When lawsuits are argued in courts of law in this secular democracy we like to call The United States, it’s generally considered both inappropriate and stupid (mostly stupid) to appeal so basely to bigoted religious beliefs with no basis in verifiable fact, but that’s exactly what Michigan’s last “expert” witness, Douglas Allen, did on the stand. I imagine the judge (who is probably an “activist,” which is the term for a judge who writes a ruling that wingnuts don’t like, AKA “all judges lately”) will have a field day with this one:
Michigan’s gay marriage trial ended on an explosive note today, with the state’s final witness saying he believes unrepentant homosexuals are going to hell.
His views emerged following a question from plaintiffs attorney Ken Mogill, who is fighting to overturn Michigan’s ban on gay marriage.
“Is it accurate that you believe the consequence of engaging in homosexual acts is a separation from God and eternal damnation?” Mogill asked the state’s expert, then added, “in other words, they’re going to hell?”
“Without repentance, yes,” answered the expert, Canadian economist Douglas Allen, the last witness to testify on behalf of the state in a trial that could make Michigan the 18th state to legalize gay marriage.
Thank you, sir, for your “expert” testimony, but when grown-ups ask questions, it’s generally not good to overplay one’s hand in such a silly fashion.
The article goes on to point out that Allen proffered “research” showing that kids of gay parents fare much much worse than kids of straight parents, but also noted that even Allen admits that his findings are “criticized by other researchers,” which usually means “real scientists know I’m a fraud” when it comes out of an anti-gay conservative’s mouth.
Joe points out that Allen sits on the board of newly-christened hate group The Ruth Institute, which NOM spun off last year:
Another familiar name on Michigan’s list of defense witnesses is Professor Douglas Allen, of Canada’s Simon Fraser University. Allen sits on the board of directors of NOM’s hate-satellite, the Ruth Institute. Allen is a supporter of Mark Regnerus and claims to have analyzed a 2000 census and come to the conclusion that “children being raised by same-sex couples are 35% less likely to make normal progress through school.”
Of course he’s a supporter of the discredited hack Mark Regnerus. Birds of a feather, etc.
