Utah Man Plans to Starve Himself to Death to Protest Same-Sex Marriage Law
By: Tamar Auber
January 3, 2014
January 3, 2014
A Utah man plans on starving himself in order to stop same-sex
marriages. Trestin Meacham has already lost 26 pounds on the first 13
days of the fast and according to a Cultural Hall Podcast, “He is
committed to death to protect the state of Utah’s right to ban same-sex
marriage.”
A former state senate candidate who ran on the far-right
Constitution Party and supports the enacting of biblically supported
law, Meacham started his fast on Dec. 21 and said he was inspired by the
actions of spiritual leader Gandhi.
Although his goal is to nullify the same-sex marriage law, he
denies that his fast is caused by bigotry or malice towards others.
“This has nothing to do with hatred,” he wrote on his blog in huge
print. “I have friends and relatives who practice a homosexual
lifestyle.”
He stressed that his fight is against injustice and the current
same-sex marriage law, which was enacted one day before his fast began,
denies the people of Utah justice and free speech.
“This is about religious freedom and an out of control federal
government,” he said, adding, “A law voted on by a strong majority of
the people of Utah was rescinded, thus robbing the people of their voice
in government.”
He further demanded, “If this law remains, the natural rights of
free speech and religious freedom, vouched safe by the First Amendment
of the U.S. Constitution, will be violated.”
In a local interview that he later lamented via Twitter, “made me
look dumb in the editing,” Meacham explained to reporter Brian Carlson
that his fast could be ended if the people committed to refusing to
follow the law.
“They don’t have to go through the legal court battles and waste
our money, they can end it tomorrow with the act of nullification,”
Meacham said, vowing not to eat until he sees this citizen-nullification
happen.
However Attorney Greg Skordas countered that Utah law does not work
like that. “When individual personal liberties are at stake the state
can’t infringe on that, even if it’s the will of the people,” he pointed
out.
Despite the questionable legality of nullification, Meacham has
vowed to carry-on with his fast, in which he is allowing himself only
water and vitamins for nourishment.
Photo Credit: Screenshot/Trestin Meacham blog
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