Neaux fear in Terrebonne, Lafourche

Fear is the sire of hatred and its brothers and sisters, intolerance, prejudice and many other types of injustice.

Throughout the history of this nation and others that existed long before it was a gleam in the eyes of the founding fathers, fears of the others – the ones not like the self – have sparked wars and grave historic events.

In fairness to logic it must be said that sometimes fear of the known, such as fear of people who have already done wrong to the self, is also an element. But fear of the unknown, in my own experience and research, is what most often makes for outcomes where people get hurt.

Fear-mongering by people in charge often creates fears where there are few reasons for them to exist. This has been clearly evident in the words of Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has falsely suggested that priests and ministers might face prosecution or persecution if they refuse to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized in its Obergefel v. Hodges ruling that marriage is a right to be enjoyed by all couples throughout the nation, of same as well as opposite genders.

In the bayou country actions that speak louder than any demagogue’s words indicate a paucity of intolerance and a whole lot of love, and very little fear relating to it all.

For the clerks of court in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes there was an interim fear of sorts, that of consequences if recommendations from their state association were not followed. But a pioneering act by the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court made short work of such caution, and the Clerk of Courts Association rapidly altered its advice, so the issuance of licenses began just over one week ago. The licenses might have been issued sooner had Jindal as well as Attorney General Buddy Caldwell joined leaders of most other states in complying with the law immediately. So Louisiana now goes down in history as one the last states to follow the law of the land. At this point even Orleans Parish, whose marriage licenses are under the direct control of Jindal, has come into line.

As of Monday eight same-sex couples had applied for licenses in Terrebonne and four in Lafourche. Seven of the Terrrebonne couples are female. Three of those in Lafourche are male. All now have licenses in hand and after a three-day mandatory waiting period were free to stand before a judge or a minister and say “I do.”

In our local parishes there has been historically far less intolerance of gay people than a lot of folks might think. That the local clerks issued licenses not grudgingly but, according to folks who have applied for them, with courtesy and warmth, is as much a testament to our local communities as it is for those offices themselves.

Proof of this is a photograph of Theresa Robichaux with Kada Howard and Rebecca Graham, the first same-sex couple to be issued a marriage license by her office, which appeared on the pages of this newspaper.

Asked how it felt to be a part of history – which she now undoubtedly has become – Theresa had to think for a moment.

There was no apology for following the law, and there was no grandstanding, just a humble sharing of thought.

“I hadn’t really thought about it to be honest with you,” Theresa said. “I suppose when laws change and new laws are implemented we just roll with it. If it is the law we try to implement it and do our job. I never looked at it as making history. I was just doing my job. It was kind of nice that first day to realize that and have the first couple come in and be a part of that.”

To be clear, it was not Theresa’s idea to be photographed with the couple. The request made of her by yours truly, and the loving couple generously obliged. Theresa’s attitude, like those of Vernon Rodrigue, her Lafourche counterpart, embodied what so many people have known in these parts, that we are sincerely accepting of people and their lifestyles, so long as people obey the law.

“I look at myself as a bystander,” Theresa said. “The real history was made by the people getting the licenses.”