Marriage controversy could spell trouble

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Keith Bardwell

Terence McKay

Beth Humphrey

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By David Spunt - email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - A journalism professor says the controversial, yet internationally popular, story about the interracial couple a Louisiana justice of the peace refused to marry could cause a negative perception of the state and its people.

Since the news first broke last week, it was picked up by local television news stations and national networks in the U.S. and overseas. From Arizona to Cleveland and all the way to Russia, the story continues to grab the world's attention.

Jay Perkins, a journalism professor at LSU said he believes the story spells trouble for Louisiana.

"It's something the rest of the country is trying to get around in a lot of ways and yet, they see us not trying to get around it," Perkins said. "It's horrible for the state. It fuels the perception we are closed minded and bigoted down here. That's going to be a killer for industry. Nobody wants to come to a place like this."

Keith Bardwell, a Ponchatoula justice of the peace, refused to marry an interracial couple, sparking international outrage. Bardwell said he refused to marry Beth and Terence McKay earlier this month, simply because they were an interracial couple. He argued their children will have a difficult life growing up biracial.

"I don't regret what I did and if it ever came up again, I'd have to do the same thing," Bardwell said. "I don't feel right by putting some innocent person that has nothing to do with the marriage in that position and that's my only reason."

Louisiana law states a justice of the peace is authorized but not mandated to perform marriages, though several legal experts argue a federal civil rights violation may have taken place. Bardwell sent the couple to another justice of the peace to be married. As for now, he still holds his elected position as justice of the peace.

His elected term expires in 2014. The primary way for him to be removed from office would be for the Louisiana Supreme Court to take action. There's no word on if that will happen.