No, you aren't misreading the title. Right now, in 2009, a couple in Hammond, Louisiana has been denied a marriage license by Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell. His reason? He says it's because in his experience, interracial marriages don't last, and the children suffer.

As the biracial child of an interracial marriage (my parents have been married 40 years!), I've heard every excuse from people about why these relationships are a mistake. Always from people who didn't know my racial background of course (it comes in handy to know what people are saying when they don't think anyone is around). The whole "what will it do to the children" excuse drives me mad. I am a happy, well adjusted, married, intelligent woman, as is my older sister. Did we hear crap from people growing up? Sometimes, but honestly, I doubt very much that it was anymore than any other kid. No side of my family has ever shunned me or made me feel not included. I didn't have problems in relationships, my in laws never blinked an eye. So why do people still use this reasoning? Because they just don't like it. They are racist. They have no idea what they speak of, so they make something up to make themselves look better. Well guess what? It doesn't work. Keith Bardwell, I can see straight through you. Thanks for embarrassing Louisiana.