In Other Words, He's Not Even Willing To Listen

Delaware State Representative Gerald Hocker has strong feelings about gay rights. So strong, in fact, that he has publicly declared in today's Cape Gazette newspaper (Sussex County is divided on gay rights legislation) that it's not worth anyone's time to try to get him to consider legislation banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Rep. Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, said he does not need to be lobbied, despite a new repackaging of the bill with limiting language about the legislative intent.

“I hold my ground against the bill. It is a completely antibusiness piece of legislation, and I do not think it is needed,” Hocker said.

The bill is a watered-down (at least in my view) version of legislation that passed the House last session but was sat-upon by a right-wing committee chair in the Senate.

Opponents worried that the bill would open the door to same-sex marriages (gasp, shudder). So the new version was re-written to say that that is not the intent of the bill.

Representative Hocker is not convinced. Or rather, he's not even willing to discuss the issue. I guess that's what bugs me. I don't mind if I lose an argument; if I can even have the argument.