Fair objection from a reader, but my larger point stands:

Jonah,
You say: “he makes it sounds as if he thinks this measure is completely illegitimate even though it seems its actual intent is to ban gay marriages in their county.”
I think you’ve misunderstood the article. The state (the state Senate Judiciary committee) is moving against civil unions and domestic partnerships. Rhea County is trying to criminalize sodomy and to prohibit gays from living in the county. The state legislators delicately kept their distance from the county’s resolutions.
The *state’s* intent is to ban gay marriages. The *county’s* intent is very different– and, I would venture to say, completely illegitimate.