Lawmakers in Oklahoma are considering a bill that would require couples to prove they don't have Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs) before they're allowed to marry.
If they do have STDs, they won't be allowed to tie the knot, and that's not all.
Senate Bill 733, introduced by Oklahoma Sen. Anthony Sykes (R), stipulates that “the State Board of Health shall require a blood test for the discovery of syphilis and other communicable or infectious diseases prior to the issuance of a marriage license.” In order to obtain the license, the couple would need to submit a certificate or affidavit from a licensed physician that confirms neither of them are infected with a disease that “may be communicable to the marriage partner.” [...]
If people are required to file these documents with the court clerk before getting married, the results of their STD test would become public information.
They tell me that Obamacare is the greatest risk to doctor-patient privilege, but I don't recall seeing a provision in it that would make your STD tests a matter of public record.
STDs are clearly a bad thing, but I certainly don't believe consenting adults should be barred from marriage if they have one. The number of people eligible for a marriage license in Oklahoma could drop precipitously if this legislation is passed.
Why do Republicans want to destroy the institution of marriage? Why do they want to create a Nanny State?