explicit racist attitudes, they often hold implicit ones that will govern their behavior in similar ways. Take an implicit association test (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/selectatest.html), and try it for yourself.

[macabre]

What's funny is that although people will rarely admit explicit racist attitudes, they often hold implicit ones that will govern their behavior in similar ways. Take an implicit association test (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/selectatest.html), and try it for yourself.

It's awesome you mentioned that, I'm an assistant for a lab that specializes in prejudice and that's the test we use on nearly every project.

[crackedthesky]

What's funny is that although people will rarely admit explicit racist attitudes, they often hold implicit ones that will govern their behavior in similar ways. Take an implicit association test (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/selectatest.html), and try it for yourself.

Not sure how much I agree with that test. According to it, I strongly prefer white people to black people.

However, and I may be an anomaly to the test because I automaticlaly get very nervous when it comes to tests, I found that the "errors" I made were most likely not because I automatically associate those words with black people, but because it made me do that first, and then it flipped it around. Had it made me do it with bad words associated with whites, the test probably would've said I hate white people.
Still an interesting test. Maybe I'll take some of the others and see if any are more accurate.

Edit: sat through the entire religion test, and at the end it closed the window, then went back to this tab for who knows what reason adn couldn't open my results because I have pop-ups blocked.

[crackedthesky]

It's awesome you mentioned that, I'm an assistant for a lab that specializes in prejudice and that's the test we use on nearly every project.

I have a reccomendation: every once in a while, switch the categories from the get-go, and see if you get different results. I'm pretty sure the reason my results were what they were is because I had already conditioned myself for the first round, and it affected the following round.

[macabre]

I have a reccomendation: every once in a while, switch the categories from the get-go, and see if you get different results. I'm pretty sure the reason my results were what they were is because I had already conditioned myself for the first round, and it affected the following round.

Yeah, I see what you're saying. I believe the program we use randomly switches the order after every trial.

I want to clarify that this test doesn't measure whether you're racist, it's not intended to. This test specifically measures your gut reaction to different races, meaning that individuals can consciously override this implicit prejudice if they become aware of it.

[crackedthesky]

Yeah, I see what you're saying. I believe the program we use randomly switches the order after every trial.

I want to clarify that this test doesn't measure whether you're racist, it's not intended to. This test specifically measures your gut reaction to different races, meaning that individuals can consciously override this implicit prejudice if they become aware of it.

Yeah, I understand it. I still think my results were because of conditioning from the round before, though. When I take a test, I meticulously read over the instructions and carve them into my memory. It hadn't said anything about switching them later, so all I was focused on was the first round.
I tried again with a presidential test, and the result was that I "slightly" prefer Barack obama to George W. Bush. As if this wasn't ironic enough compared to the previous test's results, I would say I greatly prefer Obama to Bush, to the extent that I think Bush was a lousy President, but a good guy who probably had his heart in the right place. He seems like a great leader, but not a good president. But, like I said, knowing better what the test was going to do allowed me to see it coming, and thus affected the results. It's almost like it only really works the first time, and only for those people who don't do what I did and ingrain the first set of instructions too deeply into their minds.

[showstopper]

False. They're humans, albeit stupid ones.
Whatever.

[zion the lion]

What's funny is that although people will rarely admit explicit racist attitudes, they often hold implicit ones that will govern their behavior in similar ways. Take an implicit association test (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/selectatest.html), and try it for yourself.

During the time I was living with my aunt, one morning I woke up to her yelling on the phone to her ex husband about my cousin who was dating a black guy, she kept yelling "I refuse to let her date that black boy, what if impregnantes her? Then what? we'll be left with a dead beat dad and her with no future. I dont want her near that black boy, she cant date that black boy...not even over my dead body"

I walked in to the kitchen and she smiled at me and even made me a bagel and some cereal as she's saying all of this and she had her ex husband on speaker phone saying something along the lines of "she wont have any n-word babies, i wont let that n-word boy near her if I have anything to do about it, if he comes over here I'll shoot that n-word down, I dont give a shit. We just have to work together to keep her and this n-word apart"

I'm black, my mom (who's black) worked with my aunt's ex husband and he would act all buddy buddy with her and all of the other black people in the office. I always knew he was a racist (I grew up knowing him) but it's so funny how people will act like they arent in public but say something like that behind closed doors.

[Praetor]

Racists are not humans.
Explain yourself.

[.invisible ink.]

i took a random test on there which was about associating males and females with math and language arts. i'm not surprised by my results at all:

Your data suggest a moderate association of Male with Math and Female with Language Arts compared to Female with Math and Male with Language Arts.

If your performance is described as "(slight, moderate, or strong) association of Male with Math and Female with Language Arts" compared to the alternative pairings, it means you responded faster when Math words and Male faces were classified with the same key than when Language Arts and Male faces shared a key. This suggests implicit associations in line with the stereotype about gender and these academic domains. Conversely, you evidence a counter-stereotypical pattern if your association was stronger for "Female with Math/Male with Language Arts."

[denissuxx]

I can see where this guy's coming from with regards to his refusal, although I disagree with him. We live in a free world where we have the capacity to make choices such as who to marry.

[bung]

I found that the "errors" I made were most likely not because I automatically associate those words with black people, but because it made me do that first, and then it flipped it around. Had it made me do it with bad words associated with whites, the test probably would've said I hate white people.


They randomize it 50/50 with everyone who takes the test. 50% will get bad words associated with whites first, and 50% will get bad words associated with blacks first. And the results are not significantly different when accounting for that variable.

I strongly recommend everyone read the FAQ provided on the website, as it answers just about every question you would have about these tests.

