Founded by State Representative Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe) and his ex-gay friend Kevin Petersen, the Pro Family Forum has compared Friday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality to the infamous Dred Scott and Buck v. Bell decisions.
Pro Family Forum posted on its Facebook page:
We will view any decision by the Supreme Court or any court the same way history views the Dred Scott and Buck v. Bell decisions. Our highest respect for the rule of law requires that we not respect an unjust law that directly conflicts with higher law. A decision purporting to redefine marriage flies in the face of the Constitution and is contrary to the natural created order. As people of faith we pledge obedience to our Creator when the State directly conflicts with higher law.
The note was above a link to Defend Marriage's Pledge in Solidarity to Defend Marriage.
Pro Family Majority's post echoes a statement made by Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. The Hill reported the Pennsylvania Republican's remarks in Critics compare ruling on same-sex marriage to Dred Scott, Roe v. Wade.
Dred Scott v. Sandford is a notorious case from 1857 in which the court ruled that African-American were not citizens and thus had no standing in the judicial system, while the federal government had no right to regulate slavery in its terririties. Buck v. Bell is a 1927 ruling that state laws on forced sterilization of people living with disabilities did not violate due process.
We're not sure how the brain trust behind Pro Family Forum imagines that the freedom to marry the person one loves is like slavery or forced sterilization, but there you go. The group also is pushing a petition by Iowa Congressman Steve King to "Rein in the Supreme Court.
The Column's Andy Birkey reported in March 2015:
The Pro-Family Forum, formerly the Pro-Marriage Amendment Forum, was founded by Gruenhagen and “former homosexual” Kevin Peterson (In 2013, Gruenhagen announced his “former homosexual” friend on the floor of the Minnesota House as that body was taking up marriage equality).
The group held events in support of a failed constitution amendment to ban marriage equality, tried to block anti-bullying legislation with a bizarre video claiming that HIV is transmitted in sweat, and claimed credit for blocking a bill that would prohibit licensed therapists from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a minor.
Meanwhile, Associated Press staff writer Brian Bakst reports Minnesota gay marriage backers euphoric over nationwide OK.
Earlier this week, we reported in Is Gruenhagen changing his tune on climate change? Check out expert he shared with voters that the Glencioe insurance agent was maintaining his hard line as a climate change denier.
Photo: Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, and Kevin Petersen on Speechless, a conservative cable access show.
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