To me, this says that some folks are really nervous about the future of Marriage Equality. While some of us are riding high on a wave on continuously positive judicial rulings, many on the national scene are sweating bullets about how we bring this to completion.
There has been a slew of misinformation out there all day, and there are at least two points I want to make here right now. 1)The High Court did not strike down Prop 8. The Supreme Court made no ruling on the validity of Prop 8 at all. 2) The High Court struck down only one part of DOMA and not the whole of DOMA.
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued decisions in two cases involving marriage for gay couples. In the case of U.S. v. Windsor, the Justices ruled the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1993 policy that denies married same-sex couples equal protection under the law, unconstitutional. In Hollingsworth v. Perry, the Court dismissed the case, leaving in place a Federal District Court ruling that found Prop 8, California’s ban on marriage for[Read More…]
Excitement is high as we await the 10am Supreme Court announcements of two same-sex marriage cases. I’m anticipating lots of disappointed folks in the LGBTQ community who are seeking a very broad decision that we are unlikely to get. My hope will be that the disappointment can be quickly harnessed and turned towards positive steps forward in the struggle for full equality. I’m hoping the shock of a more narrow ruling reminds people to refocus[Read More…]
You could say, that now we await the decisions, but I’d like to suggest that we do more than simply wait. Use this time to relish the importance of this milestone and this moment! And use this time to prepare for how we move forward, demanding full equality for all LGBTQ persons. Some feel that the inordinate focus on Marriage has eclipsed the needs for other rights for gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and queer people. It is up to us to make sure that no one is left behind and that freedom for all, includes ALL.
The US Supreme Court will hand down their decisions in the two same-sex marriage cases before them: a case to repeal section 3 of DOMA, and a case to repeal Prop 8 in California. Here are some resources to help you stay on top of this news
This is the first of a six part series looking at Marriage Equality and the Supreme Court, and will look at how the upcoming SCOTUS cases for Prop 8 and DOMA may impact Pennsylvania.
The episodes will fall into three sections: before the court hears oral arguments; after the court has heard oral arguments; and lastly, after the Supreme Court issues their decisions later this year. My guests will be LGBT activists, as well as legal experts who will help us separate fact from assumption and better understand what this important step in the struggle for marriage equality can mean for Pennsylvania.
Or it could be on a path of hammering the status quo into stone. Remember the Ten Commandments? Look at who is sitting on the Supreme Court. Does this look like a body of individuals intent on pushing equality forward at anytime let alone in the highly charged current political environment?
Scalia suggests to do otherwise, the court would be creating “new rights,” something that gets associated with activist judges. Here, the activist judges appear to be the far right conservatives, Alito and Roberts.