[crackedthesky]

They randomize it 50/50 with everyone who takes the test. 50% will get bad words associated with whites first, and 50% will get bad words associated with blacks first. And the results are not significantly different when accounting for that variable.

I strongly recommend everyone read the FAQ provided on the website, as it answers just about every question you would have about these tests.

I took three tests and every one had the good words associated with my own affiliation first, so I didn't know.

[Baby for Pree]

I scored a no preference. Suck it bitches.

Anyway, as a guy who plans to marry interracial one day, I think this justice of the peace should be treated like anyone else who refuses to do their job; he should be fired.

[lfdfforever]

:hitself:

So proud... bill hicks

[.invisible ink.]

I scored a no preference. Suck it bitches.

Anyway, as a guy who plans to marry interracial one day, I think this justice of the peace should be treated like anyone else who refuses to do their job; he should be fired.

i'm just curious how that's something you plan to do unless you're already planning a marriage with someone you're seeing currently. care to elaborate?

[Baby for Pree]

i'm just curious how that's something you plan to do unless you're already planning a marriage with someone you're seeing currently. care to elaborate?
Black women typically don't find me interesting.

[Jason Tate]

I can see where this guy's coming from with regards to his refusal, although I disagree with him. We live in a free world where we have the capacity to make choices such as who to marry.
Wrong. We don't get to make our own laws.

[denissuxx]

Wrong. We don't get to make our own laws.

I don't understand..

My point was that you have a right to choose who you marry.. said nothin' about making laws...

[Jason Tate]

I don't understand..

My point was that you have a right to choose who you marry.. said nothin' about making laws...
I can see where this guy's coming from with regards to his refusal, although I disagree with him.

[denissuxx]

I can see where this guy's coming from with regards to his refusal, although I disagree with him.

I meant that I can understand his opinion and the theory behind it, but I disagree with it.

[mutualaddiction]

I don't see why people are making such a big fuss about this.

There are racist people, who do and say horrible things everyday without thinking its wrong, and some of them happen to be justices, or priests, or people with "power" that they are just itching to abuse.

He's clearly a product of the "separate but equal" era, a generation/ideology that is on the outs, and stretching to be heard or cared about.

If he doesn't want to marry inter-racial couples thats his loss, fuck him, there are plenty of people who will.

[yves.]

when there is open discrimination by an employee of the government (or any other employer, for that matter), that person needs to be fired.

[Rock]

This fucking boggles my mind. The fact that shit like this just makes me pull a facepalm and makes me sad. It's 2009, I thought we might be ready to move past some of this stuff. I guess not.
Yeah, dude. I almost couldn't believe it when I read it. The dude is straight up admitted that the only reason he didn't grant the license was because it was an interracial couple. Evidently he doesn't think that that makes him a racist, but it obviously does.

[Jason Tate]

I don't see why people are making such a big fuss about this.

There are racist people, who do and say horrible things everyday without thinking its wrong, and some of them happen to be justices, or priests, or people with "power" that they are just itching to abuse.

He's clearly a product of the "separate but equal" era, a generation/ideology that is on the outs, and stretching to be heard or cared about.

If he doesn't want to marry inter-racial couples thats his loss, fuck him, there are plenty of people who will.
Big difference between an officiant choosing who to marry/not marry and someone issuing a marriage license.

[Rock]

I don't see why people are making such a big fuss about this.

There are racist people, who do and say horrible things everyday without thinking its wrong, and some of them happen to be justices, or priests, or people with "power" that they are just itching to abuse.

If he doesn't want to marry inter-racial couples thats his loss, fuck him, there are plenty of people who will.
Why are people making such a big fuss? Because a person in a position of power within our government is openly racist and is performing his job's responsibilities in respect to his racist views.

True. That doesn't mean they should get away with it.

I don't think this is the right way to look at it. There are plenty of people that will, yes, but there shouldn't be even one person that won't.

[dejadevilgod]

I think racism will exist till the human race exists but for that reason we can't let these people free.They must be severely punished.
and then you go around calling people pimps for no reason at all....moron. ;-)

[mybreakingpoint]

Everyone who has said they are accepted growing up is from a northern state. Things are likely very different in Louisiana, although I really hope they aren't THAT bad.
i grew up in OK, but have lived in MI the last 6 years. i come in contact with way more intolerant people when it comes to race up here than i ever did back home. the dividing lines in this town between black people, white people, and Hispanic people are almost scary at times. :shrug: i still visit OK 2-3 times a year and still never see half as much blatant racism down there as i do up here.

[bladerdude360]

I took three tests and every one had the good words associated with my own affiliation first, so I didn't know.
We learned about this test in Psych and I've discussed the test with my parents, who are both psychologists. The test is valid. Like others have already said, it doesn't mean you are or aren't racist, it just demonstrates an implicit, unstated association.

[HometownHero]

Man....what the fuck

[samsara]

Thats stupid. He may not agree with them getting married just because he thinks they may get divorced somewhere in the future or their kids may not be accepted. But that is not his decision to make. Its their lives and they should make their own "mistakes" .

[UnderMyDreams]

I saw this before. It pisses me the fuck off... I don't understand racism. What's the point? This guy needs to have his marriage license revoked now and left to rot. I don't understand this logic... It's insane.

[patpratt]

Like dead in his basement?

hahahaha exactly what i thought

[Debut_Fin]

America, Fuck Yeah!

[Duexy]

Everyone who has said they are accepted growing up is from a northern state. Things are likely very different in Louisiana, although I really hope they aren't THAT bad.



i'm from texas and i honestly can't remember a time i was treated unfairly because of my race.