I hate reading about pharmacists and doctors (and politicians named Rick Santorum) who actively cause people harm by not prescribing treatment because of their religious beliefs. It’s worse when they’re called out and get all self-righteous about it. Hearing those stories makes me so angry that I start gnashing my teeth and crossing my eyes uncontrollably.

But sometimes I get news that makes me think, “maybe it will all be ok.” Like the story I heard today about a Texas judge turning the tables on the pricks conscientious objectors who use religion to curtail the rights and health of other people. This judge has an ax to grind about the inability of gays to get married.

If you will, please imagine a world where straight people could not get married either…

Dallas County Judge Tonya Parker, who is openly gay, has decided to stop performing marriages until gays can get married too. This woman is my new freaking hero. From the Daily Mail:

Speaking to a meeting of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, she said: ‘I use it as my opportunity to give them a lesson about marriage inequality in this state because I feel like I have to tell them why I’m turning them away.’ Judge Parker said if asked to… wed a couple, she would say: ‘I’m sorry. I don’t perform marriage ceremonies because we are in a state that does not have marriage equality, and until it does, I am not going to partially apply the law to one group of people that doesn’t apply to another group of people.’ She added: ‘It’s kind of oxymoronic for me to perform ceremonies that can’t be performed for me, so I’m not going to do it.’ ‘I do not perform [marriages] because it is not an equal application of the law. Period.’

Judge Parker was elected in 2010, and is the first lesbian to be elected as a county judge in Dallas. She is brave. Especially in Texas. I wonder if it will cost her her career in the long-term. But I hope it catches on, and straight judges should join in too. Our tipster put it quite succinctly:

I admire Judge Parker for taking that stand, especially in a state like Texas. I think if more public officials began speaking out about this hypocrisy our country would continue moving in the right direction as it relates to equality for all.

To set the record straight, I am not gay. (I don’t mind the Bike Dude jokes, though. Most of the time I find them hilarious.) Women are beautiful and soft and have breasts and they smell good, and men are… well, men. Louis C.K. can explain it better than I can [NSFW language]. But several of my closest friends are gay. And I’ve had long conversations with them about the serious ways it affects their romantic relationships, knowing they will likely never be able to get married. In most of this country, gay people are stuck living in a completely different paradigm. And it’s not okay.

By the way, before someone criticizes me for being hypocritical, don’t worry. No pious young Texans are going to be unable to consummate their marriage. Judge Parker is simply passing the duties to other judges. UPDATE (2/27/12 3:45 PM): To clarify, Judge Parker is not required to perform weddings. It’s a discretionary function of her job.

In any case, here’s a video of Judge Parker talking about her decision:

It’s great to see another sign of the apocalypse for gay marriage opponents. Y’all better get ready. Before you know it, they gonna marry everybody up in here.

Openly gay Judge refuses to marry straight couples until same sex couples get same rights [Daily Mail]