Right on.

I can't help but wonder if Hutcherson agreed to the debate because he feels himself (hee hee, feels himself) slipping into irrelevance, and yearns for a spotlight. Every time he opens his mouth in a public forum, he reveals the depth of his idiocy.

It would be easy to generate the script Hutcherson will parrot. He will, as always, be incapable of deviating extemporaneously from that script to address specific questions. He stands about as much of a chance against Sims as a baby seal against an oncoming club.

Please tell me there will be audio or video available for us out-of-towners. Otherwise, I might have to hike up from PDX to check that out...

"[Hutcherson] organized the Mayday for Marriage rally in the spring of 2004 that drew an estimated 20,000 conservative Christians to Safeco Field."

. . . along with about 2,000 protesters

I agree with everyone: This is an amazingly exciting evening, and I get kind of itchy just thinking about it....

And along with the 2,000 protesters, a small plane pulling a banner that read "Get out of our ballpark, Bigots!"

The Stranger paid for that message to be delivered, and according to reports in the Seattle Times, it really, really hurt the fundies' feelings. It was our finest hour.

I am so there. Is it ticketed?

The debate is listed on Town Hall's Calendar with the price of tickets ($5) but no mention of where to get them.

I was carrying a sign outside the Mayday rally ("Bigots: Focus on your own families!"), and The Stranger's "get out of our ball park" banner was a welcome sight. Good call.

I want to encourage everyone who reads this blog to take a few minutes to further educate themselves about the marriage issue. Please visit our website for the latest information. www.equalrightswashington.org

Also, will people PLEASE PLEASE stop calling it GAY marriage? What same sex couples are asking for is marriage, just like everyone else has. So that they can have access to the same rights and protections of other married couples. Marriage is about protecting families. Same sex couples want the right to protect their families, their loved ones.

The institution is one word, it is called marriage. Same sex couples want marriage equality. Not something different, not something new - they want something borrowed, something blue.

Oh lord, that will be an LD ass whipping. Sims will embarrass Hutch so bad that they may have to call the debate halfway through using the Mercy Rule.

You spelled his name wrong in the second paragraph.

Why would Ron Sims agree to this? It's like Harold Bloom having to debate a sophomore English student...The Stranger does nothing to edify or inform with an event like this...more heat, no light

To some degree I think you're right on the mark, Enough Already, but what "light" would you expect from any two parties in a debate on this topic?

Because there is no cogent argument against marriage equality, it's always just heat. And yet the "debate" rages on. It's politics, not literary deconstruction. This is a best case scenario: an intelligent public spokesman faces off against an ignorant bigot. It really illustrates the true nature of the "debate."

Let us rhetorically slaughter the motherfucker.

At last David, you and I agree on something!

I would suspect Sims would agree
to this debate because he is a lot like Hutcherson...he rather enjoys hearing his own voice at a publically attended forum.

Unfortunately, giving Hutcherson an
opportunity to speak will only encourage him to continue what he
must believe is a holy mission,
and I might suggest Sims has already lost the debate. One cannot engage in logical argumentation when one's opponent is Jesus, and Hutcherson's arguments will surely appeal to his belief in that authority.

Sims should know better than to
engage Hutcherson. Ignore the
fellow. We all know what he wants
to say and we all understand his
point of view.

This will be just another sideshow
at the carny. There's better things
to do.

--Jensen

Sorry, Jenson. I agree with David—it feels weird to type that, btw—and believe that idiots must be answered. Look what happened when John Kerry refused to dignify the Swift Boaters with a response. When someone swings at you, you swing back. Period.

Sandeep Kaushik broke the story for the Stranger that made Hutcherson famous for his anti-gay crusading. Now Sandeep works for Ron Sims. Any chance he helped bring together this debate which will promote Sims, Hutcherson, and the Stranger all at once?

Um... we thought it up, and proposed it to Sims and Hutcherson.

Most democrats support gay rights issues because they have to in some districts. But some of them are pretty passive about, and don't really put their heart into it. Sims is not one of the passive supporters. I've seen him and heard him speak on the issue on many occasions. He is a passionate, eloquent speaker, and he is very savvy. He has a deeply religious upbringing himself, and knows the religious angle too, and does not back down from it. He will burry Hutcherson, no question.

