Former Republican Representative for Arizona JD Hayworth resurrected the preposterous 'same-sex marriage would lead to wanting to marry animals' argument and was battered by Rachel Maddow on her show. Accusing the Massachusetts Supreme Court of defining marriage as merely "the establishment of intimacy" – a phase which Hayworth made up, he had reportedly said: “You see, the Massachusetts Supreme Court, when it started this move toward same-sex marriage, actually defined marriage – now get this – it defined marriage as simply, ‘the establishment of intimacy.’”
“Now how dangerous is that?”
“I mean, I don’t mean to be absurd about it, but I guess I can make the point of absurdity with an absurd point,” he continued. “I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse.” He said during an interview with a Florida radio station.
Appearing on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show Monday night, Hayworth – who’s running against incumbent Senator John McCain for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate this year, tried to defend his recent comments about same-sex marriage leading to marriage between people and horses.
Host Maddow challenged the former congressman’s interpretation of the law and use of the phrase 'the establishment of intimacy’ which does not feature in Massachusetts law or the supreme court’s ruling.
The 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling defines marriage as, "the voluntary union of two persons [not a horse or any other animal] as spouses, to the exclusion of all others."
Rony Tan pastor of megachurch Lighthouse Evangelism in Singapore warned of the same in a 2009 video which was uploaded to the church’s website: ”If you allow [homosexuality], next time people will get married to a monkey. And they will want rights. They’ll want to apply for HDB flats with a donkey or a monkey or a dog... It’s very pathetic.” (5.12 mins onwards)
The video has since been removed from the church’s website after Fridae broke the news last month that police reports have been lodged in relation with the video. The news was picked up by local English and Chinese-language newspapers in subsequent days.
Columnist S.E. Cupp of the NY Daily News pleaded her article: “Conservatives, I'm begging you: Leave animals out of your gay marriage talking points", and urged conservatives to instead use "common-sense" and "reasonable arguments" against gay marriage and stop their "bizarre obsession with zoophilia."
“Another day, another idiot worries that gay marriage - the union between two adult, consenting humans - will lead to bestiality. No longer just fodder for crazies, the idea that men and women will betroth their pets if we allow gay marriage has been bandied about so often now, it's officially become tired."
“See, to get married in any state of the Union, you need to provide proof of identification: a driver's license, a birth certificate, a Social Security number."
“I don't know too many horses, Mr. Hayworth, that can pass a road test or collect retirement benefits. Robots, maybe - but barn animals? No.
“So from here on out, please: Oppose gay marriage all you want. Just don't rely on the image of a weird vacation at Old MacDonald's place to do it.” Wrote the self-described "conservative" Republican.