The Naked Truth: He said/She said

 

 

The wife of a Fairfax County police officer has filed charges against a man for being naked in his own home.  Apparently the woman  cut through Eric Williamson’s yard while walking her boy to school and said she saw him naked at a door and again walking past a window.

Williams says he was in his own house and had no clue anyone could see him. Nevertheless, he was arrested and led away in cuffs for indecent exposure.

According to WTOP:

Channel 5 reports the woman and 7-year-old boy who saw him naked apparently had cut through Williamson’s front yard from a nearby path.

Williamson says he didn’t know anyone could see him.

“If I stood and seemed comfortable in my kitchen, it’s natural. It’s my kitchen,” Williamson tells Channel 5.

Williamson says his roommates were not home when he came into the kitchen and made his coffee.

Fairfax County Police say they believed Williamson wanted to be seen naked by the public.

Williamson, a father of a 5-year old girl, said he plans to fight the charge.

“There is not a chance on this planet I would ever, ever, ever do anything like that to a kid,” he says

How does a court ever sort this out? It really is a case of she said/he said. I guess this is why it is a good idea to walk around with a digital camera. I would like to know if this woman has experienced someone exposing himself to her in the past.  Williamson is understandably outraged. 

.

Should Same-Sex Marriage Become Legal in D.C.?

Monday the D.C. Council will begin the final debate on whether to legalize same sex marriage in the District of Columbia. According to the Washington Post:

After months of strategizing, the debate over whether the District should legalize same-sex marriage is entering its final stages as a council committee takes up the issue Monday. Hundreds have signed up to testify, setting the stage for one of the largest council hearings ever, officials said. Another hearing Monday is scheduled before the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics, which must decide whether to allow a ballot initiative on whether marriage in the District should be restricted to unions involving one man and one woman.

To get an initiative on the ballot, its supporters must convince the elections board that their proposal would not discriminate against gay men and lesbians. Most legal observers expect the board will deny the request. This summer, the board rejected a referendum proposal to block the city from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Protestors and supporters of same sex marriage have signed up to speak. The Council is expected to approve same sex marriage before Christmas.

Because of the location and uniqueness of Washington, D.C., whatever happens will very much affect Virginia, Maryland, and other near-by states. Much of what the Council will consider involves protection of churches and clergymen who oppose same-sex marriage.

Some of the testimony will center on whether the bill, which is sponsored by council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), goes far enough in exempting religious groups and affiliated organizations from having to participate in same-sex weddings.

Under the draft before the committee, churches and religious officials would not have to marry same-sex couples. Religious organizations could also deny reception space and other services to same-sex couples “unless the entity makes such services, accommodations, or goods available for purchase, rental, or use to members of the general public.”

Other than symbolism, how does same-sex marriage change anything? Since D.C. is not a state, can the federal government impose any sort of sanctions on what they might be getting ready to do? Would only those same-sex couples who reside in D.C. be able to actually benefit from marriage?

Should the legislation pass making same-sex marriage legal in D.C., should same-sex couples be entitled to everything traditional married couples  are    entitled to?  If someone doesn’t approve of inter-racial marriage, are they allowed to opt out?  Can’t ministers refuse to marry people without giving a reason?

How would this legislation affect same sex couples who live in Virginia?  While Virginia does not recognize same sex marriage, could the couple be arrested?  Would they be able to file a joint federal tax return and not a joint state return?  Just how would all of this work? 

The Virginia Marriage Amendment

(And then those after thought questions:  will I be sorry I posted these question?)