My only problem is the venue. Talk about preaching to the converted. Why pick a building almost in the heart of the gayest neighborhood in the state? This debate should be happening in swing districts, where you might actually change a few minds. At Town Hall, it will mostly be filled with Capitol Hill homos and a couple busloads of bigots that Hutcherson will bring with him, and not a single mind will be changed. What's the point of that? You'll get media coverage, to be sure, but in its effort to be "fair and balanced", the newstainment shows and daily papers will portray both of them equally, regardless of how badly Sims trounces Hutcherson.

While I think this will be good theater, I fear it will make little ultimate difference.

I can't disagree with anything you've written, SDA, but still I'll take what I can get, wherever and whenever I can get it.

Indeed, Ron Sims is the real deal - as stong and as good as you can find on all issues regarding discrimation. He has close gay friends, gay staff and tight on gay issues from day one. The best orator in Seattle.

If this was staged last year, I would have no reservations. BUT, with the looming referendum, there is a real need to change the conversatin and put the ballot fight on the front burner.

Going to be hard, lots of passion about gay marriage - and campaigns are grueling and expensive and boring - but a win to defend that bill will set the stage for other political progress, ie. marriage equality.

It is a bit strange to have Ed Murray saying to the media with such convicion that this has nothing to do with gay marriage.

And then all the media is about the hotbed debate on marriage. Is it the old problem -- messaging?

At the Olympia hearings, James Kelly of the Urban League, testifying for the bill made Rev. Ken look and sound foolish.

No doubt, Ron will even do better.

Ron Sims is going to have a hard time keeping up with this Hutcherson person.He does very well on his feet. Personally, I see nothing "reverend" about the man!

tickets available at the door only

The $5 tickets are available at The Stranger's office on 11th between Pike and Pine Streets on Capitol Hill.

To whom it may concern (this should be everybody),

I don’t even see how we as a nation became so oppressed. Did we not leave the “Mother Land� so we can attain personal and religious freedom?
I was appalled today as I briefly watched KC Executive Ron Sims & Rev. Ken Hutcherson go at each others throats over gay rights issues.

I have spoken with many people of different faiths and beliefs and we feel, we have come up with, what we believe is the answer.

Everyone is entitled to happiness; everyone should be able to choose a partner that is theirs in love, life and family.
Yes you need to be a human being, but it doesn’t matter if you are male/female, male/male or female/female. You have a right as a US citizen to have equality.

So, let everyone get a civil union license. Then the marriage is confirmed by a ceremony if you wish, in your church, depending on what that church’s beliefs are.
If you are gay, you probably won’t be allowed to have a marriage ceremony in a Catholic or Baptist church, go to a Presbyterian church or someone who will perform the type of service you and your spouse/partner want.

If you are Agnostic or Atheist, the civil union license is probably enough, unless you choose to get married on the beach or you want to get married in a cave it just shouldn’t matter;
you choose what you want after the license is given. As a 45yr old straight mother of two and married for 20yrs. this in no way demeans my marriage, or makes a church ceremony any less symbolic.

I would love your feedback,

Sonna Ghilarducci

Sonna, it's a great idea; frankly, I think it's fantastic.
The problem I see stuck out when you posited: "Yes you need to be a human being, but it doesn’t matter if you are male/female, male/male or female/female. You have a right as a US citizen to have equality."

This is basically what we're arguing with these people about; it is the fundamental concept on which we disagree with them. Unfortunately, I don't have a solution as to bridging that gap.

I thoroughly enjoyed the debate. Both sides were articulate. I appreciated the way Mr. Sims presented his arguments on same sex marriage, discrimintation, and separation of church and state. So clearly he voiced my feelings. Thank you Mr. Sims.

Again, the message was heard throughout our city in Seattle that homosexuality is a sin. This generation is being prepared for judgement. This falls into a unique category described in detail by a prophet named Paul who wrote the book of Romans detailing how this sin gets delt with. Paul also describes how GOD has handled this type of sin in people before.
I stand as a witness that this generation has heard the truth but refuses to repent. I pray that those who the Spirit spoke too may come to know the abundant mercy and love of Jesus Christ, KING of Kings and LORD of Lords.

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